Nearly 1 in 5 students are without broadband access at home

An estimated 17 percent of US students do not have access to computers at home, and 18 percent do not have broadband internet access at home, AP reports. As a result, some students rely on fast food restaurants, school parking lots, and public libraries to get Wi-Fi Internet access.

Last September, FCC Commissioner Rosenworcel proposed a new plan to close the homework gap. She suggested using money from an upcoming spectrum auction to close the gap and ensure all students have the broadband access they need to achieve success in school.

“The FCC has unused 2.5 GHz licenses in inventory. It also has the authority to hold another voluntary spectrum incentive auction,” she said. “But if we were to combine these sources of 2.5 GHz spectrum, we would be able to hold a substantial nationwide auction for new, flexible commercial use of key mid-band airwaves important to 5G service. Then the funds in excess of those required to run the auction and pay for spectrum contributions from existing licensees could be turned into a Homework Gap initiative.”

“This initiative could help fund the connectivity needs of 12 million students who lack broadband at home—through library loans of Wi-Fi hotspots and other creative ideas that help ensure no child is left offline,” she concluded.

Links:

AP: 3 million US students don't have home internet (ABC News, Jun. 10, 2019)

Commissioner Rosenworcel suggests using spectrum auction revenue to close homework gap (Speed Matters, Sep. 14, 2018)

Remarks of Commissioner Rosenworcel at the Silicon Flatirons Conference in Boulder, CO (FCC, Sept. 6, 2018)