[1st-mile-nm] Udall, Gardner Introduce Bill to Put Wi-Fi on School Buses

[Richard Lowenberg]

MAY 24, 2018
Udall, Gardner Introduce Bill to Put Wi-Fi on School Buses

https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-gardner-introduce-bill-to-put-wi-fi-on-school-buses

Bipartisan bill aims to close "homework gap" that disadvantages 
low-income and rural students without internet access at home

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senator 
Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) introduced a bill to put wireless internet on 
school buses in order to help students without broadband access at home 
get online to study and do homework. The legislation would allow the 
Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) E-Rate program to reimburse 
schools that place wi-fi technology on school buses carrying students to 
school or school related extracurricular activities.

“Every New Mexico kid should have every opportunity to succeed – no 
matter where they live. But nearly one-third of kids in New Mexico are 
at risk of falling behind simply because they can’t get on the internet 
at home,” Udall said. “It’s time to end the homework gap. Our 
legislation will help give all students the ability to get online to 
study and do homework assignments while they’re on the bus – a common 
sense, 21st century solution. By boosting federal investment in 
broadband and internet infrastructure, we’ll help close the digital 
divide that hurts too many rural New Mexico communities, Tribes, and 
low-income families.”

“Many students in rural school districts across Colorado and the country 
spend hours on the bus each day commuting to and from school and 
traveling to sporting events,” said Gardner. “These students should have 
the opportunity to use their time more effectively and installing Wi-Fi 
on school buses will allow them to finish homework assignments and bring 
the classroom to the road. Senator Udall and I are introducing this 
bipartisan legislation that will allow school districts to invest in 
their students and use federal dollars to outfit their school buses with 
WiFi. This will help rural students and especially low-income students 
who may not otherwise have access to mobile Internet. I’m excited about 
this new opportunity and look forward to seeing students in Colorado 
benefit from this initiative.”

"I applaud Senator Udall and Senator Gardner for their forward thinking 
to increase access and opportunity in order to bridge the divide that 
exists for many children in this country," added Dr. Veronica C. Garcia, 
superintendent of Santa Fe Public School.

Udall and Gardner’s legislation was inspired by Jonah Madrid, a New 
Mexico student athlete. During a roundtable on the homework gap at Hatch 
Valley High School, Madrid told Udall and FCC Commissioner Jessica 
Rosenworcel about the great lengths he would go to find wi-fi signal 
after school was over. Madrid shared that, after traveling hours on the 
bus to football games, he would sit in the school parking lot late at 
night to do his homework because that was the only place he could access 
a wireless internet signal. Madrid proposed putting wireless technology 
on his school bus in order to let him and his teammates make use of 
their long bus rides.

Earlier this month, Udall joined Santa Fe Public Schools and Google to 
roll out their Rolling Study Halls initiative, which has equipped six 
Santa Fe area school buses with wi-fi technology to help students with 
long commutes access the internet.

The legislation has received widespread support from stakeholders, 
including the School Superintendents Association, a professional 
organization representing thousands of educational leaders through 
America and the world, the Competitive Carriers Association, an advocacy 
organization for rural, regional and nationwide wireless 
telecommunications, and NTUA Wireless, a Navajo owned communications 
company. Tribal communities in New Mexico are particularly disadvantaged 
by the digital divide, with nearly 80 percent of Tribal members living 
in rural New Mexico unable to access the internet at home.

“When we think about efficiencies in federal policies, and common sense 
solutions that allow education system leaders to make small changes with 
big impacts: that is the type of policy we can support," said Daniel A. 
Domenech, Executive Director of the School Superintendents Association. 
"AASA applauds Mr. Gardner and Mr. Udall for their continued leadership 
on the issue of expanding access to internet for our students, and AASA 
is pleased to support their bill that would require the Federal 
Communications Commission to include Wi-Fi access on school buses an 
eligible use of the E-Rate program. AASA has long supported the E-Rate 
program, responsible for transforming internet access in classrooms 
across the nation over the last two decades, and this legislation is 
another step forward in ensuring that today’s 24-hour students have 
24-hour access.”

“Making Wi-Fi services available for students on school buses eligible 
for E-rate support is a win-win for everyone, and I thank Senators Udall 
and Gardner for introducing this legislation," said Steven K. Berry, 
President and CEO of the Competitive Carriers Association. "Access to 
educational resources is just one of the many benefits that robust 
mobile broadband services provides, and this bill will be especially 
beneficial for students in rural areas with long drive-times to and from 
school. ‘Connected buses’ should be available to all students, no matter 
where they live, and CCA supports this legislation moving forward.”

“I am pleased to support the expanded use of E-Rate funds to include 
wireless internet service on school buses," said Clyde Casciato, NTUA 
Wireless General Manager. "Living and working on the Navajo nation, I 
know firsthand the challenges facing our educators and students due to 
lack of internet access. For many people, internet access is not 
available at home or in their community, making it nearly impossible for 
students to complete homework assignments and research projects. In the 
past year, NTUAW has partnered with Kayenta Unified School District to 
trial this service on three different school bus routes. Not only has 
the technology worked successfully, it has been used regularly by 
students to complete assignments. By deploying wireless internet access 
on school buses, students are able to take advantage of what would 
otherwise be lost hours on the school bus each day to continue their 
education. Unfortunately, without E-Rate funds to support this 
initiative, it will never become a reality for most schools as they 
cannot afford to take on the expense of this additional service. Without 
a doubt, expanding E-Rate funds to include internet access on school 
buses will impact the quality of education received by so many students 
on the Navajo Nation. On behalf of NTUAW, I want to thank you for 
advocating to fund this service, and look forward to the opportunity to 
partner with schools to get it deployed on school buses throughout the 
Navajo Nation.”

A copy of the legislation is available HERE. 
https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Final%20Bill%20for%20Introduction.pdf


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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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