education

W H I T E PA P E R 2 0 2 2
The
Future of
Education in
a 10G World
Table of Contents
3
Introduction
4
Glossary of Terms
5
Education Scenarios
12
Why Does This Matter?
13
What Now?
14
Selected Sources
15
Methodology
16
About: NCTA – The Internet & Television Association
and Future Today Institute
The Future of Education in a 10G World
2
Introduction
High-speed connectivity is
on our doorstep, and will
bring with it the evolution
of every industry and consumer experience.
Connectivity, beginning with telephones and moving
into the internet age, has rapidly improved for decades.
Today, our lives and livelihoods are shaped by how
quickly we can connect with one another and exchange
information. The 10G network—delivering speeds of 10
gigabits per second—will power the Fourth Industrial
Revolution, enabling creators to develop life-changing
innovations that consumers will be able to use every
day. Every home, industry, and marketplace will be
transformed in ways that are difficult to imagine today.
NCTA (The Internet & Television Association) has partnered with the Future Today Institute to develop scenarios—data-driven, plausible versions of the future—that will
help consumers, businesses, and the marketplace prepare
for the coming transformation brought about by 10G. These
scenarios focus on four critical industries: Health Care, Agriculture & Food, Entertainment, and Education. Each scenario
contemplates the impacts of technologies that are highly
dependent upon connectivity, such as synthetic media, virtual and augmented reality, wearables, and holograms.
These scenarios are meant to help you, our reader, to rehearse the future. In doing so, individuals and organizations
can begin to anticipate potential outcomes, and how they
should prepare. This document will provide you with two
scenarios that take place 10 years from now and describe
the ways in which 10G has helped the industry to evolve.
Following the scenarios, a number of potential opportunities
and threats have been laid out, providing a view into the
possible strategic impacts of these futures. Finally, a list of
strategic questions at the end of the document provides an
initial framework for beginning a strategic dialogue on this
topic. We hope that these scenarios inspire and excite, as
you begin to envision what our world will look like with the
power of 10G connectivity.
The Future of Education in a 10G World
3
Benefits of 10G
in Education
Speed
Enables translation in-real-time
10G provides 10 gigabits per second
speeds. This is ten times faster than
today’s connection speeds.
Security
Keeps the data of our children safe
Security threats can be identified and
isolated immediately.
Reliability
Constant monitoring and technology
that enables self-healing will ensure the
uninterrupted stability of the network.
Capacity
The infrastructure will be able to
manage an exponential number of
devices compared to today.
Allows uninterrupted classroom
adventures in virtual reality
Ensures entire student bodies to
enjoy experiences in xr
The Future of Education in a 10G World
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Glossary of Terms
10G: The 10G platform is a combination of technologies that will deliver internet speeds 100 times faster than
what most consumers currently experience. 10G also provides faster symmetrical speeds, lower latencies,
enhanced reliability, and better security in a scalable manner.
Augmented Reality: Augmented reality makes digital alterations or additions to the existing environment. This
can happen through the integration of sound, visual elements, or other sensory stimuli that are often interactive.
Hologram: We are defining a hologram in this context as a true three-dimensional image with 360-degree visual
dimensionality and projected into thin air. It can be seen with the naked eye and is created from real-world
images or computer-generated content.
Metaverse: The metaverse is a persistent, immersive, virtual realm that can either be experienced in full
immersion or as a digital overlay onto the physical world. Once realized, the metaverse will be heavily
dependent upon a variety of technologies that are still evolving today, including augmented reality, virtual reality,
spatial audio, and more.
Synthetic Media: Synthetic media refers to algorithmically generated digital content, including audio, video,
deepfakes, virtual characters and environments, and more. Synthetic media can be seen today as voice clones,
realistic-looking videos of real people doing fake things, and even pieces of writing that never had a human
author. Much of the artificial intelligence technology needed for synthetic media exists today, but growing
sophistication of AI will lead to even more convincing content over the next decade.
Virtual Reality: The use of digital technology and simulation that enables a person to interact with an immersive
three-dimensional visual or other sensory environment.
