Schools/Universities

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the Commission has sent three Letters of Inquiry to Minnesota educational institutions to investigate potential misuse of federal funds disbursed through the E-Rate program. This marks the latest effort by the Commission to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in Universal Service Fund programs. The USF’s E-Rate program helps schools and libraries obtain affordable telecommunications and information services so students, teachers, and library patrons can take advantage of online opportunities.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development invites grant applications to build community-oriented, high-speed internet networks for people in rural areas. USDA Rural Development is making approximately $17 million available under the Community Connect Grant Program. The program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide broadband service in rural, economically challenged communities where service does not exist.

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau announced that there is sufficient funding available to fully meet the Universal Service Administrative Company’s estimated demand for category one and category two requests for E-Rate-supported services for funding year 2026. On April 6, 2026, USAC submitted a demand estimate for the E-Rate program for funding year 2026. USAC estimates the total demand for funding year 2026 will be $3.5 billion, which includes estimated demand of $1.7 billion for category one services, and of $1.8 billion for category two services. The FCC

The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) submitted the federal Universal Service Support Mechanisms fund size and administrative cost projections for the third quarter of calendar year 2026 (3Q2026). Upon approval of the quarterly funding requirements for the Support Mechanisms, the projected administrative expenses, and the submission of the contribution base amount, the Federal Communications Commission will establish a quarterly contribution factor.

Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA) signed multiple bills into law supporting literacy and math education, expanding education opportunities, and supporting students and teachers in Georgia's K-12 education system. HB 1009, sponsored by Representative Scott Hilton (R-GA-48), expands the prohibition of personal electronic devices in public schools to include high school grades nin

US Department of Agriculture Rural Development invites grant applications to improve access to remote education and health care in rural communities. USDA is making approximately $27 million in funding available under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. This program funds distance learning and telemedicine equipment, including audio and video equipment, to improve access to educational and health care opportunities in rural communities.

Insights into the state of K-12 education through the lens of education technology leaders—professionals who play a critical role in ensuring technology is safe, reliable, and effective in supporting student learning, teaching, and district operations. 1) Cybersecurity continues to rank as the No. 1 priority for education technology leaders, reflecting the essential role secure digital systems play in modern education. Most districts are actively investing in monitoring, detection, identity protection, and firewall technologies to safeguard networks, data, and learning continuity.

When Lila Byock's oldest son was 11, she began to worry about how much time he spent on his school-issued iPad. It seemed as if he wasn't allowed to go anywhere without it. "To the point that he was one day penalized for not having his iPad with him during PE class," she recalls. She asked his school in central Los Angeles to explain why there was so much digital learning, even years after the COVID-19 pandemic: "There was no justification for why it was better," she said.

I’m writing in recognition of the 60^th anniversary of Merit, a non-profit network operating in Michigan. There aren’t many network entities that can trace their beginning back to 1966 when Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University formed the Michigan Educational Research Information Triad with the goal of networking the universities together.

The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to enhance the integrity of the E-Rate program by amending its rules and establishing a new competitive bidding portal and document repository. This action will assist E-Rate applicants with program compliance and decrease the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse in the E-Rate program. The FCC is also taking actions to simplify and streamline the E-Rate processes and procedures, while giving greater flexibility for both applicants and service providers.