Questions about home connectivity have arisen due to the eLearning situation. Please contact your school principal if you find yourself in this predicament. Paper-based activities can be provided for your student to pick up at the school until support can be arranged. The information here has been curated to provide you with information about attaining Internet Connectivity. For online school learning activities, a minimum of 3 megabits per second would suffice. Here are resources you can reach out to for assistance with Internet connectivity.
Illinois State Board Of Education
The Illinois State Board of Education has put together a resource for families during these eLearning times. ISBE has worked with several Internet providers including the ones listed in this document to offer low-cost Internet access. www.isbe.net/keeplearning
Comcast
Comcast’s Internet Essentials Program has been available to families in need for many years and especially during this COVID-19 situation, as well as other important initiatives:
Internet Essentials Free to New Customers: It’s even easier for low income families who live in a Comcast service area to sign-up for Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program. New customers will receive 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service, which is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month. Additionally, for all new and existing Internet Essentials customers, the speed of the program’s Internet service was increased to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. That increase will go into effect for no additional fee and it will become the new base speed for the program going forward. Call 855-846-8376 for more information.
Xfinity WiFi Free For Everyone: Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots, and then launch a browser.
AT&T
AT&T offers low-cost wireline home Internet service to qualifying households: With at least one resident who participates in the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and With an address in AT&T’s 21-state service area, at which we offer wireline home Internet service, and Without outstanding debt for AT&T fixed Internet service within the last six months or outstanding debt incurred under this program.
T-Mobile
We’re committed to helping 10 million eligible households over the next 5 years. Eligible families are those who don’t have an internet connection and are enrolled in the National School Lunch program. If selected, the family will receive 100GB of mobile data per year and a FREE mobile hotspot, plus the opportunity to purchase devices at a low cost. Sign up today at T‑Mobile.com/Project10Million or visit a T‑Mobile retail store to receive assistance enrolling online.
All plans include:
Free mobile Wi‑Fi hotspot device: a take‑home internet connection for mobile
Free data: 100GB/year (for 5 years) data line per household, max one per student.
Discounted Wi‑Fi‑ready devices: equip students with tablets and laptops at low‑cost
Cell Phone Carriers
Another option that families have might be through a cell phone carrier. T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon have extended special service plans in response to the COVID-19 situation. Contact your carrier to see what options might be available to you.Technology is infused into daily teaching methodologies within all disciplines.
EveryoneOn
EveryoneOn is a nonprofit dedicated to creating social and economic opportunity by connecting low-income families to affordable internet service and computers, and delivering digital skills trainings. People can take advantage of these offers in multiple ways:
Through our offer locator tool, people can learn about internet offers, device offers, and digital literacy training providers in their community. They can access this information by visiting our website at www.everyoneon.org.
Our network of partners serves under-resourced people across the country every day. This network includes more than 650 enrollment partners and an increasing number of Digital Equity Champions.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
A new federal program, The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, announced today that eligible homes could start signing up on May 12, 2021 to receive $50 off the monthly cost of home internet access. One of the program qualifiers is housing a student who is eligible for the National School Lunch Program. This means any household eligible for free or reduced lunch for your school could potentially receive a monthly discount. More information about the program can be found at The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.
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