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Mobile Internet Resources to Address the Homework Gap

Mobile Internet Offers

As schools all around the country are closing due to COVID-19 and classrooms are moving online, many districts are scrambling to support their educators and students with distance learning. One of the biggest challenges they face is that an estimated 9.7 million students don’t have access to the Internet at home.

The Digital Bridge K-12 project is EducationSuperHighway’s response to the crisis; supporting school districts to increase connectivity outside the classroom so that students have the Internet access they need to continue learning.

The following providers are offering free or low-cost mobile service, flexible payment plans, and additional offers to support students and families.

This is the second post in a series that will continue to be updated as new offerings develop. You can find Part 1 (Home Internet Offers) here and Part 3 (Additional Low-Cost Offers) here.

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Mobile Internet Offers

Verizon

  • Verizon will add 15GB of high speed data for wireless consumer and small business customers to be automatically applied with no customer action necessary.
  • Unlimited customers will get additional LTE hotspot data, while prepaid or postpaid customers on a set data plan will receive an additional 15GB of cellular data.
  • Announced two months waived Internet and voice service charges for current Lifeline customers and new affordable Internet option for low-income households.
  • Tripling data allowance for Verizon Innovative Learning middle schools.

Sprint

  • Per-minute calling rates for international long distance calls to countries identified by the Center for Disease Control as Level 3 are waived through 5/31/20. Customers are still responsible for any monthly charges for add-on international long-distance calling plans.
  • Customers with metered data plans will receive unlimited data per month for 60 days (a minimum of two bill cycles) at no extra cost.
  • Sprint will provide customers with an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot data per month for 60 days (a minimum of two bill cycles) at no extra cost.
  • Customers with mobile hotspot-capable handsets who don’t have mobile hotspot will now get 20GB as well per month for 60 days (a minimum of two bill cycles) at no extra cost.
  • Sprint 1Million project
    • Doubling the data allotment from 10 GB to 20 GB per month through June 30, 2020.
    • Allocating additional devices to districts that are immediately implementing remote learning in order to help support their e-learning plans.
    • Working to accelerate the receipt of more than 100,000 new mobile hotspot devices that are allocated for the 2020-21 school year in the hopes of getting them into the hands of eligible high school students sooner.

T-Mobile

  • All current T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers who have plans with data will have unlimited smartphone data for the next 60 days (excluding roaming).
  • Providing T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers on smartphone plans with hotspot data an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot / tethering service for the next 60 days (coming soon).
  • Lifeline partners will provide customers extra free data up to 5GB of data per month over the next two months.
  • Increasing the data allowance for free to schools and students using their EmpowerED digital learning programs to ensure each participant has access to at least 20GB of data per month for the next 60 days.

Mint Mobile (T-Mobile network)

  • Mint Mobile will be providing all customers with free unlimited high-speed data add-ons (through 5/14/20).

Boost Mobile (Sprint network)

  • Customers will automatically receive complimentary international calling rates from the U.S. to countries defined by the CDC as Level 3 through April 30, 2020.
  • Waiving reconnection fees for customers through April 30, 2020.
  • Customers currently on an unlimited data plan with Boost Mobile will automatically receive an additional 20 Gigs of mobile hotspot on their plans at no extra cost through April 30, 2020.
  • Customers currently on a tiered plan with Boost Mobile will automatically receive an additional 20 Gigs of data on their plans at no extra cost through April 30, 2020.

This is the second part in a three-part series; view Part 1 here and Part 3 here.