Earlier today, President Barack Obama announced a $2.75 billion down payment to bring high-speed broadband to every student in America. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will invest $2 billion over the next two years to dramatically expand high-speed Internet connectivity for America's schools and libraries -- connecting more than 20 million students to next-generation broadband and wireless. In addition private-sector companies have committed more than $750 million to deliver cutting-edge technologies to classrooms. The following statement may be attributed to Benton Foundation Director of Policy Amina Fazlullah:
Basic Internet connectivity is no longer sufficient to meet our 21st Century educational needs. High-capacity broadband is critical and necessary infrastructure for our nation’s schools and libraries – and modernizing the Federal Communications Commission’s E-rate program is the centerpiece of solving the infrastructure challenge. But modernization of this crucial program cannot happen overnight. Today’s commitments announced by President Obama accomplishes two important things: 1) it starts getting high-speed broadband into America’s schools and libraries now while 2) providing the FCC some time to maximize the cost-effectiveness of E-rate funds and streamline the administration of the E-rate program. These are important steps. We look forward to aiding the FCC as it completes the task of updating the E-rate program to ensure that schools and libraries have affordable access to 21st Century broadband in support of digital learning.