Refer your families to these services to help them keep up with school work.
(Updated June 10, 2020; originally published April 30, 2020) While EducationSuperHighway recently reported that the classroom connectivity gap was "now closed," with 99 percent of schools on fiber, that didn't take into account that school would move home in a time of coronavirus. The latest reporting by the Federal Communications Commission, found that the number of people lacking a connection of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload was 21.3 million in the United States at the end of 2017. Some 4.3 million were in rural America or tribal lands. According to Common Sense Media, that translated to almost 12 million children nationwide in homes without a broadband connection.
How school districts are getting education delivered to those students varies from location to location. To help your schools reach students who may lack broadband connectivity, here's a list of wireless networking options they may be able to take advantage of. We've listed those that are available in more than just a handful of states first.
We developed the compilation by starting with a list of telecommunications companies that have signed the Federal Communications Commission's "Keep Americans Connected" pledge. Editors culled through the list specifically seeking information online about those companies that provided free service to students in their coverage areas and/or free public WiFi hotspots that students could access for some portion of each day while sitting in their cars or otherwise being physically isolated from others in the vicinity.
We will continue updating this list as information becomes available. If you know of other services not included on the list, please send details with a link to [email protected].
Atlantic Broadband (CT, MD, ME, NH, PA, SC, VA): Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://atlanticbb.com/my-services/my-account/wifi-hotspots
C Spire (national coverage): Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://www.cspire.com/cms/wireless/cspire-cares-covid-19-relief/
Cable One (AL, AR, AZ, IA, ID, KS, MO, MS, NE, ND, NM, OK, TN, TX): Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. http://one2one.sparklight.com/sparklight-extends-unlimited-data-on-internet-plans-through-may-12-2020/
Charter Communications/Spectrum (41 states): Offering free broadband and WiFi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students. Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://corporate.charter.com/newsroom/charter-to-offer-free-access-to-spectrum-broadband-and-wifi-for-60-days-for-new-K12-and-college-student-households-and-more
Comcast (national coverage)Offering broadband service for free for 60 days to new Internet Essentials customers. https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19
Google Fiber (AL, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MO, NC, TN, TX, WA, UT): Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://support.google.com/fiber/answer/9788639
Vyve Broadband (national coverage): Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://www.vyvebroadband.com/free-wifi
24-7 & West Wisconsin Telcom (WI): Free broadband and WiFi access for 60 days to new customers with K-12, college students or anyone who needs a broadband connection to work remotely. https://wwt.net/index.php/keeping_you_connected/
Advanced Communications Technology / Range (MT, WY): Free installation and internet service to K-12 and college students through June 12, 2020. http://www.rangeweb.net/covid-19-update/
ALLO Communications (CO, NE): Offering free 50 Mbps upload and download speed to homes without internet service for 60 days. https://www.allocommunications.com/blog/be-prepared-with-allo/
AlticeUSA (CT, NJ, NY): Offering broadband free until the end of the 2019-2020 school year to any new household in the service area with K-12 and/or college students lacking home internet access. https://www.alticeadvantageinternet.com/
Amery Telecom / Northwest Communications (WI): Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://www.nwcomm.net/, https://www.facebook.com/pg/Northwest-Communications-152674734757386/posts/
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