Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Wednesday that the commission's June meeting will discuss security issues, including potential funding to support cybersecurity efforts for schools and libraries. It was announced that a number of topics will be taken up to try to combat the challenges.
A three-year, $200 million pilot school and library cybersecurity program proposed in September would protect schools and libraries from cyber-attacks and introduce cybersecurity and advanced firewalls that best protect educational settings. The purpose is to provide information about services to government agencies.
“This pilot program is an important path to strengthening schools' defenses against sophisticated cyberattacks and ransomware attacks that harm students and disrupt learning,” Rosenworcel said in a September press release. ”. “Ultimately, we will learn from this effort, identify how to strike the right balance, and provide actionable data on the most effective and coordinated ways to address this growing problem to federal, state, and local governments. We hope to provide this to our partners.”
This program is part of Rosenworcel's Learn Without Limits initiative, which ensures connectivity in schools and libraries across the country. The $200 million program will be established within the Universal Service Fund, separate from the commission's E-Rate program, which provides schools and libraries with monthly discounts on Internet service.
The School Networking Consortium, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., praised the FCC for pursuing stronger cybersecurity in schools and libraries.
“This pilot program is an important step in protecting students and ensuring the learning experience is not disrupted by malicious cyber threats,” Keith Krueger, the consortium's chief executive officer, said in a press release Thursday. There is,” he said. “We look forward to working with the FCC and other stakeholders to make this effort successful, including using E-rate to create a safer online environment for all learners. ”
