Beyond Access: An Analysis of the Influence of the E-Rate Program in Bridging the Digital Divide in American Schools

Abstract

Executive SummaryE-Rate is a U.S. federal funding program for providing discounts for telecommunications, Internet access and internal networking costs for schools and libraries to ensure access equity across poor and rich, rural, urban and suburban areas, and highly served and underserved areas. This paper examines the impact of the E-Rate program on social equity and educational efficacy in American public schools, based upon the federal government's original purpose for investment. The investigation of these issues was based on a document analysis and interviews. As far as equity is concerned, E-Rate brought about a great improvement in providing access to information technology. However, mere access is not enough for resolving the digital divide in schools. Intrinsic problems of E-Rate, such as complex application process and inflexibility of the usage, result in disproportionate funding nationwide that actually increases the digital divide during the beginning of the program. Continuing disparities between schools regarding the quality as well as the number of connections remain. Thus, the conclusion is that E-Rate has yet to accomplish its goals in terms of closing the digital divide between rich and poor schools, rural and urban schools, and even high schools and elementary schools. As far as the effective incorporation of information technology into better teaching and learning is concerned, the study suggests that ERate can not bring efficacy to the education sector except for providing less than seamless Internet connection to schools. Connection is not necessarily related to productive technology education. Therefore, the telecom sector should align its universal service goals with the vision of the education sector and other funding agencies at private, federal, state and local levels to ensure that technology investments in schools have effective utilization.

Building Education Technology Infrastructure: A Policy History of Universal Service and the E-Rate, 1927–Present

“…The importance of high-speed Internet connectivity for national, organizational and individual interests has long been recognized. Thus, supporting this highspeed infrastructure is seen as crucial for the US's economic and political future relative to its international peers (Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 2010;Hausman, 1994;Jaeger, 2005;Park & Chong, 2007). Those with broadband connectivity will be advantaged -domestically and abroad.…”

“…As our jobs, entertainment, politics and even health care move online, millions are at risk of being left behind" (Crawford, 2011).Households without either broadband or dial-up Internet cite lack of need (47 percent), lack of affordability (24 percent), and an inadequate computer (15 percent) as key reasons for their non-adoption of the service, and indicated that they use work, school, libraries, and others' homes for alternative Internet access (U.S. Department of Commerce, 2011).The importance of high-speed Internet connectivity for national, organizational and individual interests has long been recognized. Thus, supporting this highspeed infrastructure is seen as crucial for the US's economic and political future relative to its international peers (Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 2010;Hausman, 1994;Jaeger, 2005;Park & Chong, 2007). Those with broadband connectivity will be advantaged -domestically and abroad.…”

Information and Communication Technology in China

“…Governments need to provide assistance to regions and areas where household incomes are significantly lower than the national and provincial average to make learning conditions more equitable (Li, X., 2008). In this respect, Chinese can learn from Americans who have an education rate policy as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to promote digital equity (Park, Sinha, & Chong, 2007).…”