Michal Marek US President Barack Obama revealed more details about a magnificent project ConnectED, which is supposed to provide access to ultra-fast Internet in the vast majority of American schools. Obama announced that a total of $750 million will go to the project through American technology corporations and operators.
Interested companies include the technology giants Microsoft and Apple or the large American operators Sprint and Verizon. Apple will donate iPads, computers and other technology worth a total of $100 million. Microsoft will not be left behind and will offer its Windows operating system with a special discount and twelve million free licenses of the Microsoft Office suite to the project.
Obama presented new information about the ConnectED project during his speech at one of the Maryland schools near Washington. On the grounds of the school, he also mentioned the fact that the Federal Communications Commission of the United States of America (FCC) will not charge schools any fees for internet services for the next two years and will thus participate in providing fast broadband internet to American pupils and students.
President Obama mentioned that Apple and other technology companies will use their software and hardware to help connect 15 schools and 000 million of their students to high-speed Internet over the next two years. Apple officially confirmed its participation in the project to the magazine The Loop, but he did not provide any further information about his role and financial participation.
American corporations will help the ConnectED project to reach 99% of all American schools with the Internet within the next five years. When President Obama outlined his goals last June, only one in five students had access to high-speed Internet.
So maybe it won't turn out like a grand project with health insurance. The fact that there are large companies involved and the fact that it is a big potential for companies in the future, when students will have the opportunity to develop an addiction to Apple, MS products and the like, will turn out well.
I'm a bit worried about compatibility... :-) Oh no, it's a wonderful gesture!