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Changes to Federal Broadband Benefits in 2022

Education Superhighway

As of December 30, 2021, the federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) will end and begin officially transitioning to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Administered by the Universal Service Administration Company (USAC) , this legislation will still provide a monthly subsidy and funds toward a connected device.

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The Digital Divide Has Narrowed, But 12 Million Students Are Still Disconnected

Edsurge

In the months that followed, many states and school districts mobilized, using federal CARES Act funding, broadband discounts and partnerships with private companies to connect their students and enable online learning. As of December 2020, the number of students impacted by the digital divide has narrowed to 12 million.

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Digital divide: Gap is narrowing, but how will schools maintain progress?

The Hechinger Report

As teachers develop lesson plans, they also face lingering questions, in Maine and nationally, over the possibility of a return to remote learning and concerns about ensuring all students have access to the devices and high-quality broadband they need to do classwork and homework. 18, 2021, in Brunswick, Maine.

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Millions of Students Are Still Without WiFi and Tech—Why Haven’t Policymakers Stepped Up?

Edsurge

Cases like 2020’s Cayla J. Then, there are states that lacked laws prior to 2020, but began responding to the at-home learning requirement with new legislation for future needs. Finally, there are states that had some version of a law prior to 2020 and proceeded to add provisions to better address the needs of distance learning.

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Now is the time to plan for next year’s technology upgrades

eSchool News

In 2020, after the onset of the pandemic, the program was created to provide funding to schools and libraries to purchase eligible equipment and services for students and teachers who lack connected devices, including laptops, tablets, or even broadband access.

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7 Ways to Close the Access Gap

Tom Murray

In places like Albemarle County, Virginia , school leaders have been developing a 4G Network to support their entire community, every day of the year, by 2020. Last year, I wrote the post, “ Can Companies Like Facebook Help Close the Access Gap? Partner with Companies Such as Kajeet for Mobile Broadband.

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4 Ways Edtech Entrepreneurs Can Earn Trust and Unlock New Opportunities With Education Customers

Edsurge

In 2002, a critical transition occurred when 94 percent of public schools secured always-on broadband connections, granting educators and students increased access to rich media content. Then, in March 2020, schools across the globe closed their doors, quickly pivoting to online instruction. Virtual classrooms became the norm.

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