Connectivity is a key building block towards ensuring that every student can realize the promise of digital learning. And Digital Learning Now is at the forefront of the FCC’s ongoing efforts to modernize E-rate, a federal program that provides discounts to help schools and libraries obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. Digital Learning Now’s objective is to ensure that E-rate reform helps accelerate the transition to digital learning. To that end, Digital Learning Now’s work has been guided by the following goals:

  • increase schools’ access to support for internal connections;
  • simplify and streamline the program;
  • prioritize consortium funding;
  • promote state procurement and contracting; and
  • support mobile learning.

To advance these goals, in fall 2013, Digital Learning Now helped bring together an “Education Coalition” consisting of a diverse group of education reform organizations united in their belief that E-rate reform is an essential step on the path toward 21st-century learning. Members include: the Council for Chief State School Officers, the Alliance for Excellent Education, iNACOL, Chiefs for Change, the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and the Knowledge Alliance.

Since its creation, the Education Coalition has engaged in every aspect of the FCC’s rulemaking process. For example, the Coalition submitted comments and reply comments in response to a July 2013 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and additional comments in response to a March 2014 Public Notice. Meanwhile, Digital Learning Now has organized ex parte meetings to help FCC staff understand the needs of state education officials who are working to provide all their students with access to broadband that can support 21st-century learning. In March, Digital Learning Now facilitated a meeting between the New Jersey Department of Education’s Chief Innovation Officer and key FCC decision makers during which the New Jersey official stressed the need for E-rate reform to support coalitions as well as states’ ongoing role in plans to increase broadband access and speed within their boundaries.

Since 2013, Digital Learning Now has vigorously advanced these reform goals both inside and outside the formal FCC rulemaking process. For example:

  • In February 2013, Executive Director John Bailey testified before the U.S. House Education and Workforce’s Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, and recommended that E-rate should be modernized, streamlined and better aligned to ongoing state reform agendas.
  • During the summer of 2013, Digital Learning Now issued a policy brief to assist organizations in thinking through the various challenges surrounding the E-rate program, as well as reform ideas designed to address those challenges.
  • In fall 2013, Digital Learning Now helped unite an E-rate reform coalition of the Council for Chief State School Officers, the Alliance for Excellent Education, iNACOL, Chiefs for Change, the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and the Knowledge Alliance.
  • Digital Learning Now joined with this “Education Coalition” to submit comments and reply comments in response to a July 2013 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and additional comments in response to a March 2014 Public Notice.
  • Digital Learning Now has participated in a series of ex parte meetings with FCC staff and encouraged interested stakeholders, particularly state education officials, to meet with FCC staff to help staff understand their needs.