Wirelessly Bridging the Homework Gap : Challenges in Getting Broadband to Disconnected Students

As many as five million households with school-aged children in the US do not have high-speed Internet broadband at home, creating a “homework gap” between those who can access the Internet to support their schoolwork, and those who cannot. Based on a series of empirical case studies of efforts to develop wireless projects across the US, coupled with a review of relevant spectrum and wireless regulations, this study informs academics and practitioners how wireless broadband can help bridge the gap. As we find, successful efforts entail more than using wireless as a technical fix. They require an understanding of how school-aged children and their families use the Internet, efforts to promote uptake and productivity enhancing usage, and financial and regulatory support from policymakers and other stakeholders