A Faster Internet Aids Online College Students

The Federal Communications Commission in Marcha pilot program at one university suggested that
presented the U.S. Congress with a plan toonline schoolwork might take more time.
expand access to broadband networks and speedThe Internet can be accessed via wireless
up the Internet. This would be good news forservices, dialup and high speed DSL services
students pursuing college degrees online, allowingoffered by telephone companies and by
them faster Internet access. This, coupled withbroadband services with wireless and satellite
new technologies, would allow school assignmentsoptions. Broadband service, with content carried
to be delivered in even more creative,through what the FCC calls a transmission
sophisticated ways."pipeline", provides quality access to streaming
The National Broadband Plan is required as part ofmedia, Internet telephone services, games and
a federal stimulus bill known as the Americaninteractive offerings, according to the FCC's
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It'sbroadband Web site. More people also want to
reportedly intended in part to encourage onlinemove toward HD video, Boucher noted. Local
education and online education tools and totelephone carriers have been expanding their
improve education connectivity.fiber-optic networks to accommodate DSL and
Virginia Congressman, Rick Boucher, in a CSPANwould continue to receive federal funding until
interview called the Internet the biggest platformbroadband becomes more widely available and
for commercial innovation and business successeven telephone service is carried through the
this country has seen. A Strategy for AmericanInternet, Boucher said.
Innovation report, prepared by the NationalPresident Barack Obama has cited a desire to
Economic Council's Office of Science andmake higher education more accessible to many
Technology Policy, recommends creating onlinestudents. And online college classes and degree
college classes that combine high quality subjectprograms provide flexible formats that allow
expertise with the latest technologicalmany students with work and family
advancements.responsibilities to fit studies into their schedules.
The federal government over the next 10 yearsObama in March signed an education bill into law
intends to invest as much as $500 million tothat's designed to increase federal loans and
create online college classes at communitygrants and can help students pursuing distance
colleges that would be freely available to studentsdegrees pay the tuition.
to extend their learning opportunities andThe broadband plan calls for increasing download
complete coursework, according to the Americanspeeds from what Boucher said is as few as 5
Innovation report. Colleges, universities, publicationsmegabits per second to 100 megabits per second
and others would be invited to compete inby 2020 and for achieving upload speeds of 50
creating state-of-the-art online courses, the reportmegabits for second. Expanded network
notes.connectivity is still needed, the FCC reported.
Many students already participate in schoolSome 7 million people in the United States don't
programs of this nature, accessing a wide varietyhave access to broadband network services,
of online databases and connecting with scholarsFlorida Congressman Cliff Stearns told CSPAN.
from around the globe, according to a newsAccording to Stearns, 95 percent of households
release announcing the introduction of thehave broadband access, and two-thirds of them
broadband plan. But while studies show thatuse high-speed Internet services. Proposals within
students in online college programs fare at leastthe broadband plan would reportedly require
as well as students in traditional campus settings,establishing new laws and agency rules.