March 25, 2021 10:50 a.m.

Senator Ron Wyden is co-sponsoring legislation he says would provide E-Rate support for school bus wi-fi to help close the homework gap while students who travel on their daily school bus routes, in Oregon and nationwide.

Wyden said students in rural and Tribal communities take long bus rides to and from school and need wi-fi during those long stretches so they can keep up with daily assignments and tackle homework. He said, “All students regardless of their zip code should have solid internet access, and this legislation would lay the foundation for a reliable bridge to end the digital divide for young Oregonians”.

A release said Wyden’s co-sponsorship of the E-Rate Support for School Bus Wi-Fi Act, is part of his agenda to expand broadband access and make high speed internet affordable across Oregon.

The release said according to the Federal Communications Commission, one in three households lacks broadband access. A recent study estimated that 17 million students are stuck in the homework gap without internet access at home to complete their school assignments.

More information about the proposal is linked with this story: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-co-sponsors-bill-to-tackle-homework-gap-provide-wi-fi-on-school-buses