The Future of Education in a 10G World
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SCENARIO #1
The Experiential Classroom
In the year 2032,
augmented and virtual
realities send students to
foreign lands, so they can
witness historical events,
engage with different
cultures, and explore the
limitless potential of their
own creativity—all within
the learning environment
of their choice—such as
the family home or in the
classroom.
Teachers are supported by digital support staff, whether
that is a synthetic tutor on a screen or a friendly robot
companion in a student’s home that caters to the child’s
individual needs. Ubiquitous high-speed connectivity at low
latency enables seamless interactions in these educational
ecosystems and makes comprehensive education available
for all.
All of this is in contrast to the early 2020s, when COVID-19
forced education online—with mixed results. While some
students benefited from learning at home because they
could more easily avoid negative encounters, such as
bullying or racism, others struggled with unstable family
environments or lack of social interactions. One-on-one
interaction between students and teachers was also
limited as educators took on increased responsibilities and
meetings had to be scheduled rather than occurring ad hoc
in the classroom. When the pandemic reached its vaccine
turning point, nearly all schools returned to a full-time, inperson model, to the relief of many. However, especially in
rural areas, the teacher shortage—already severe before
the pandemic—worsened. The long hours, low pay, and
emotional pressures made the teaching profession an
unattractive career choice. Schools in sparsely populated
areas were forced to evaluate alternative approaches
to education.
The Future of Education in a 10G World
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Meanwhile, the flexibility of a remote lifestyle had enticed
parts of the U.S. population to relocate as their lives were
no longer dependent on their commute. Some moved to
the countryside to have the best of both worlds: a personal
life in nature and a professional life in the city. These
transplants brought additional tax revenue to their new
communities, increasing the financial resources available
to the local schools.1 The federal government, recognizing
Virtual reality enabled
completely immersive
experiences in digital
worlds, while augmented
reality covered our reality
with a digital layer that
enriched our lives in
different ways—through
useful information,
playful elements, or
personalized engagements.
Big technology companies soon lowered the price points of
the hardware needed to access these worlds—VR glasses
and smart glasses—to lock in as many people as possible
to their ecosystems.
that additional means were necessary to provide an
education that enabled the U.S. to stay competitive in a
world primarily driven by technology, made additional
funds available for the educational sector. Funds came
from the FCC’s E-Rate program2, in addition to a few other
sources. The commission expanded its benefits to not
only include paying for connectivity but also the devices
required for digital applications, such as those needed
to access digital realities. As much of life shifted at least
partly into augmented and virtual reality, the commission
argued that the future workforce needed to be proficient
in extended reality (XR) because it would be a necessary
skill for entering the workforce. With increased budgets
at their disposal, schools were able to invest into means
that aided the education of the youth. The accelerated
development of the metaverse saw massive investments in
digital environments.This was spurred by the big technology
companies that saw increased revenue and data harvest
opportunities from people spending extended periods of
time in digital realities.
1 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/12/business/economy/small-town-livingstandard.html?searchResultPosition=5
2 https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/universal-service-program-schools-andlibraries-e-rate
3 https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2019/school-enrollment.
html#:~:text=K%2D12%20School%20Enrollment,20%25%20from%202000%20to%202009
While the metaverse’s potential to deeply enrich the
educational experience and make access to learning
independent of location was now obvious, past efforts to
integrate XR technology into schools had been unsuccessful.
However, this time around the initiative was galvanized
by growing societal adoption of XR environments. This
made the production of educational content for these
realities an easy value-add for content providers that had
a different business focus, such as entertainment. It was
also a necessary and lucrative expansion of products for
traditional educational textbook manufacturers. On the side
of tech giants, providing schools with the necessary devices
to access digital realities opened up the opportunity to
acquire lifelong customers at an even earlier age. It also
increased their addressable market size by over 50 million3
guaranteed users and gave them access to unfathomable
amounts of data that could be monetized through new
or improved products and services. The combination of
accessible price points, higher financial liquidity of rural
school districts due to increased federal and state support,
and higher tax earnings enabled them to make the devices
available for students at no cost.
