The digital classroom is becoming the norm in K-12 schools in the US. That means the Federal E-rate program, which provides affordable telecommunications, internet access, and internal connections to eligible schools and libraries, must keep up with the demand. Schneider Electric has been part of the E-rate program for 20 years, and now our StruxureWare Data Center Expert (Now branded EcoStruxure IT Data Center Expert) is on the list of approved solutions. A recent clarification of the policy confirmed that “software supporting the components on this list used to distribute high-speed broadband throughout school buildings and libraries” are covered, and made the inclusion of data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software possible. Modernizing the E-rate Program When the E-rate program was first created as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Section 254), only 14 percent of classrooms had internet access, according to the FCC....
