Bipartisan Coalition Of Governors Advocates For Digital Learning Opportunities | Eastern NC Now

    Raleigh, NC - Governor Pat McCrory joined the governors of Maryland, Mississippi, Oregon and Virginia today in a bipartisan call for federal support of E-Learning opportunities. The governors are encouraging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to accelerate classroom Wi-Fi access to millions of students by modernizing its E-Rate program.

    North Carolina's significant investment in extending broadband access to schools, along with E-Rate funding from the FCC, has allowed the state to provide high-speed Internet access to the door of every K – 12 public school. Yet 78 percent of North Carolina's schools – and nearly 60 percent nationwide – do not have the internal Wi-Fi connections that are now required to support digital learning. The E-Rate program has not kept pace with technology and provides no funding for Wi-Fi access.

    "It's our duty to create an atmosphere that's conducive to providing North Carolina's students with the best education possible," Governor McCrory said. "This task becomes more difficult when teachers do not have access to 21st-century tools. Wi-Fi should no longer be considered an amenity when it comes to preparing students to compete in a global economy."

    Governor McCrory, along with Governors Martin O'Malley of Maryland, Phil Bryant of Mississippi, John Kitzhaber of Oregon and Terry McAuliffe of Virginia urged the FCC to move quickly to fund Wi-Fi access for learners across the country during the coming school year.

    Read a copy of the letter here.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov