Keith Krueger, CEO for CoSN, issued the following statement welcoming a new bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI):
“E-rate funding has helped school leaders invest in technology infrastructure and upgrade their learning environments. The forward-looking proposal introduced by the bipartisan group of senators would take the program to the next level and strengthen its impact across America.
“The bill would give students the opportunity to benefit from mobile broadband, enabling them to do their homework during long, daily bus rides. This would turn the bus into a learning space on wheels, recapturing learning time outside of school. CoSN members have seen this at work in communities from California to Alabama. Furthermore, school districts that put Wi-Fi on buses have found reduced behavioral problems when students can do their work productively.
“This is also an opportunity to further address the Homework Gap, which affects far too many students — particularly from low-income families. Nearly one in five students whose family’s household income is under $36,000 have access to just one device at home.
“As learning — and society — have gone digital, it’s crucial that we ensure digital equity. Wi-Fi on buses is a key part of the bridge to close that gap.”
