The National Telecommunications and Information Administration reports on a recent speech from Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information Arielle Roth…
That’s why today I am announcing an NTIA-led effort to put children first when it comes to screen time at school. We want to empower NTI.
NTIA is uniquely situated to convene federal agencies, subject matter experts, and creative ideas at the intersection of tech policy and children’s wellbeing. We are coordinating across the Administration and talking with leading experts.
We will also be looking closely at how federal subsidies and connectivity targets may be pushing schools toward more device use—often without asking whether it helps children learn. We’ve all heard the shiny promises: that ed tech platforms will automatically capture and analyze student data to improve instruction, that gamified apps will transform engagement, that teachers can use tablets for classroom management and improving behavior, and that connected devices will enable ‘anytime, anywhere’ learning. Tech companies—chasing taxpayer dollars—say all this and more to close a deal. But our students are worth more than their sales pitch.
NTIA has no authority to set education policy. But NTIA does have a role in reviewing whether federal spending on broadband and connected technology in the name of education has fulfilled its mission.
Federal dollars should be tied to outcomes that support children, guided by parents and teachers. Technology should empower families, not undermine them. It should enhance learning, not encourage addictive habits.