Close the Broadband Gap

[Commentary] In the 21st century, it's hard to imagine a corporate world where only one-third of businesses could access high-speed Internet and the rest were relegated to dial-up speeds. Yet that's essentially the reality for our nation's schools.

Although most schools today have Internet access, only about one-third of our public schools have the high-speed broadband they need for today's innovative, interactive online lessons, educational games, and collaborative tools. The rest of the schools are stuck with middling and downright slow Internet connections. The status quo condemns too many to the classroom of yesterday. Through a modernized and expanded E-Rate, we can bring our classrooms and libraries into the 21st century, and help ensure quality and equality of opportunity, as we prepare our next generation to compete in the tech-savvy workforce and global economy of tomorrow. The Federal Communications Commission took initial steps in July to streamline and modernize the E-Rate program. We now urge the FCC to take additional action to ensure much-needed funding for E-Rate, to allow America's teachers, students, and workforce to remain globally competitive. Our nation can't get ahead if we leave two-thirds of our students behind.

[Steyer is CEO of Common Sense Media]