U.S. schools need 100 Mbps or more of...

U.S. schools need 100 Mbps or more of Internet access today, and 1 Gbps by 2017, dozens of CEOs and heads of educational technology companies said in a letter sent to the FCC chairman and every commissioner posted Thursday in docket 13-184 (http://bit.ly/1uH5gVG). A revamped E-rate program would focus on broadband connectivity and infrastructure, invest in more upgrades to connect every school to fiber and every classroom to Wi-Fi, and improve broadband affordability by maximizing competition, the letter said. A revamp should also increase transparency and accountability to reduce costs by releasing more data on existing network infrastructure and the price paid by schools for E-rate services, the letter said. “Nowhere is the opportunity so vast, the need so urgent, and the policy so vital for advancing a brighter, more connected educational future.” Commissioner Ajit Pai said Wednesday he won’t vote to approve any E-rate revamp that increases its budget (CD June 19 p1). The CEOs writing the FCC were from Channel One, Girls Who Code, Kickboard and other entities.