Higher Education

Higher education plays an instrumental role in the development and expansion of broadband networks. Many state-based research and education networks, which initially connected college campuses, have expanded their reach to also serve K-12 schools, libraries, and telehealth centers. Community colleges and technical schools provide internet-based classes and online resources to their students. Furthermore, in 2021 Congress enacted the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program to make funding available to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions. The SHLB Coalition believes that higher education institutions are critical to advancing the next generation of internet technologies for anchor institutions, students and faculty, and ultimately the commercial marketplace.

Key Documents