CoSN CEO Keith Krueger today issued the following statement regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s draft Educational Broadband Service Report and Order:
“We are deeply disappointed by FCC Chairman Pai’s draft order, which would eliminate the long-standing educational focus of the 2.5 GHz band. For more than 50 years, the Educational Broadband Service (EBS) has helped deliver technology resources to children and school districts in need.
“The draft order contends that auctioning EBS spectrum licensing will encourage private providers to deliver 5G service to unconnected, underserved students living in the most sparsely populated communities. This makes no economic sense. If U.S. market forces were sufficient, the connectivity problem would not be so prevalent throughout rural and other remote areas nationwide.
“School districts need greater opportunity for connecting rural, low income and other marginalized students to broadband. Chairman Pai’s proposed detrimental order would do the opposite.”
