ISTE Applauds FCC for Listening to Voice of Educators on E-Rate Modernization

  • 07/11/14

Action Includes Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making to Increase E-Rate Funding Cap

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) today issued the following statement from CEO Brian Lewis following the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) vote on the proposal to modernize the E-Rate program that subsidizes telecommunications and Internet costs for school districts:

“We applaud the Commission’s conviction to doing what’s right for education and launch a serious conversation about change the E-Rate truly does need -- more funding. Our community has spoken and the need for additional support is real. The Commission did the right thing today by issuing a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the E-Rate funding cap. We hope that a final decision on increasing the program’s annual funding cap will come quickly.

We also appreciate the Commission’s willingness to listen to educators and make meaningful improvements to this order. We support many of the practical steps that the Commission adopted today and its commitment to retain the E-Rate’s core principles and flexibility as the foundations of a modernized E-Rate program. We believe that the Commission’s efforts to promote WiFi and broadband in our nation’s classrooms and libraries, coupled with increased funding in the not-too-distant future, has the potential to provide all students with the connectivity necessary for learning in the digital age.

Finally, we extend our sincere thanks to Chairman Wheeler and his fellow Commissioners for their thoughtful actions as we continue this critical process. In addition, we recognize Commissioner Rosenworcel for her staunch support for educators and deep and abiding commitment to the E-Rate program. We look forward to sharing the perspectives and needs of school districts with all of the Commissioners as we move to this next, most crucial phase of E-Rate modernization.”

About ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) is the premier nonprofit organization serving educators and education leaders committed to empowering connected learners in a connected world. ISTE serves more than 100,000 education stakeholders throughout the world. For more information, visit iste.org. Connect with ISTE via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Featured

  • New Kent State Academic Building Earns LEED Silver Certification

    Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, recently announced that its newest academic building, Crawford Hall, has earned a LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The facility was recognized for its innovative design, water conservation technologies, energy-efficient systems, and sustainable construction materials, among other features.

  • California Boarding School Opens New Inquiry Collaborative Facility

    Cate School, a boarding school in Carpinteria, Calif., for students grades 9–12, recently announced that it has finished renovating a historic dining hall into a new academic hub, according to a news release. The school partnered with Blackbird Architects and Tangram Interiors on the two-story, 16,000-square-foot Inquiry Collaborative.

  • KI Launches K–12 Classroom Furniture Giveaway

    Contract furniture company KI recently announced the launch of its fourth-annual Classroom Furniture Giveaway, which awards $50,000 each to four K–12 educators across the U.S., according to a news release. The goal is to address decreasing student engagement and increasing teacher burnout numbers by updating learning spaces to accommodate modern needs.

  • Three U.S. Universities Install Acre Security Access Control Platform

    Cloud-native physical and digital security solutions company Acre Security recently announced that it has deployed its access control platform at three major universities in the U.S., according to a news release. Acre partnered with Atrium Campus to provide coverage for more than 69,000 students at the University of Virginia (UVA), George Mason University, and Rockhurst University.