Association of K-12 Education Technology Leaders Honors SHLB Coalition
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 13, 2026) — CoSN — The Consortium for School Networking, a premier association of K-12 education technology leaders, today honored the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition with its Special Advocacy Award.
The award expands CoSN’s long‑standing tradition of recognizing individual leadership on education technology policy to instead honor collective, organization‑wide advocacy around important issues for schools nationwide.
SHLB’s leadership was instrumental in protecting the Universal Service Fund (USF) and the E‑Rate program at a pivotal moment for schools and libraries. SHLB served as a lead plaintiff in a constitutional challenge that preserved long‑standing federal support for the broadband connectivity relied upon by educational and community institutions nationwide.
“Last June’s Supreme Court ruling in SHLB v. Consumers’ Research, which upheld the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund, was a landmark victory for the millions of students, library patrons, and community members who depend on E-Rate and USF programs for broadband connectivity. SHLB was proud to serve as a named party in the case, and we are deeply grateful for our partnership with CoSN and the large coalition of education, library, and health care advocates who came together to make a strong and successful argument before the Court,” said Joseph Wender, Executive Director of SHLB. “We’re grateful to CoSN for this recognition and remain committed to protecting the USF wherever it is challenged — whether in the courts or in Congress — so that anchor institutions and the communities they serve stay connected.”
“Protecting access to broadband is essential to teaching, learning, and opportunity,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “SHLB’s advocacy has made a real difference for students, educators, and communities nationwide, and CoSN is honored to recognize their leadership.”
The award was presented during CoSN’s annual conference, “Building What’s Next, Together,” which kicked off today in Chicago, Illinois. The conference is focused on advancing the knowledge and skills of K-12 education technology leaders — including CIOs/CTOs, superintendents, and solution providers — while addressing key topics such as cybersecurity, student data privacy, and the use of generative AI in schools to support safe and effective practices within the K-12 system.
Learn more about the CoSN2026 awards at: cosn.org/about/awards/.
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About SHLB:
The SHLB Coalition is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) advocacy organization that supports open, affordable, high-quality broadband connections for anchor institutions and their surrounding communities. The SHLB Coalition is based in Washington, D.C., and has a diverse membership of commercial and non-commercial organizations across the United States. To learn more, visit www.shlb.org.
About CoSN:
CoSN, the world-class professional association for K-12 education technology leaders, stands at the forefront of education innovation. We are driven by a mission to equip current and aspiring K-12 education technology leaders, their teams, and school districts with the community, knowledge, and professional development they need to cultivate engaging learning environments. Our vision is rooted in a future where every learner reaches their unique potential, guided by our community. CoSN represents over 13 million students and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. www.cosn.org/
MEDIA CONTACTS:
CoSN: Makenzie Carlin, mcarlin@fratelli.com
SHLB: Samyukta Dinesh, sdinesh@shlb.org