Dive Brief:

• Some schools are abandoning broadband, increase their connectivity by using fiber network, in some cases increasing connection speeds tenfold.
• In New York and New Jersey, through the Middlesex Regional Education Services Commission (MRESC) purchasing cooperative, schools are able to gain access to affordable high-bandwidth data services.
• Demands for faster conductivity and increased bandwidth include online standard testing, 1:1 initiatives and other ed-tech programs now being rolled out in some classrooms.

Dive Insight:

Districts looking to save on internet bills while boosting speed may want to keep an eye on the nonprofit EducationSuperHighway's new Compare & Connect K-12 platform, which was released in beta this January. The online platform gives districts a way to compare and contrast broadband Internet pricing and bandwidth information across the U.S., and allows them to see where gaps exist.

A previous study released by EducationSuperHighway, the “2015 State of the States,” found that 77% of school districts have Internet speeds of 100 kbps per student,meeting the FCC’s definition for a speed “sufficient” for digital learning, while 21 million American K-12 students still lack adequate Internet access. Cost remains the number one barrier to connectivity, and by teaming up to negotiate, districts can secure the lowest possible cost.