FCC Broadband Initiative Tackles School Needs

Two dozen companies join technology effort

A public-private effort announced last month by the Federal Communications Commission to increase broadband Internet access in underserved communities has the potential for a heavy impact on K-12 students, the initiative’s partners say.

Many of those contributing to “Connect to Compete” —which has two dozen private partners headlined by companies such as Microsoft, the Discovery Channel, and Best Buy—bring strong experience in educational outreach.

And although some educational technology advocates oppose the idea, the FCC may even explore funding some components of the initiative that tackle digital-literacy education with money from the $2.3 billion federal E-rate program . That program uses dollars from the Universal Service Fund, raised by a fee the FCC imposes on telecommunications companies, to subsidize school...