Internet Providers Offering Free Access to Families in Need

Internet service providers Spectrum, AT&T, Comcast, EmpowerCLE+, Mobile Citizen and Verizon have recently revised their internet service packages to offer relief to households experiencing hardship during the Covid-19 pandemic. See the list below to find out if you qualify and how to apply.

• Spectrum internet provider is offering 60 days of free wifi and internet for 60 days to new Pre-K to 12, college students and teacher households who currently do not have service, at any service level up to 100 Mbps. The internet service provider launched the Covid-19 Remote Education Credit March 16. The credit will be applied to the first two months of internet service, and installation and/or prepayment fees will be waived. To qualify, households must have a student of qualifying age at the service address with remote education needs and households must not have subscribed to Spectrum for internet services within the last 30 days.Spectrum Call 855-243-8892 to sign up and to mention the Covid-19 Remote Education Credit offer found at https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/covid-19-internet-offer-students/ when calling.

• AT&T has recently expanded their Access program in response to Covid-19. Updates to the lost-cost program include: two months of free service to new customers who order Access by April 30, 2020, $5/month or $10/month thereafter depending on speed; expansion of eligibility based on income and to households receiving SNAP; and waiving of all home internet data overage fees. For more information about the access program through AT&T and to apply, please visit https://m.att.com/shopmobile/internet/access/.

• Comcast internet provider is offering two months of free service through their low-cost Internet Essentials package. Households can apply for the free months of service by May 13, 2020; after promotion, regular rates will apply. For all new and existing Internet Essentials customers, internet speed has increased to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. Households with outstanding debt owed to Comcast may be eligible for the Internet Essentials promotion. To qualify, households must receive SNAP, live in an area where Comcast internet service is available, and must not be an existing Xfinity Internet customer or have not subscribed to Comcast internet in the past 90 days. For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19.

• EmpowerCLE+ provides reliable and affordable broadband Internet access to under-connected communities in Cleveland. Currently serving the Glenville community, EmpowerCLE+ customers enjoy internet access for as low as $18/month. Please visit https://empowercle.org/ to find out how to get connected.

• Mobile Citizen Hotspot is now available from ACS3. The hotspot brings the blazing speed of 4G LTE to your wireless devices, at home or on the go. The Access For All program provides service for educational entities, nonprofits and social service agencies, starting at $10/month. For individuals, call ASC3 at 216-202-4292 to get connected.

• Verizon is currently waiving data coverage charges to support customers who may be financially affected by Covid-19 crisis until May 13th. Current customers must let the service provider know by completing a hardship form. Details are at https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/covid-19-faqs/#bill. The wireless company is also waiving activation and upgrade fees, adding an additional 15 GB of data across most of their plans, offering free international and domestic calling and are not charging internet and voice charges for Lifeline customers. More information can be found at https://www.verizonwireless.com/featured/covid-19-waived-fees-and-charges/.

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Volume 12, Issue 5, Posted 5:54 PM, 05.07.2020