The explosive growth of mobile device capabilities offers nearly universal Internet access to families at all economic levels, but there are some clear disadvantages to the quality of access for lower-income families.

Economic concerns are a hurdle, but the ways students access the Internet and enhance their learning with it are changing. Some federal programs have emerged that assist lower-income organizations with high-speed networking hardware. There’s also growing attention being put toward offering media and technology-driven specialized courses to help students become more attuned to the Internet, and have greater opportunities for learning.

Families in lower income brackets are often limited to mobile devices for Internet access, and the consistency and reliability of their connections are prevalent issues. A recent study by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, titled “Opportunity for All? Technology in Lower Income Families,” details two major barriers that prevent lower-income families from enjoying the full breadth of the Internet:

• Access is a primary concern. Lower-income families have fewer options in terms of available devices and the age of those devices. The number of people that must share devices in some cases hinders access to the full capabilities of the Internet.
• Participation and support for their access is more challenging. While low-income families may have access to the same Internet, the support for those channels is often sub-par compared to more economically-advantaged areas.

Hurdles in Access

Most lower-income families have Internet access, but lower-quality or less reliable methods of connecting. The primary means of Internet access is constrained to mobile devices for roughly one-third of families below the poverty line. Money is the obvious issue. Lower-income families have fewer options when it comes to the device they use for Internet access. Children will make the most of what devices are available to them for schoolwork, but children using desktops and high-speed broadband connections have vastly more functionality than those who only have a smartphone.

Closing the Gap of Participation

The federal government has recently established their E-Rate program, the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund. Under the oversight of the Federal Communications Commission, E-Rate aims to provide accessible Internet service and devices to underprivileged schools and institutions through discounts and support. 2015 saw both a budget increase and many approved applications. Some of the biggest positive changes to E-Rate are:

• A 60 percent increase to the annual budget cap, which could reach almost $4 billion. Applications for “Category 2” assistance—focused on service and hardware for internal wireless connectivity—increased by 92 percent last year, and the FCC plans to commit to funding all eligible Category 2 applicants.
• Every eligible organization will receive a share of the available funds. When funds were awarded in 2012-13, all of the available funds went to only half of the applicants. The policy changes have addressed the biggest area where organizations need resources: Reliable broadband connections and networks.
• The FCC’s policy changes in 2014 resulted in an explosive increase in Category 2 applications.

The only apparent drawback to these changes is that support for older technology will be phased out to the tune of $337 million less than was requested in 2014. Schools relying on older technologies will need to find service outside of E-Rate.

Equitable Futures are Attainable

Despite the strides made by the E-Rate program—and the ability to offer better and more reliable access for students across the board—there’s a growing focus on how technology is perceived and used by students, both in the classroom and at home. Standardized testing programs are also making large shifts to online platforms, and children who have had minimal exposure to online technology will likely struggle, and need more time for these tests, than students who have had adequate prior digital experience.

A number of policymakers and educators at all levels are pushing for more programs that expose students to technology, so they not only have reliable access, but the knowledge to make the most out of those opportunities. One such program is the NETP – or National Education Technology Plan —which aims to provide equitable, active use and support for online learning tools and opportunities everywhere.

As Internet access for lower-income families expands, the available devices and support for those devices—networks, software, and assistance programs—must be maintained. Technology enables students of any background to improve their education, and all levels of the educational process need to improve how learning happens in America.

Mike Morgan is an Account Executive at Advanced AV.

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