Education Policy, Business and Technology

E-Rate Requests for High-Speed Internet Have Doubled Since Last Year

THE Journal: The number of E-rate requests for high-speed internet has doubled since last year, according to the 2016 E-Rate Trends Report, prepared by Oklahoma-based consulting group Funds for Learning.

In addition, 90 percent of applicants to the federal program expect their bandwidth needs to increase over the next three years. Only 10 percent predicted no change, while 65 percent said they expect to see their internet bandwidth increase by 50 percent or more over the next three years.

The report said more rural than urban districts applied for funding in 2016: 54 percent vs. 46 percent. Seventy-two percent of school districts said they believe WiFi is critical to fulfilling their missions, and 43 percent have networks that are one to three years old.

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