The Online Learning Equity Gap

This report profiles the many innovative options that school districts have pioneered to build or extend wireless broadband connectivity out to student households that cannot afford to purchase high-speed internet access at home. More and more school districts and local governments are concluding that investing in public network infrastructure—including community Wi-Fi networks and private mobile networks operating on public access CBRS spectrum—are a cost-effective way to ensure nearly all students have the broadband internet access they need, as well as to direct access to the school’s network resources from home and other locations. Thanks to recent efforts to open more unlicensed and shared spectrum for public use, an increasing number of school districts are partnering with their local government to extend network access to students at home and, in some towns, Lifeline internet access to the general public as well. Local schools and other institutions know the specific needs of their students and community, and should be empowered to devise their own solutions to the homework gap.