Barrier to School Internet Opportunity
The role that the Internet is playing in educating our children has never been more essential. The Internet significantly increases the quality of education in our schools and universities and is revolutionizing the way we teach the children.
But affordable high-speed networks must be accessible to every student, whether in urban, suburban or rural communities. Without high-speed networks, students and teachers must access the Internet through the digital equivalent of dirt roads that cannot support the fastest Internet applications.
Congress, understanding the importance of developing and supporting the deployment of high-speed data services to ensure the complete success of this educational vehicle, wisely included Section 706 in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This section directs the Federal Communications Commission to ensure “the availability of advanced telecommunications to all Americans.”
Yet three years later, less than 2% of American households currently are served by high-speed technologies, and thanks to the continued interpretation of the act by federal regulators, the regional Bell operating companies are being prevented from carrying data traffic beyond their local calling boundaries. These restrictions discourage investment in Internet infrastructure and limit the availability of high-speed Internet access.
The Internet can provide many benefits as an educational aid, including these:
* Students of all ages can use it as a research tool.
* Students can participate in “virtual classrooms” with others from across the country.
* Instructors use it to improve the quality of instruction. Faculty can post lecture notes and class announcements.
* Students and teachers can increase their communication via e-mail.
* Students can communicate with classmates about assignments more conveniently.
* Acquiring strong computer skills prepares students for employment opportunities.
* Parents and teachers can continually maintain communication on students’ progress and potential problems.
Every individual should have an equal educational opportunity and the Internet can make that dream a little closer to reality. The Internet can improve the quality of the classroom and expand a student’s worldview, but students must be able to access it quickly and reliably. Today, too many students can’t do that, and without a change, federal restrictions will hold the Internet back for millions of people, denying them the education they deserve.
Our children have opportunities never thought of a decade ago, but unless congressional leaders and the FCC make the necessary strides to deregulate the data market, we may never see these opportunities come to light. And if we allow that to happen, not only will our children be deprived of realizing their potential but our nation will be left sitting on the onramp to the information superhighway.