The Future of Education in a 10G World
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Today, parents can decide if their children learn remotely
or in person, based on what is most optimal for their
family’s circumstances. For those who prefer to learn at
home, a livestream of the classroom allows them to absorb
the teachings and participate while their robot companion
takes the role of a teacher’s aide and keeps them on task.
Artificial intelligence enables the robot companion to
adjust to the child’s preferred communication style and
learning method so that understanding and application of
the materials are maximized.
Information about the
child’s learning progress,
such as penmanship or
math proficiency, as well
as behavioral patterns
are recorded in real time,
enabling the parents and
the school to make sure the
child is progressing and
issues are addressed as
they arise.
Parents have complete control over the data that the robot
companion collects and can edit or delete it at any time.
A typical activity session begins with students putting on
their VR headsets to practice their Spanish skills. They find
themselves in a virtual neighborhood in Barcelona, Gaudi’s
Sagrada Familia basilica peeking over the rooftops of
houses in a busy street. Together with their classmates, they
engage in a treasure hunt, collecting different clues from
avatars they meet: a fish vendor at the farmers market, a
child playing soccer on the sidewalk, a juggler trying to
earn a few euro coins from fascinated tourists. These digital
characters engage in conversation and correct and guide
the youngster’s vocabulary along the way.
Once back in the classroom, Spanish history comes to
life on a 3D screen. Those children who are remote put
on their smart glasses to access the livestream of the
classroom. One of Spain’s most famous painters, 18th
century artist Francisco Goya, arises from the screen.
He’s in the middle of painting his latest masterpiece, a
portrait of King Charles III, and the two of them chat about
the latest happenings at court and the country, playfully
educating their avid listeners about the political and
cultural happenings of their time. Lastly, Goya turns toward
the students, and challenges them to take up the brush and
get to work themselves, before disappearing with a cheeky
wink into thin air.
The Future of Education in a 10G World
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The students in the classroom now also put on their smart
glasses, and a brush and a palette of bright colors appear
by their side, a large blank canvas and easel in front
of them.
Within minutes, the first traces of unique masterpieces take
shape. Spanish-speaking digital assistants stand beside the
easel and encourage the young artists, playfully building
the children’s vocabulary through conversations. Once
time is up, these digital creations are emailed to family
members of choice, as well as printed out to hang up on
the wall or the refrigerator at home.
For homework, the students turn on their screen of choice
and connect with a synthetic tutor. Parents pick the
personality, look, and feel of the artificially intelligent
synthetic being at the start of each school year, and
it learns over time to optimally respond to the child’s
needs—whether in learning style or education level. These
synths are connected, just like the robot companions, to
the school’s educational system and accessible by the
teacher’s aides, teachers, and parents. Progress and
challenges are analyzed and communicated in daily
reports that prompt caretakers and educators to dig
deeper and react when necessary.
This hybrid approach
to learning, enabled by
limitless connectivity with
near-zero latency of 10G
across the country, provides
students the best of both
worlds: emotional support,
attention, and guidance
from their teachers, and
inspirational, personalized
digital tools that inspire
learning and let students
learn wherever they prefer.
These measures have increased the educational standard
across the nation, setting up future generations to
successfully address the challenges of the world.
SCENARIO #2
Limitless Learning
College, once a clearly defined phase for some people
after completing high school and associated with
“leaving the nest,” has transformed into something much
more malleable.
In 2032, higher education
takes place anywhere,
anytime, and is accessible
for most.
Students from all walks of life, different generations,
different cultures, and different socioeconomic
backgrounds take advantage of learning opportunities
and connect with each other, redefining social structures.
Associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees have been
complemented by certificate-based educational modules
corresponding to the students’ specific interests and needs.
Real-time translations allow an international network of
experts to pass on their knowledge to a national audience,
spreading their expertise and accelerating solution-finding
for the largest problems humanity is facing.
