Cradlepoint, the global leader in software-defined 4G LTE network solutions for enterprises, announced it is enabling school districts to provide always-on connectivity for evolving instructional needs with solutions that are newly eligible under E-rate funding. School districts experience a unique set of challenges including unreliable connectivity, maintaining compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and ensuring network agility for evolving school needs and emerging digital trends like online testing, streaming media and cloud-based applications. Cradlepoint now offers E-rate eligible solutions to enable schools to leverage 4G LTE as an overlay network to cost-effectively complement, augment and extend existing primary networks. This builds a strong foundation that is scalable, secure and agile to support the high-bandwidth educational applications that are becoming more critical to the learning environment.
“Today, Internet connectivity is what books, pencils and paper were 20 years ago,” said Ed Walton, VP of North American Channels & Alliances at Cradlepoint. “With the demand for always-on connectivity, school districts are implementing innovative network environments to meet the unique demands in their district. Cradlepoint is helping ensure these networks are cost-effective, can scale quickly and easily, and are agile enough to meet ever-evolving needs of their students and teachers. Together, we are ensuring every student has every opportunity to succeed.”
Educational network challenges are magnified due to the stringent budgets school districts must observe. The E-rate program is designed to financially assist K-12 schools and libraries to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. Cradlepoint’s E-rate eligible solutions help qualifying schools realize the benefits of always-on connectivity. Whether it is in the interactive classroom, public library, on the school bus or anywhere in between, Cradlepoint is ensuring that learning can go beyond the traditional classroom environment, optimizing instructional time. Applications and solutions that are E-rate eligible include:
- Small School or Public Library: Cradlepoint’s AER3100 is a cost-effective “network-in-a-box” solution for small schools and libraries and includes CIPA compliant filtering. (Content Filtering is not E-rate eligible.)
- Small Classroom/Facility: Cradlepoint’s AER1600 is an all-in-one solution for smaller classrooms, auxiliary, and testing facilities and can include CIPA compliant filtering
- Mobile: Cradlepoint’s COR IBR1100 is a purpose-built, hardened device for bookmobiles and includes CIPA compliant filtering. (Content Filtering is not E-rate eligible.)
- Library Kiosk: Cradlepoint’s COR IBR650 M2M router provides network connectivity and management for remote library kiosks.
Learn more at cradlepoint.com.
