From the Government Accountability Office:
Internet access is crucial for students both in and out of the classroom. School-age children with little or no access at home may have difficulty completing homework, putting them at risk of falling behind better-connected peers—a condition known as the “homework gap.”
The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) E-rate program allows schools to purchase discounted internet equipment. However, schools cannot use these funds to provide wireless access off school grounds.
We recommended that FCC assess and report on the potential benefits, costs, and challenges of making wireless access off school grounds eligible for E-rate.
Direct to Full Text Report
39 pages; PDF.