Connecting disadvantaged students has never been more important. As it relates to education, the CARES Act provides school districts in each state with funding essential to providing high-speed internet access to underconnected students.

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress with overwhelming support and signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. This $2+ trillion economic relief package delivers on the government’s commitment to protect American people from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act is meant to provide fast and direct economic assistance, providing approximately $14 billion to the Department of Education (K-12) to respond to COVID-19 during long-term closures, and provide technology for online learning to all students. The bill states that funds can be used for “purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software and connectivity) … that aids in regular and substantive educational interaction.” The funds will be available for purchases that support online learning, even if students are not required to stay at home throughout the year.

The FCC’s E-Rate program provides eligible schools and libraries with discounts for telecommunication, internet access, and connectivity. Funded by the Universal Service Fund with over $4 billion, it’s meant to connect students and teachers to high-speed broadband, and expand WiFi access. With the demand for bandwidth only growing larger, the program gives eligible schools a discount from 20% to 90% depending on the location and poverty level. Once eligibility is confirmed, the Airspan team can help lead you in the right direction and deployment.

Airspan’s LTE technology enables educational entities to build their own private, standards-based, carrier-grade broadband wireless network. Whether your institution will be leveraging Citizen’s Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) or other bands, these networks can deliver on-campus connectivity for K-12 institutions and universities, or bridge the digital divide with off-campus connectivity for students at home. Our base stations and CPE’s can be customized to fit your deployment needs.

• Wirelessly deliver high-speed, broadband services
• Supports high-quality VoIP and video conferencing
• Optimized classroom, campus, and neighborhood connectivity
• Low cost of ownership and maintenance costs
• Mobile connectivity to buses
• Connectivity to digital signage
• Indoor and outdoor solutions
• Ideal solution if spectrum is already owned (i.e. band 41)
• Pay as you grow