Senator Rockefeller urges 1 gig speeds for schools

Jay Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, began oversight hearings into the FCC this week. The committee plans to look into a broad range of FCC activities, but Rockefeller’s opening statement focused on moving the FCC to implement improved school broadband connectivity. Specifically, he wants every school to have access to 1 gigabyte per second  broadband speeds.

Rockefeller, who co-authored the FCC’s E-rate subsidy program for schools and libraries, believes that both the government and private industry needs to do more. “... if every coffee shop in America can offer wireless connectivity, then surely every school in America should be able to offer it as well. We owe our children this.”

In particular, Rockefeller asked the FCC to move the E-rate program ahead. “I urge the Commission,” said Rockefeller, “to move forward on an aggressive timetable to get this proceeding done.” he said.

Last May, Speed Matters reported that the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) issued a report which observed that “...access to high-speed broadband is now as vital a component for K-12 school infrastructure as electricity, air conditioning, and heating.” SETDA concluded that schools will need 100 Mbps for each 1000 students by 2014.

CWA and Speed Matters continue to endorse 1GB for schools, libraries, health care centers, and other community anchor institutions.

Rockefeller: Schools Need 1 Gigabit-Per-Second Broadband Speeds (Multichannel News, Mar. 12, 2013)

Schools need more, faster broadband, say tech educators (Speed Matters, May 25, 2012)

The Broadband Imperative: Recommendations To Address K-12 Education Infrastructure Needs (State Educational Technology Directors Association, May, 2012)