100 Ed Tech Leaders Call on FCC To Update E-rate

A group of 100 education technology leaders have partnered with EducationSuperHighway to join the growing chorus urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to update the E-rate program, which provides funding for broadband in schools and libraries.

In a letter representing CEOs and innovators from companies such as "Amplify, Channel One, Class Dojo, DreamBox Learning and LearnZillion," according to a news release, the group expressed support for FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's "call for modernization of the E-rate program, and for swift action to immediately address the connectivity gap, which starts with ensuring ubiquitous Wi-Fi."

The letter states that "nearly 40 million K-12 students are currently without the Internet access and Wi-Fi needed to personalize learning, empower teachers, connect parents and ensure equal educational opportunities for all," according to information released by the group.

"We cannot let another year pass without providing our students the bandwidth they need for digital learning," said Josh Reibel, CEO of Amplify Learning, in a prepared statement. "Moving quickly to ensure schools have robust wireless access immediately is a critical first step in the E-rate modernization process."

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • laptop with AI symbol on screen

    Google Launches Lightweight Gemma 3n, Expanding Emphasis on Edge AI

    Google DeepMind has officially launched Gemma 3n, the latest version of its lightweight generative AI model designed specifically for mobile and edge devices — a move that reinforces the company's focus on on-device computing.

  • red brick school building with a large yellow "AI" sign above its main entrance

    New National Academy for AI Instruction to Provide Free AI Training for Educators

    In an effort to "transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States," the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers, is launching the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million initiative that will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all AFT members, beginning with K-12 educators.

  • computer science classroom featuring a desktop setup with code on the screen, a large wall display with charts, and a labeled book on a clean desk

    McGraw Hill Expands CTE Offerings

    Education company McGraw Hill has announced a host of new career and technical education courses, designed to help learners gain professional, technical, and academic skills for workforce success.

  • stack of gold coins disintegrates into digital particles against a dark circuit-board background with glowing AI imagery

    Report: Most Organizations See No Business Return on Gen AI Investments

    Despite $30-40 billion in enterprise spending on generative AI, 95% of organizations are seeing no business return, according to a recent report out of the MIT Media Lab.