Every Day is Digital Learning Day
Today, schools and communities nationwide are sharing best practices on distance learning in honor of Digital Learning Day. Launched 10 years ago by the Alliance for Excellent Education, Digital Learning Day is a time to not only celebrate the innovative instruction happening online, but to advocate for closing the digital divide so that every child can experience digital learning. Never has this issue been more pronounced than during the COVID-19 pandemic, and cable operators have been doing their part to ensure that students have the tools they need to continue their schooling online. The
Cable Broadband Providers Have Connected Millions of Americans In Need
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, NCTA members have worked hard to ensure all Americans remain connected to fast and reliable internet service. In rising to the challenge, cable broadband providers expanded and enhanced their low-income broadband programs and launched new programs to qualifying customers. To date, NCTA members have connected over 10 million consumers to broadband internet through these programs. Why it matters: In a world where an internet connection is a must-have for everything from education and healthcare to job searching, the low-income broadband programs like the
Discovery’s Virtual Field Trip to the Inauguration
Over the past year, countless in-person events have re-imagined themselves as virtual experiences. From the BET Awards to ESPN’s Virtual Draft to one of the largest technology trade shows, there have been countless great examples of how organizers adjust to make the most of an unusual circumstance. And while this year’s Presidential Inauguration might be different from years past, it also provides a new opportunity for Americans to experience and share in the solemn tradition. That’s why Discovery Inc. and Discovery Education together have launched I Do Solemnly Swear: The U.S. Presidential
What Broadband Connectivity Did for Americans in 2020
The end of the year often brings reflections, and looking back, everyone can agree that 2020 was a year like no other. The COVID-19 pandemic brought not only health struggles, but also financial and economic hardship. It was also a year that saw more people turn to technology and the internet than ever before to continue some sort of semblance of their lives. Remote work, distance learning, telehealth, streaming, and live video chats took off. The cable industry came together early on to use its services, reach, and influence to help connect as many Americans to the internet as possible. In
Cox's Tulsa Team Helps Students Overcome Barriers to Distance Learning
When COVID-19 touched Tulsa, Oklahoma, last spring, the community knew it would face significant challenges in critical areas, particularly in the education space. As many school districts across the country moved online in lieu of school closures, the digital divide in high-need areas nationwide became even more pronounced, including in Tulsa. In fact, one in three households in Tulsa did not have the broadband connectivity necessary to attend virtual meetings or to participate in distance learning. Additionally, approximately 15% of Tulsa households lacked internet connectivity of any kind.
As Universities Go Remote, Students Rely on Broadband to Adapt
Across the United States, millions of college students are sitting for their final exams in a very different environment than they anticipated. This year, there will be no large lecture halls filled with students. Instead, the COVID-19 pandemic forced higher education institutions to shift to remote or hybrid learning models, with students taking classes from laptops, in their dorm rooms, or their family’s home. NCTA spoke with college students who are closing out a full semester of remote and hybrid learning. For some students, the pandemic has meant that almost a year of their college
Cox and Connecticut Connect Students Through 'Everybody Learns'
In the wake of school closures provoked by the COVID-19 pandemic, a groundbreaking public-private partnership emerged to connect students in Connecticut. Across the state, thousands of students struggled to "learn from home" without a broadband connection. While internet service providers (ISPs) like Cox Communications had quickly kicked into action, both the public and private sectors knew that more needed to be done. By coming together, Cox and the state of Connecticut were able to leverage their collective expertise to get those students online in time for the Fall 2020 semester. Cox has a
Cox's Team in Louisiana Steps Up to Get Students Online
School shutdowns nationwide amid the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted millions of Americans, especially those children and families who lack high-speed internet connectivity in their homes. In states like Louisiana, the digital divide is significantly pronounced and difficult to remedy. Fortunately, Cox Communications stepped up to help in areas including New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette Parish with its Connect2Compete broadband adoption program. The internet service provider (ISP) had a strong, existing presence in those regions, having forged long-time partnerships with schools and
How the Cable Industry is Bridging the Digital Divide
As America continues to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, September’s announcement of the “K-12 Bridge to Broadband” initiative announced by NCTA and EducationSuperHighway (“ESH”) was a watershed moment in the national imperative to shrink the ‘homework gap’ that ESH estimates currently impacts an estimated 9.7 million students. The initiative establishes a public-private partnership model that is already starting to see major accomplishments and sets the groundwork for making a meaningful difference in helping millions of American students use home broadband service to facilitate distance
Midco's Commitment to Connecting Students During the Pandemic
"Midco will do what it takes." These are the words that Rupak Gandhi, school superintendent in Fargo, N.D., said he heard Midco representatives repeat to him again and again when his district turned to the ISP for help this past spring. Back in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools across the country including in North Dakota, Gandhi's district faced the challenge of getting every student ready for remote instruction, with every decision dependent on students having an internet connection in their homes. The school district of Fargo is the second largest in North Dakota and