School System Leaders: Affordability Is Chief Infrastructure Challenge

School system leaders identified affordability as the primary obstacle for robust connectivity, according to the Consortium for School Networking’s (CoSN's) 3rd Annual Infrastructure Survey. The report collected data from K-12 school leaders and technology directors nationwide. In addition to affordability, the nationwide survey reveals that districts continue to face significant challenges with improving network speed and capacity and increasing competition for broadband services. The results also detail the impact of changes to the E-rate program, as well as the growing issue of digital equity for technology access outside of the classroom. For the third consecutive year, nearly half of school systems identify the cost of ongoing recurring expenses as the biggest barrier to robust connectivity. More than one-third of districts said that capital or upfront expenses are also a challenge to increasing robust Internet connectivity.