Dive Brief:
- This spring, the FCC released "The 2014 Measuring Broadband America Fixed Broadband Report" which included a look at satellite Internet as an alternative for rural areas.
- Rural schools have struggled to access the physical infrastructure necessary to buy enough bandwidth for things like proctoring tests online or engaging in substantial blended learning overhauls.
- Satellite Internet, however, requires no terrestrial infrastructure and can sometimes be a more affordable option for schools.
Dive Insight:
Under the Obama administration, the FCC has overseen multiple funding initiatives specifically targeted at increasing broadband access in rural schools. ConnectED and the commission's longstanding E-rate programs have helped substantially expand access, forcing some schools to reexamine their approach to tech and blended learning. The commission has also widened its focus to include low-income households, recognizing that connectivity gaps often exist between economic classes in addition to across landscapes. This, of course, also supports the need to address what Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel refers to as the "homework gap," a lack of adequate broadband in the homes of low-income students that prevents them from completing assignments online.
“High-quality levels of satellite connectivity to rural areas is available at a range of affordable price points, and can put an end to the digital divide for any school, no matter the geographic location,” Tony Bardo, the assistant vice president for government solutions at Hughes, writes in a piece for eSchool News. “It’s simply unacceptable that a significant percentage of our school children are falling behind due to a perceived lack of internet availability, a benefit that we take for granted by living in a first-world country.”
It’s possible that FCC-backed discounts could soon help districts cover the cost of satellite Internet rather than paying for miles of cable to be laid.
