T-Mobile CEO Participates in FCC and U.S. Department of Education Digital Learning Summit; Highlights Recent Mobile Learning Deployments by U.S. Schools
Bellevue, Wash. and Washington, D.C. — Mar. 29, 2012
Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. underscored its commitment to make widespread mobile learning a reality as T-Mobile CEO & President Philipp Humm participates in an executive Digital Learning Summit hosted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S. Department of Education today in Washington, D.C. Showcasing its support for mobile learning and digital education, T-Mobile announced successful programs in several U.S. schools that are leveraging the company’s high-speed network, affordable rate plans, and mobile broadband devices for a range of purposes, including tutoring, textbook replacement and mobile Internet access at school and at home.
Noting that annual textbook costs for U.S. K-12 public schools has reached nearly $8 billion1, the FCC and the Department of Education have encouraged the country to transition to interactive digital learning within the next five years. Today, T-Mobile’s Humm and other industry leaders will participate in the next step of that vision by discussing – alongside FCC and Department of Education leadership – how technology can be leveraged and new offers created to support a widespread digital education ecosystem.
“Advancements in mobile technology are rapidly changing how and where students learn, shifting from a paper textbook in a classroom during school hours to a nearly everywhere, all-the-time digital education,” T-Mobile CEO & President Philipp Humm said. “Our work with the FCC and others to advance the Digital Learning initiative and put devices and connectivity in the hands of students will not only help them learn more effectively, but can positively impact our country’s future economic growth.”
To further highlight the need for an expansion of mobile learning solutions and programs, the FCC asserts that approximately 100 million Americans, nearly one-third of the country, don’t have high-speed Internet at home. Unfortunately, those students without access are six to eight percent less likely to graduate than students with connectivity at home2. Though federally funded programs, like E-rate, have helped more U.S. schools access the Internet, many do not have the connection speeds needed to deploy a successful mobile learning program3. However, today’s mobile broadband devices have the potential to close that gap, particularly with respect to connectivity, access and functionality. America’s K-12 schools are beginning to deploy these solutions and T-Mobile is partnering with many of them as they do so.
“Reliable connectivity and affordable data access is critical to the success of these mobile learning programs,” said Frank Sickinger, vice president, MNC and federal government sales at T-Mobile USA. “With highly capable mobile broadband solutions running on our high-speed, nationwide 4G network, T-Mobile is able to deliver value to these programs, impact communities across the nation, and contribute to the future of U.S. education.”
Among the successes spotlighted by T-Mobile, the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township in Indiana and Illinois-based Learn Charter School Network and Youth Connection Charter Schools are all working with T-Mobile to establish innovative textbook replacement programs. In Texas, 1 to 1 Tutor Distance Learning and has deployed T-Mobile mobile broadband solutions to students to improve online instruction. Similarly, Colorado’s online G.O.A.L. Academy has selected T-Mobile to support their deployment of mobile broadband devices to at-risk students requiring online learning, tutoring and mentoring. Monterey Ridge Elementary School, a California Distinguished Award recipient, is working with T-Mobile to deploy tablet solutions that allow them to enhance the digital learning experience while still utilizing existing technology and solutions, such as smartboards, digital projectors and current eLearning curriculum.
To learn more about T-Mobile and its mobile broadband solutions suitable for mobile learning, please visit mobile-broadband.t-mobile.com. Or, for more information about the company’s GSA schedule or how to kick off a digital education initiative, please contact T-Mobile at GovernmentSalesContracts@t-mobile.com.
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References
2 http://www.fcc.gov/blog/fcc-and-connect-compete-tackle-broadband-adoption-challenge
3http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2010/db0923/DOC-301649A1.pdf
Lindsay Morio
T-Mobile USA Media Relations
425-383-4002
About T-Mobile USA:
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCQX: DTEGY). By the end of the fourth quarter of 2011, approximately 129 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.2 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS and additionally HSPA+ 21/HSPA+ 42. T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit www.telekom.de/investor-relations.