Online learning for School Students - No internet for low income families?

[911boost]

My kids are on Spring Break this week, but starting the following week they are going to have to do E-learning for a few weeks at a minimum.

While all of the students in our local school district are given laptops, there are low income families (like everywhere) that do not have internet. I know that locally Comcast is offering 2 months free internet and all hot spots are free and the district is giving out the mifi's that they have.

Has anyone heard of a way to donate to AT&T/Verizon/Comcast etc. to provide free or reduced cost internet while schools are canceled?

Just curious, I'd rather this not turn into a socialism type thread. I am far from that as possible.

[stomachmonkey]

Spectrum fired up a program for free internet on a needs basis.

The real problem with it is the legally protected geographic monopolies the cable operators enjoy.

In my community half of us have a choice between two providers, the rest are stuck with Frontier as their only choice.

Spectrum is not one of the two choices so while their initiative is generous and I applaud them, it's ****ing useless for a 20 mile radius in my area because of geographic monopolies.

[red-beard]

Comcast/Xfinity is offering free WiFi. All hotspots are now open for two months.

[Adrian Thompson]

The same companies suddenly offering free wifi are the ones who have spent years suing municipalities who tried to set up community wide free wife for their residents.

[wilnj]

I’ve heard that school systems were offering 4G enabled devices to those without internet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[flatbutt]

where are all these loaner devices coming from?

[Arizona_928]

Fed /state tax dollars for them laptops....

Which state you live in? Online lectures by the teachers? Just generic online bull****?
I just got an email from bio Corp saying they'll ship specimens to students houses so they can hold labs.

[sammyg2]

Lots of options, there really is no reason for anyone (who isn't homeless) to not have internet:

Low-Income Assistance Plans Available From Major Internet Providers
The programs listed below are specifically designed to provide accessible pricing for those who are on a fixed income. If you can’t find information for your specific provider, a quick phone call to customer support will often get you connected with their dedicated assistance program.

AT&T Access
The AT&T Access program offers basic internet service for low-income families. With speeds available up to 10 Mbps for around $10.00 a month, it’s a viable way to stay connected for basic web browsing.

Access is available for families with at least one family member who participates in the SNAP program. If your household doesn't participate in SNAP or another pre-qualification program, AT&T internet deals are generally the lowest consumer-grade option for home internet. However, DSL speeds from AT&T are usually slower than cable for streaming Netflix.

To determine if you’re eligible, visit the Access page and fill out an application.

Internet Essentials From Comcast
The Internet Essentials program from Comcast allows qualifying customers to purchase an affordable 15 Mbps plan at just $9.95 per month. The service also includes free in-home WiFi and is available without a credit check.

One unique perk to the Internet Essentials program is the ability for customers to purchase a subsidized laptop or desktop computer for $149, which is less expensive than what you’d usually find in-store or online. The computer includes Microsoft Office, Norton Security Suite, and a 90-day warranty.

In order to be eligible for the Internet Essentials program, you must have at least one child eligible for the National School Lunch program as well as meet a number of other criteria.

Spectrum Internet Assist
The Spectrum Internet Assist functions similarly to the assistance from Comcast, and requires that families have a child eligible for the National School Lunch Program.

The service is a little bit more expensive than Xfinity at $14.99 per month, but the speeds are twice as fast with a 30 Mbps connection. WiFi costs $5.00 extra with this plan, so if you’re hoping for a wireless connection you should keep that extra cost in mind.

To apply for Spectrum Internet Assist, visit the Spectrum Assist website or call 1-855-542-6651.

Cox Connect2
Cox Low-Cost Internet is integrated with the Connect2Compete program, which is aimed at helping K-12 students stay connected with access to affordable internet. The program costs $9.95 a month, and is available to families that have a child in kindergarten or grades 1-12.

In order to be eligible for Cox Low-Cost Internet, your family will need to be participating in at least one of the programs listed below.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
National School Lunch Program
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Public Housing
Visit the Cox Low-Cost Internet Website in order to apply for assistance.

Mediacom Connect2
Mediacom is another major ISP that participates in the Connect2Compete program, and offers high-speed internet service for $9.95 per month to families with at least one child in a free or reduced lunch program.

More information on the Mediacom assistance program can be found on their dedicated site or through calling 1-855-904-2225.

The Lifeline Network
The providers listed below don’t have an income assistance program per se, but they offer low-cost plans and participate in the Lifeline network — a government subsidy program that connects low-income families with discounts at many major providers.

In order to qualify for Lifeline Network Assistance, you must have an income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or participate in one of the following programs:

Medicaid
SNAP
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
Native American communities also have special considerations that afford eligibility for the Lifeline Network:

Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance For Needy Families
Food Distribution Program On Indian Reservations
Head Start (provided income eligibility criteria are met)
In order to determine whether you’re eligible for the Lifeline Network assistance, use the Official Eligibility Screener.

Frontier Communications
The cheapest Frontier Communications plan starts at $20 per month, and the Lifeline Network subsidy reduces that to around $10 which puts it directly in line with other low-income programs.

For more information, visit the Frontier Discount Programs page.

Windstream
A combination of affordable plans and the Lifeline discount brings the price of the cheapest internet connection to around $9.25 per month.

Visit the Windstream Lifeline page for the details on how to secure these discounts.

RCN
RCN offers affordable plans by default, and the Lifeline network subsidies reduce those costs even further.

Prices of the cheapest plan will depend on your location, but the latest information on the available discounts are available at RCN Lifeline

These three providers are only a few of the ISPs that provide discounts through Lifeline. For a comprehensive list of options available near you, visit the Universal Service Administrative Company website.

Other Options For Affordable Internet Service
While low-income provider plans and government subsidy programs like the Lifeline Network make affordable internet a reality for many low-income families, there are also a number of other assistance programs and nonprofits that work to make internet access more accessible.

Human I-T
Human I-T is a nonprofit that works in collaboration with Frontier Communications and their Affordable Broadband program.

For low-income families that are part of the LifeLine program, the Human-IT and Frontier collaboration provides affordable connections as well as a free Chromebook while supplies last.

The Chromebook is not available in every area, and you can check whether you’re eligible using this form.

Even if you’re not able to receive the free Chromebook, you can access affordable internet by signing up at the Human-IT website.

PCs For People
PCs For People offers low-cost internet to individuals with an income under 200% of the Federal Poverty Line or who are on income-based assistance programs.

The service offers high-speed 4G LTE internet service for as low as $10 per month, and is available nationwide. Unfortunately, there is a rather high upfront cost associated with purchasing the equipment, but the low monthly fees will more than make up for the investment over time.

For details on plans and pricing, visit the PCs for People Low-Cost Internet Page.

PCs for People offers services that extend beyond internet as well, such as discounts on refurbished PCs that are available online or in one of their stores.

Community Mesh Networks
The majority of these solutions focus on working to reduce costs with a traditional ISP, but what if you could bypass the provider all together?

A Community Mesh Network is a collection of access points concentrated locally, and these points communicate with one another in order to transmit data. These mesh networks are often, but not always, connected to the rest of the Internet, and represent a grassroots approach to making internet service more accessible and affordable.

To see if a community network is available in your area, take a look at the compilation of known Mesh Networks in the United States.

If a Mesh Network isn’t available in your area, it's actually possible to start one of your own. It’s a highly technical process, but if you’re tech-savvy and would like to give back to your community you can follow this Mesh Network guide.

EveryoneOn
While not a charity themselves per se, nonprofit group EveryoneOn is an excellent resource for learning more about affordable internet connections.

https://broadbandnow.com/guides/low-income-internet