It's not just a cost-cutting measure, apparently and thankfully. In an effort to get "every US school to accelerate the transition to digital textbooks," the Obama administration is asking states to "modify the textbook adoption process" so that K-12 schools can use taxpayer funding that used to go paper textbooks to purchase Kindles, iPads, and other devices and the software that goes on them, … [Read more...] about Obama administration’s e-textbook push
FCC
FCC’s Net neutrality plan launched
The US Federal Communications Commission has voted 3-2 to support its chairman's "Net neutrality" plan for keeping Internet providers from blocking or otherwise interfering with legal content running through their "pipes," the Wall Street Journal reports. The plan had its critics (the vote split along party lines with the 2 Republican commissioners voting against and the 3 Democratic ones voting … [Read more...] about FCC’s Net neutrality plan launched
Youth privacy study: Should focus be only on parents’ views?
I'm sure Internet industry CEOs who've said or implied that "privacy is dead" are wishing they never had. I am too – but for different reasons. Where online kids are concerned, statements like that break an important global discussion down into a simplistic, binary argument about whether or not companies protect children's privacy. That argument keeps us (parents) focused on the wrong things and … [Read more...] about Youth privacy study: Should focus be only on parents’ views?
E-rate for schools & libraries gets an upgrade
School and libraries are getting what they asked for. Today the FCC announced new rules for the E-rate, one impact of which will be faster connections for schools and libraries who receive the federal funding for Internet connectivity, ConnectSafely's Larry Magid reports in the Huffington Post (78% of them had wanted faster connections, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski told Larry in an interview … [Read more...] about E-rate for schools & libraries gets an upgrade
Major obstacle to universal broadband & what can help
Last week Chairman Julius Genachowski unveiled the children-and-family part of the FCC's universal broadband plan, designed to enable, among other things, 21st-century education. There's just one problem: Schools have long turned to law enforcement for guidance in informing their communities about youth safety on the Net, broadband or otherwise, and the guidance they're getting scares parents, … [Read more...] about Major obstacle to universal broadband & what can help