In the mid-2020s, higher education had become a dream
that fewer and fewer could afford to realize. Costs had
risen to a point where only those attending the country’s
top universities—whose names automatically opened
doors to lucrative careers—were able to pay back their
educational loans in a reasonable time span. College
acceptance rates, on the other hand, had steadily
decreased at quality schools, making it evermore
competitive for the growing pool of graduating seniors
to attend a reputable institution.1,2
Employers’ needs had also changed in multiple ways. For
one, the digitization of work exponentially progressed. The
number of jobs directly related to technology increased,
and even positions not in the technology sector required
a thorough knowledge of digital tools to execute. These
developments necessitated a higher degree of education
for almost everyone in the workforce. Employers were
also asking for a broader course curriculum at schools
that included teaching of work skills. Wary of Gen Z,
for whom frequent job changes were commonplace,
employers expected new hires to be ready to go, with
no on-the-job training.
1 https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/04/09/a-majority-of-u-scolleges-admit-most-students-who-apply/ft_19-04-01_collegeadmissions_2/
2 https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/04/09/a-majority-of-u-scolleges-admit-most-students-who-apply/ft_19-04-01_collegeadmissions_1/
The Future of Education in a 10G World
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transformed, as people sought to build individualized study
programs that bridged trade, vocational, and traditional
university courses.
In addition, the rapid evolution of technology made
continuous learning throughout a career, without
interrupting the work schedule, a must. Many big
companies were working on upskilling initiatives to enable
their existing workforce to transition through the evolving
knowledge economy. These initiatives were expensive and
difficult to scale, leaving smaller companies wanting since
they couldn’t afford a custom offering.
At the same time, there were not enough people in skilled
blue-collar positions, including plumbers, masons, and
electricians. Younger generations sought the recognition
and higher salaries of white-collar professions while
expecting these labor-intensive jobs to be executed by
AI and robots in the near term. Older skilled workers
had retired from the workforce, which created immediate
scarcity and impacted the future of these trades. Available
apprenticeships became a rarity.
Societal expectations shifted as well. With life expectancy
longer than ever, many people in their 40s, 50s, and
60s decided to change careers. Those who might have
been the parents or grandparents of a traditional student
showed new interest in upskilling or learning entirely new
fields as a way to earn additional income. Later-learners
took advantage of remote learning, which had gained
momentum throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They
expected on-demand upskilling training to be accessible
from anywhere.
Educational institutions responded to the pressures
and rethought their approach. Course curricula expanded,
with schools going beyond credentialing traditional twoyear, four-year, and graduate degrees to offer certificates
focused on specific topics. The on-campus experience
continued to exist but was supplemented by fully
remote access options. Vocational schools equally
made their offerings available remotely. Education
Ubiquitous connectivity with
near-zero latency and fast
speeds enabled the schools
to opt for technological
solutions such as the
integration of synthetic
media or translations in
real time, which allowed
students to have the
same learning experience
wherever they were.
More students and ongoing learning needs resulted in
new opportunities to unlock revenue and profit centers,
while the costs of onboarding remote students eventually
fell. Another incentive for schools to adjust was that new
competitors had entered the educational field. Companies
such as Spotify and Meta had begun to offer their own
certificate-based programs that slowly gained recognition
with employers, leading prospective students to venture
away from traditional learning institutions.
Today, looking into the lecture hall of a college or the
classroom of a vocational school initially reveals an image
not too different from a decade ago: students settling
into their seats, pulling out their laptops, and putting on
their headsets. The guest lecturer, a renowned expert in
her field, is beginning to speak. However, upon closer
inspection, not much resembles the learning experience
from 10 years ago. The lecturer is delivering her talk in
Korean, her native language, and everything she says is
being recorded by a camera in front of her. Those students
not fluent in Korean can enable a livestream of the lecture
on their screen. Thanks to synthetic media, which allows
for translations in real time and adjustments of the lip
movements of the lecturer on the screen, she is seemingly
holding the lecture in the language of the student’s choice.
The Future of Education in a 10G World
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Harnessing contextual awareness and natural language
generation, the students’ intelligent conversational interface
automatically listens for and displays helpful hints in realtime. It spells out acronyms, shows biographical details
and photos, retrieves academic papers and case law, and
anything else relevant to learning in the moment. That digital
assistant also has access to their field of study, desired
educational goals, search history, purchased books and
materials needed for work, attended lectures, and whatever
else a student would wish to share. Based on that data, the
AI customizes the information appearing on the student’s
screen for each lecture. Students attending remotely have
access to the same tools.
