27.6 million students attend schools that still lack adequate bandwidth to support digital learning in every classroom, every day Washington, D.C. (January 10, 2022) – Connected Nation’s “Connect K-12” program has released its report on U.S. school connectivity for E-rate Funding Year 2021, which includes findings on the nation’s progress toward meeting the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) bandwidth goal of …
POLICY BRIEF: FCC Adopts Final Rules for the Emergency Connectivity Fund
Washington, DC (May 14, 2021) – In response to the at-home connectivity inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously adopted rules for the distribution of the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) on May 10. In accordance with the rules, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) will administrate the ECF Program separately from the E-rate program, yet …
How America’s school district can improve their internet connectivity for digital learning in every classroom, every day
47% of school districts nationwide, representing 15.4 million students, are meeting the FCC’s recommended bandwidth per student Washington, DC (April 21, 2021) – Less than half of America’s school districts are meeting the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recommended bandwidth of 1 Mpbs per student. Just 47% of school districts are meeting that goal according to data published through Connected Nation’s …
The nation’s top 10 states for school internet connectivity
43 governors commit to increasing school bandwidths to 1Mpbs per student Washington, DC (April 12, 2021) – Connected Nation is announcing the top states in the nation for school internet connectivity according to data published through the nonprofit’s Connect K-12 website*. “The pandemic demonstrated how important it is to continue to improve our school internet networks. Many teachers and students …
What a Texas School District Can Teach the Nation About Connecting and Educating a Generation of Kids
“Internet access is no longer a luxury. It’s something that every kid should be provided with.” By Jessica Denson, Communications DirectorConnected Nation Lockhart, TX (September 24, 2020) – Mark Estrada, superintendent of Lockhart Independent School District, says the first day of in-person classes went pretty well considering the COVID-19 pandemic — with about 45 percent of students inside the …
The USDA Invests $46 Million in Rural Community Facilities in 16 States
New Schools, Health Clinics and Public Safety Equipment Will Benefit 363,000 People WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2020 – The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $46 million to improve critical community facilities to benefit 363,000 rural residents (PDF, 169 KB) in 16 states. “Rural America relies on safe, modern community facilities to ensure access to essential …
Pandemic highlights internet gap for rural students around Waco, Central Texas
The following story was published by the Waco Tribune-Herald on August 15, 2020 Fiber optic networks crisscross the university towns of Waco and Bryan-College Station, offering speeds of up to one gigabit per second, a gushing river of data that connects people with entertainment, education, business and medical information. But over much of the 90 miles between — in mostly …
The Efforts to Close the Digital Divide for North Texas Students
The following story was published by NBC 5 in Dallas, Texas on July 30, 2020. The pandemic has pushed us further into the digital world. But not everyone was ready for it. When the shutdown began, Dr. Rebecca Good, superintendent of Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy, said nearly all of her 1,800 students needed computers. “Most of our parents are low …
Schools prepare videos, school packets for kids without internet
The following story was published on KXAN on July 31, 2020 BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Connected Nation will release its latest Texas broadband availability maps Friday. The nonprofit updates the maps every six months to analyze the access to high-speed internet across the counties. In Bastrop County, the broadband map shows there is 100% high-speed internet access under the …
‘The cruelest part of the digital divide’ | How millions in federal funding fails our students
The following was published by 12 News Now on July 15, 2020 AUSTIN, Texas — “The students in our neighborhood come to school as a refuge,” said Michelle Sandoval Villegas, a teacher at Parkland Pre-Engineering Middle School, Ysleta Independent School District. She said connections to the students were key. “I just wanted to let them know I’m still here. I …
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