This story has been updated.
School districts across the country are starting a new academic year in perhaps the most challenging environment in modern history. While some are returning to the physical classroom, many more are launching the year online — or in a hybrid virtual/in-person setting.
With so much unknown, one thing is clear: This year more than ever, students need a reliable internet connection.
But many of them don’t have it. Statistics show more than 9 million U.S. students don’t have home access to high-speed home internet. A disproportionate number of those students are in rural areas, where many internet service providers don’t go.
Education experts say the consequences of the gap between those who have access and those who don’t could have long-term impacts. Some call it a national crisis. And one Texas educator likened it to closing the school’s doors to those without internet access.
Statistics tied to education and internet access in the age of the COVID-19 tell an alarming story:
- 17% of U.S. students don’t have a home computer, according to Govtech.com.
- Among students at U.S. schools closed due to the pandemic in spring 2020, 29% of students were doing homework on a cellphone while 22% had to finish homework on a public Wi-Fi connection because they had no home access, according to Pew Research.
- A Michigan study found middle and high school students with high-speed internet access at home get higher grades and perform better on standardized tests; those without home access or who depend on a cellphone for access do worse in school and are less likely to attend college or university, according to the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.
- Students now affected by pandemic-related school closures stand to lose $10 trillion in labor earnings over their work life, according to the Brookings Institution
Bridging the gap is not easy, particularly in the face of a crisis like COVID-19.
Solutions
Many school districts have found the funds to provide students with laptops, tablets, and other devices. And companies are also pitching in with creative solutions. Google, for example, updated remote learning services to help teachers and students. All those offerings, however, rely on students having an at-home internet connection.
Similarly, schools, businesses and ISPs – including Viasat – are providing free Wi-Fi hotspots, so students are gathering to do school work in cars in the parking lots of schools, libraries and community centers. But these are temporary solutions.
As a satellite internet provider, Viasat is uniquely positioned to help provide that vital home internet connection – especially in the rural areas hardest hit by lack of connectivity. Unlike traditional ISPs, satellite internet doesn’t rely on traditional infrastructure and can be installed quickly, almost anywhere.
“It’s not financially viable for the cable and DSL companies to extend service to rural homes,” said Viasat’s Vice President of Marketing Steven Mesnick, “At Viasat, we made an investment in a robust satellite network accessible to almost everyone. We didn’t cherry pick which areas get service and which don’t. We’re open to all, no matter where you live – whether it’s a high-density or low-density area.”
That wide accessibility has proven to be extremely valuable during the COVID-19 crisis, and subscriber numbers bear that out. In spring 2020, Viasat experienced a strong surge in demand, along with a spike in overall residential and business internet usage from added work- and school-from-home activities.
As a satellite provider, Viasat is less vulnerable to service interruptions tied to utility cuts, natural disasters and other issues common to traditional ISPs
While Viasat can’t provide internet to all those who lack it yet, the company is steadily working in that direction. With each satellite launched, it’s provided new service to those who before had limited or no options. ViaSat-2 expanded our coverage throughout North America and into Central America and the Caribbean – seven times that of ViaSat 1’s coverage.
Its next series of satellites – ViaSat-3 – is expected to cover most of the globe, potentially bringing internet service to millions who do not currently have access.