DES MOINES, Iowa — All Des Moines Public School buses are now equipped with free Wi-Fi.

While you can’t see the router on the bus, all 135 yellow school buses are connecting more than 14,000 students.

Last summer, the district announced a partnership with the Federal Communications Commission. The district used E-Rate funding to bring Wi-Fi to the buses and 90% of the project cost was covered by the FCC.

“We felt like we were missing a piece. We wanted to extend our network and learning environment into this important piece of the district which is the school bus,” said Neil Schroeder, the Chief Information Officer for the district.

Students can access the same sites on a school bus that they’re able to access inside classrooms. While they can’t reach social media sites like Instagram or TikTok on the Wi-Fi, they can still access any educational website.

There are also security benefits to the program. Cameras on buses can now be monitored live by the district during emergencies. Drivers and associates can also use Wi-Fi to find alternative routes during heavy traffic or weather events.