Hardware & Infrastructure

Computer systems, major hardware & school/district facilities news


Baking Interoperability Functions into Classroom Management Tools

CoSN’s new resource provides schools with language to incorporate interoperability into RFPs to ensure that system connectivity is a key component of all bids to develop and build new management platforms for educators.

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Cost to Connect Rural America: $19 Billion or Less

The report comes on the heels of a Trump administration infrastructure plan that includes $50 billion set aside for rural projects, distributed to states in the form of block grants, and another $20 billion for unspecified "transformative projects"; both reference the possibility of increasing broadband facilities alongside road, bridge, rail, port and water initiatives.

Report: InfoSec Spending to Grow 7 Percent in 2017

Global spending on information security is expected to hit $86.4 billion in 2017, according to a new forecast from market research firm Gartner.

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You've Been Hacked! Explaining Cybersecurity to Students in an Interconnected Era

Computer hackers, also known as cybercriminals, are infiltrating our world with ever-increasing sophistication. It is critical that students understand both the benefits and risks of their devices — especially their smartphones. Educators have an important role to play in helping students understand and safely navigate an internet-connected world.

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Report: Worldwide IT Spending Forecast to Grow 1.4% in 2017

Worldwide IT spending is projected to total $3.5 trillion in 2017, a 1.4 percent increase from 2016, according to market research firm Gartner, Inc. This growth rate is down from the previous quarter’s forecast of 2.7 percent, due in part to the rising United States dollar.

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E-Rate Requests for High-Speed Internet Have Doubled Since Last Year

The number of E-rate requests for high-speed internet has doubled since last year, according to the 2016 E-Rate Trends Report, prepared by Oklahoma-based consulting group Funds for Learning.

Hawaii and Kentucky are Among States That Lead the Way in Connectivity

The second annual “State of the States” report on the state of broadband connectivity in United States schools finds that Hawaii and Kentucky are among a number of states that are leading the way in ensuring that their students have access to equal educational opportunities provided by technology.

More Than $4 Billion in E-Rate Funds Available for Districts in FY 2017

The Federal Communications Commission sets aside $3.9 billion annually for E-rate funding, and with $200 million rolling over from 2016, school districts will have access to more than $4 billion in fiscal year 2017 for connectivity upgrades.

Nonprofit Releases Tool for Districts to Compare Broadband Prices, Speeds, Bandwidth

EducationSuperHighway, a San Francisco-based ed tech nonprofit, has launched the full version of its Compare & Connect K–12, an online tool that helps school district technology directors and superintendents view and compare broadband services and bandwidth information for school districts across the country.

Schools, Libraries, Health Groups Launch Campaign to Tell FCC to Improve Connectivity

Slow internet connections are hampering the future of education and limiting libraries and health organizations, according to a coalition of schools, libraries and health groups in a campaign launched Thursday. The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition is urging the Federal Communications Commission to make emergency improvements to its Business Data Services (BDS) order to include high-capacity broadband lines.