Dallas School Internet Program Soars On Tower-Based Connections

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A pilot program in Dallas, TX has students living within a two mile radius of the school able to tap directly into the school’s internet delivery service. A cell tower on school grounds can extend WiFi coverage more effectively than a network of mobile hotspots, reports KERA News.

So far, 50 students have participated in Lincoln High School’s pilot program. Participants were given receivers that pick up the cell signal from the school’s cell tower. The signal then enables WiFi service in the student’s home. There is no cost for the students using the school’s ISD connection. “It’s faster,” said freshman Daija Showers, adding, “It goes through things quicker with no interruption.” 

While mobile hotspots represented the school district’s first response to connecting students coping with pandemic conditions, Dallas ISD Chief Technology Officer Jack Kelanic has said he favors building more cell towers. He explained that cell towers on numerous school campuses in the area provide better and less expensive internet connectivity for the students. If each campus can extend WiFi service over a two mile radius, most of the 75,000 students in the district benefit from the service.

“It’s the same service that they would get on campus, they are just getting it at home,” Kelanic told KERA News. “There are still issues to be worked out, but “I think it’s a good lesson learned for us,” he added. “The more infrastructure you have, the better.”

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