In the wake of the announcement, Brian Stephens, director of stakeholder engagement at Funds For Learning, says, “Funds For Learning applauds FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s pilot program proposal to advance federal support for cybersecurity services for K–12 schools. The increasing number of cyberattacks targeting educational institutions and the rise of malicious ransomware attacks have highlighted the urgent need for enhanced protection measures.”
Other organizations also have shared their support of Rosenworcel’s proposal.
#K12 leaders: How have you used federal funding to make an impact for students and teachers heading #BacktoSchool?
— EdTech K–12 Magazine (@EdTech_K12) August 22, 2022
“Cyberattacks present a triple threat for our nation’s schools and libraries,” the National School Boards Association’s Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs said in a press release.
“Cyberattacks shut down computer networks, resulting in lost learning time for students and financial losses to districts, but they can also put the personal data of students and school employees at risk, potentially resulting in the theft of social security numbers, birth dates and other private information,” she added.
If adopted, the proposal would be the third phase of Rosenworcel’s Learn Without Limits program, which attempts to modernize E-rate funding for today’s learning environment. The first two phases allow E-rate to support Wi-Fi access on school buses and help public libraries circulate Wi-Fi hotspots.
UP NEXT: Wi-Fi 6 can help K–12 schools outmaneuver bad actors.
