Students are in dire need of a broadband infrastructure upgrade. As the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare, access to quality broadband service at home is a baseline necessity for education. While several industry programs have emerged to help disconnected households get online, this project recommends the expansion of the Federal Communication Commission’s E-Rate broadband subsidy program to the residences of underserved K-12 students. It also recommends the creation of a new position within public school systems, the Community Youth Broadband Technicians, to offer dedicated tech support along with an app that would help families request this support.
Click below to view various resources for improving home broadband service, including an operational plan for creating the Community Youth Broadband Technicians program and a video demo of the app.
