Audit Objective
Determine whether the Bethlehem Central School District (District) used resources to ensure the District’s Internet connectivity meets the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recommended bandwidth.
Audit Results
The District’s Internet connectivity met the FCC’s recommended bandwidth of 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) per 1,000 students, as guided by New York State Education Department (NYSED). When tested, the average wireless Internet download speed was 142 Mbps.
The District’s contracted bandwidth totaled:
- 1.0 Gigabits per second (Gbps) for primary Internet service at its middle and elementary schools.
- 500 Mbps, with the ability to burst to a total of 1 Gbps for its high school primary Internet Service.
Overall, of 35 teachers surveyed (10 percent of the population), 27 of 28 teachers responding to our survey who used Internet resources to provide instruction were satisfied with their Internet connectivity.
Additionally, the District’s Information Technology (IT) department personnel monitored bandwidth usage and provided a system for users to submit Internet connectivity issues for resolution.
Our audit focused on the Internet connectivity in school buildings and did not look at the surrounding community’s Internet connectivity. No recommendations resulted from this audit.