The measure is more than just a funding increase, however -- it also tweaks several rules that previously restricted school options in the past. Educational institutions can now purchase "dark fiber" infrastructure to build their own high-speed facilitates if it's deemed a cost-effective option, and subsidized carriers in "high cost" rural areas are now required to offer schools and library similar rates to equivalent services in urban areas. Finally, some of the funds are being dedicated to ensuring that WiFi coverage is expanded in the next several years, enabling one-to-one student-to-device deployment in more schools nationwide. Care to skim through the official announcement? Check out that FCC link at the source below.

[Image credit; Johan Larsson, Flickr]