Innovative Pilot Program Bridges Internet Gap for Students in Rural Washington
In the heart of rural Washington, an innovative pilot program is working to bring free internet to students and families who previously had to drive miles for connectivity.
Through a partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO), Garren Shannon from Pullman Public Schools has piloted a program to leverage Citizens Band Radio Service — a repurposed radio wave signal — to bring broadband connections to rural areas.
“What we’ve had here is a digital desert,” said Shannon, Director of Information Systems for Pullman Public Schools. “And today, it’s all about being able to close that digital inequity between kids that live in cities and kids that live out in the county.”
Shannon’s project received support from OSPI’s Educational Technology Department, which coordinated conversations with partners and reviewed the plan to start a pilot network. OSPI also partnered with WSBO to help secure $1 million in funding for the project through the state’s digital equity grants.
“This is a very specific skill set that Garren brings to this project and also a very specific vision,” said Bre Urness-Straight, Director of Educational Technology at OSPI. “He didn’t just look at it for Pullman Public Schools, he’s looked at it for [nearby towns] Tekoa and Albion. So, he’s not only [increasing] the equity for Pullman School District students, but also the students of those other communities.”
According to the NCC National Broadband map, more than 236,000 residential and non-residential locations throughout the state still remain unserved. To gain access to the internet, students in these areas often resorted to lingering on school campuses, parking lots, and libraries after hours.
“It’s not just that these students had no internet connection,” Shannon said. “There is simply no cell service in these areas and the only way I knew how to bridge that gap was through a cellular network.”
The program has set up cost-effective, semi-permanent broadband towers on free or low-cost leases in previously unincorporated areas. Pullman and Tekoa school districts and the town of Albion have multiple towers that are operational and ready for students to connect to.
Students will also benefit from additional equipment such as radio-compatible Chromebooks and home antennas to connect to the cellular network at home.
“In the past, we used to define our campuses by the brick and mortar, and that’s where our networks were and that’s where we connected with kids,” said Shannon. “But today, our campuses are wherever those students connect and we need to adapt.”
Towns like Albion represent large populations of students identified as low-income who previously had no access to internet connection at home. With reliable connectivity and high download speeds, the service allows students to keep learning and finding engaging educational opportunities even after school hours.
“We’re kind of reaching a turning point with people’s acknowledgement that internet is a vital service that we need provide to everyone,” said Nathan Roberts, School Board President for Pullman Public Schools. “I would really love to see us keep expanding access for people and embracing it as a community, not just a school district.”
Eventually, Shannon hopes that the fixed wireless network will create more unique solutions for the community and bring key healthcare, education, and safety services to all students in rural areas.
“It really is about making a difference for those students who are having to come into the classroom at odd hours or sit outside,” Shannon said. “I believe that to have a healthy family and healthy students, you need to have a healthy community.”
This story was written by Shruti Mungi, Web Content Strategist at OSPI. You can contact the Communications Team at commteam@k12.wa.us.
