Education Secretary Arne Duncan turned the spotlight onto broadband yesterday in a speech arguing that access to high-speed Internet has become a critical component in a child’s education.

"Most young people can't remember a time without the Internet. But right now, many students' learning experiences in school don't match the reality outside of school," Duncan said in a speech to the Association of American Publishers yesterday.

Today, his department will release their National Education Technology Plan, which the Hill newspaper reported contains technology-based reforms to help prepare students for a world that relies on broadband technology and computer literacy.

"We need to bridge this gap. We need to make school more relevant and engaging. We must make the on-demand, personalized tech applications that are part of students' daily lives a more strategic part of their academic lives,” Duncan said.