President Barack Obama has vowed to expand free Wi-Fi internet access to 15,000 schools around the US so that 20 million American students will be able to get online in the classroom.
According to nbcnews.com, speaking at an event in Maryland earlier this week on Tuesday (4th of February), the president announced that $2 billion worth of funding from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will support the Wi-Fi expansion plan.
“In a country where we expect free Wi-Fi with our coffee, we should definitely demand it in our schools,” he said, adding that American students should have the same opportunities that children in South Korea have right now.
“We shouldn’t give that kind of competitive advantage over to other countries,” he stated, reports latimes.com.
In addition to the funding from the FCC, a number of US companies will be helping to provide $750 million worth of equipment and services to schools around the country.
President Obama launched this initiative, called ConnectED, last year, but it seems the Wi-Fi expansion will take place quicker than first expected. The 15,000 or so schools can expect to have high-speed, free Wi-Fi within the next two years.
Moreover, Obama will be seeking to provide training to the teachers who will have to use the new technology, in order to get the most out of the investment.
