Government Technology
Ed-Tech Leaders 'Deeply Concerned' by Talks of Shutting Down E-Rate
A few weeks after Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr called for a broad review of the 30-year-old federal E-rate program, the FCC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking June 26 that floated the idea of ending the program. Education leaders and experts on the digital divide have since weighed in, arguing that would be a grave mistake.
30 Years of the Telecom Act
Digital inclusion practitioners have been commemorating 30 years of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 over the past month; it became law Feb. 8, 1996.
How the IT Team Helped One Government Weather the Storm
Previous emergency planning, in coordination with other impacted agencies, informed Washington (DC) Office of the Chief Technology Officer officials as to which systems, processes, and teams are essential, said CTO Stephen Miller. “We identified very early what our critical systems are,” Miller said. During the January ice storm, emergency communications networks and 911 systems stayed online, and the call center remained fully staffed. OCTO technicians supported District of Columbia Public Schools’ technology infrastructure and the district’s Emergency Command Center.
Despite BEAD, Bad Internet May Persist in Rural Areas
Policy changes, technology limitations and problems in mapping data will all, in some way, limit the nation’s ability to bring broadband to rural America, industry watchers said. The states that have invested in standing up broadband offices with highly qualified technical expertise and the administrative heft to develop strong public policy will likely be more successful at closing the digital divide, consultants said.
What Media Literacy Means in the Age of AI
The global market intelligence firm International Data Corporation estimated in 2024 that more data had been created in the three preceding years than in all of history before that.
Educators Decry Termination of Digital Equity Act Funds
Education and technology leaders weighed in on what the elimination of Digital Equity Act funds means for students, teachers, and the nation as a whole. Amy Loyd, CEO of the nonprofit All4Ed and former assistant secretary of the U.S.
Baltimore’s Digital Equity Strategy: Build Community Trust
The city of Baltimore (MD) is building trust and connectivity for its residents through community-centered efforts.
Time for State Ed-Tech Leaders to Take Matters Into Our Own Hands
The layoffs of staff serving in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology are a profound loss for the nation’s education system. For over 30 years, OET provided essential leadership in shaping ed-tech policy, guiding practice and fostering innovation.
BEAD Program Director Addresses Its Progress and Future
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program is underway and on track, and the 10-year initiative is expected to continue as planned when a new presidential administration takes over the White House in January. Experts argue the new administration will not impact the program’s continuation, but