Support for students outside of the lectures themselves
has expanded and is organized nationwide, completely
independent of location. Synthetic media assistants have
stepped in to support the teacher and her aides. These
synths are accessible in two ways. Students can click on
a button on their screens, and the synth is activated and
gives personalized support, answers questions, or provides
complementary information to the learning materials. They
also coach weekly study groups: These small groups, made
up of six to eight students, are curated from students all over
the nation. During these sessions, the synth guides the group
in discussions relating to the most recent lecture, challenges
assumptions, and ensures that the gained knowledge is
being applied in different contexts. The synth is able to
react to the students in real time and make behavioral
adjustments to stimulate their thinking and maximize their
learning of the material.
3 https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/13/us-chamber-fund-trainingprograms-458412
These new learning structures enable students to make
connections that span different generations, socioeconomic
backgrounds, and locations. The breadth and depth of
experiences that these new student bodies now share
brings about a more holistic, empathetic mindset, and
contribute to strong, respectful relations across the entire
political spectrum.
After the U.S. Chamber of Commerce asked lawmakers
to fund rapid upskilling programs to connect people with
jobs in new sectors, trade unions and universities alike
lobbied for a different approach to education. Publicprivate partnerships exist to provide upskilling for free, or
at affordable costs.3 Students enter the workforce with all
the skills they need to not only succeed, but they are also
able to address humanity’s most urgent problems swiftly,
efficiently, and with the necessary resources.
10G connectivity, with its
ability to transport large
amounts of data with
practically near-zero latency,
provides the necessary
infrastructure to use the
technologies needed to
make this kind of education
available for all.
Why Does This Matter?
OPPORTUNITIES
Products and services around
re-creating the college experience—such
as communal housing, cafeterias, or
education-related social space—online
as well as offline could represent new
business opportunities.
If wider parts of the population are accessing higher
education remotely, it will have a significant impact on
the experience of some of the most formative years in a
person’s life. The desire for friendship, community, and
the need for independence will stay the same, but new
ways will have to be found for adolescents to mature into
sovereign adults.
The marketplace—including students—demands more
flexibility in education, ranging from what is being offered
(more variety in course offerings and certifications to
assist in upskilling) to how (remote or in-person). New
players might be able to offer know-how that has never
been considered in more traditional settings, whether for
blue-collar or white-collar professions. Another lucrative
option could be providing specialized upskilling options
for existing professionals.
Technology can enrich and expand education for all of
our youth, independent of socioeconomic background.
This could be a significant antidote to a widening of
the wealth gap and social unrest, and provide more
opportunities for those demographics that have been
disadvantaged in the past. The resulting increase in
upward mobility could lead to expanded or new markets.
T H R E AT S
Educational institutions must constantly
look for the inflection point of new
developments, in order to effectively
prepare today’s students to become
the workforce that must solve
tomorrow’s challenges.
If schools don’t adjust their structures and processes
to enable the necessary foresight and the flexibility
to shift quickly, the U.S. could run the risk of losing
global competitiveness.
As the population relies more on technology
for education and information, it is increasingly
important to ensure that the information presented
is based on fact. With the rise of synthetic media,
fake news and fraudulent information will be more
prevalent than ever, and AI tools need to be able to
differentiate a good source from a harmful one.
Human interaction, such as with a teacher, mentor,
or classmate, is an indispensable part of education.
It is crucial to view technology as a means to
complement human interaction and enable
educational professionals to spend more time with
students, not as a replacement.
The Future of Education in a 10G World
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What Now?
Strategic questions for stakeholders in education:
1
Could you turn existing expertise in your company into a valuable learning
module or certified training course for nonemployees?
2
What new liabilities arise if your company offers learning materials in digital realities?
3
How would a shift of control over generated data from your company to
educational institutions and parents impact your business model?
4
How can you provide customized options for students using your products
and services, and therefore increase your market size?
