Journey to 99%

Telecommunications Act Passes

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Telecom Act) expands the scope of universal service to include increased, affordable access to both telecommunications and advanced services, such as high-speed Internet, for all consumers. It promotes the availability of quality services at reasonable prices and is aimed at increasing access to advanced telecommunications throughout the country.

USAC is Founded

No Child Left Behind (ESEA) Passes

In 2001, with strong bipartisan support, Congress passes the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) to reauthorize ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act). This prompts a push for anytime, anywhere access to data.

Emergence of 1:1 Initiatives

Maine becomes the first state to launch a statewide 1:1 student to device ratio computing program. With the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, Maine becomes the first state to provide a device to every 7th and 8th grader.

YouTube is Founded

YouTube, now America's leading online video-sharing platform, is founded. This becomes the original platform for many edtech products and companies, including Khan Academy.

Digital Learning Tools Proliferate

Large companies such as Google begin to offer free tools for the classroom. The Oregon Department of Education partners with Google to become the first state to fully adopt Google for Education. 

US Department of Education Conducts Nationwide Survey

A nationwide connectivity survey hosted by the US Department of Education reveals that 21st-century classrooms need more broadband. New tools and programs such as Khan Academy (2008) are emerging, but teachers don't have enough bandwidth to effectively use online resources.

Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)

The Broadband Technology Opportunities Program contributes $4B into broadband expansion across the country; many states use the money to push their state-owned fiber networks out to schools.

Annual Digital Learning Day Begins

The Alliance for Excellent Education launches annual celebration of a national Digital Learning Day, which provides a powerful venue for education leaders to highlight great teaching practices. They also showcase innovative educators and instructional technology programs that improve student outcomes.

SETDA Sets Bandwidth Goals

SETDA (State Educational Technology Directors Association) releases the Broadband Imperative Report, which sets a now widely-shared standard of 100 kilobits per second (kbps) per student as a 2014 bandwidth minimum and 1 Megabits per second (Mbps) per student as a 2018 bandwidth minimum.

EducationSuperHighway is Founded

Evan Marwell founds EducationSuperHighway.

ConnectED Initaitive is Established

ConnectED moves state testing online. This further highlights the need for classroom broadband.

Alliance for Excellence Education introduces Future Ready

The Alliance for Excellent Education introduces the Future Ready initiative and framework with the belief that technology is a necessary tool for equity. The effort aims to support school districts in creating personalized and technology-backed learning experiences for all students.

FCC Opens Docket for E-rate Modernization Order

EducationSuperHighway and various EdLiNC organizations begin to submit comments and data to advocate for a modernized E-rate program.

ConnectEd State of the Union Address

President Obama calls upon the private sector to work with government and nonprofits to ensure kids can leverage technology tools and products. Many companies respond by donating hardware, software, professional development resources, and digital content to schools.

E-rate Modernization

The FCC modernizes the federal E-rate program. Through this, broadband data becomes publicly available. It also creates funding for fiber infrastructure build-outs and establishes fiber as a standard for schools.

State of the States

EducationSuperHighway releases the first State of the States report to inform governors on the status of K-12 broadband in their states.

NGA + ESH Policy Academy

The National Governors Association partners with EducationSuperHighway to host the Policy Academy. Six states join to discuss the state of K-12 broadband: Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Wyoming.

Superintendents Take the Future Ready Pledge

By 2016, over 3,100 superintendents across the country have signed on to commit to the Future Ready Pledge that was initiated in 2014.

Arkansas State Network

Arkansas is the first state to connect 100% of their schools on fiber.

Classroom Technology Usage Skyrockets

EdTech magazine reports that over 50% of teachers are using 1:1 computing.

E-rate Advocacy Continues

CoSN, SHLB, Funds for Learning, and EducationSuperHighway work together to submit comments to the FCC to make the Category 2 program permanent. Chairman Pai approves permanent Category 2 budgets for schools to purchase internal network equipment and services. Earlier advocacy related to unfair program delays and denials speeds up the fiber construction approval process for hundreds of school districts.

Ubiquitous Technology in K-12 Classrooms

87% of teachers say they use digital learning tools at least a few days a week.

92% of administrators agree that they see great value in using digital learning tools in the classroom.

96% of students in 3rd-5th grade say they use digital learning tools to learn some or a lot of the time in class.

(Newschools Gallup Study)

99% Connected

99% of public K-12 schools in America are connected to high-speed Internet.

Incredible Nationwide Progress

All 50 states see improvement in connectivity. Nearly every state has connected 98% or more of their schools to fiber infrastructure and students to the minimum bandwidth of 100 kbps per student.