5
What would additional data that digital education generates mean
for the product offering of your company?
6
What nontraditional collaborators could help you bring new educational experiences to life?
7
A more flexible educational system needs new administrative processes.
Can your company provide solutions that streamline services?
8
What experiential learning methods currently being tested could be
improved through the use of new technology solutions?
9
Are there environmental concerns (CO2 usage, recycling, battery toxicity)
that you need to keep in mind as you develop new products and services?
10
What is required of the space in which a person engages with your product,
and can you create adjacent offerings to ensure safe usage?
The Future of Education in a 10G World
14
Selected Sources
Boyd, John. “Hologram-in-a-Box Can Teleport You Anywhere.” IEEE Spectrum, 30 October 2021,
https://spectrum.ieee.org/hologram-booth.
Chen, Huili, et al. HRI ‘20: Proceedings of the 2020 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot
Interaction March 2020 Pages 389–397. https://doi.org/10.1145/3319502.3374822.
Chowdhury, Tahiya. “The Other Side of Black Screen: Rethinking Interaction in Synchronous Remote
Learning for Collaborative Programming.” 11 November 2021, arXiv:2111.06013 [cs.CY].
Curran, Chris. “Art Illuminates the Beauty of Science—and Could Inspire the Next Generation of Scientists
Young and Old.” The Conversation, 23 November 2021, https://theconversation.com/art-illuminates-thebeauty-of-science-and-could-inspire-the-next-generation-of-scientists-young-and-old-168925.
Levit, Alexandra. Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Inspiration at Work. “The Future of Education.”
Discussion. 13 January 2022, www.inspirationatwork.net.
Milgram-Elcott, Talia. Founder, 100kin10. “The Future of Education.” Discussion. 13 January 2022,
https://100kin10.org.
Naffi, Nadiaet et al. “AI-powered Chatbots, Designed Ethically, Can Support High-quality University
Teaching.” Phys.org, 3 January 2022, https://phys.org/news/2022-01-ai-powered-chatbots-ethically-highquality-university.html.
Pengel, Norbert, et al. “TecCoBot: Technology-aided Support for Self-regulated Learning.” 23 November
2021, arXiv:2111.11881 [cs.CY].
Spence, Rhys. “The Unbundling of Professional Learning and Entrepreneurship Education.” TechCrunch,
30 November 2021, https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/30/the-unbundling-of-professional-learning-andentrepreneurship-education/.
Whitman-Salkin, Sarah. Social Worker, Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow. “The Future of Education.”
Discussion. 13 January 2022, https://obtjobs.org.
The Future of Education in a 10G World
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Methodology
Scenarios are narrative snapshots describing possible
futures. Scenarios are strategic tools designed to catalyze
what-if conversations. They require teams to confront their
cherished beliefs, develop shared visions, and sharpen
their focus, and refine their expectations. Scenarios do not
predict the future. They reduce uncertainty so that better
decisions can be made in the present. Done well, scenarios
inform what actions must be taken to shape the future. The
Future Today Institute’s scenario modeling process relies on
many rounds of research, analysis, and writing.
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About
About NCTA
About Future Today Institute
The Internet & Television Association represents network
innovators and content creators that connect, entertain,
inform and inspire consumers every day. NCTA’s members have invested $300 billion in private capital to build
the world’s most powerful technology platform, reaching
80 percent of American homes and serving 76 million
customers. More than 200 programming networks are
creating imaginative, popular, and award-winning television content. Our industry supports 3 million American
jobs and employs at least 300 people in every congressional district.
Founded in 2006, the Future Today Institute researches,
models, and prototypes growth, innovation, and strategic opportunity. As the leading strategic foresight and
futures management consultants to executive leadership
teams worldwide, FTI’s data-driven applied research
finds inflections and disruptive potential early. FTI positions leaders to define big bets, backcast roadmaps
to present-day action, and achieve their visions of the
future. Every year, the Future Today Institute works with a
diverse mix of organizations on their futures. Our clients
include Fortune 100 companies, Dow 30 companies, government agencies, military communities, large organizations, and investors both in the U.S. and abroad.
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