FREE & Low-Cost Resources for Accessing Internet
- How To TBI
- May 21, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 12, 2022
One of the things that sharply came into focus at the beginning of the pandemic for many policymakers when lockdowns started, when large numbers of people started working from home (WFH) remotely, and when school children started remote learning in large numbers was:
1) not everyone has access to the internet from home (o can afford to) and
2) not everyone has an internet-accessible device.
Early 2020, for much of the world, this came into sharp focus.
Even if a home had internet and a computer, there may not have been enough internet-accessible devices for ALL family members to utilize during peak work/school distance-learning hours.
Previously, this internet gap was bridged by a combination safety net of publicly-available, taxpayer-supported resources.
Local community centers, senior centers, public schools and public libraries had been able to offer this point of access, in-person, at their facilities. Once all of those facilities closed/reduced hours due to the pandemic, large proportions of the popularion suddenly were cut off from those information and current event resources.
As public health, medical and political leaders were constantly changing guidelines, and as information about COVID-19 became more apparent and policies shifted and changed, it was very difficult for many to keep up with the latest guidance and recommendations.
Many of these public/nonprofit institutions also offered periodicals such as newspapers, magazines and community newsletters to help keep constitutents informed on local relevant, state-level, national & global news. When insitutions started shutting down an in-person presence and moving to a larger digital presence online, there were a lot of people left out in the dark.
One person I know put it really well when they remarked that while we live in an urban, metropolitan environment, it was as though there were all these people suddenly living in a deserted remote area, in the middle of nowhere, effectively offline, even though we were all in the city, surrounded and physically socially-distanced from many.
Many of those disproportionately affected were those of limited means, as well as many digital novices, senior citizens, those with limited social capital, those who are new to learning the local predominant language, and many with disabilities. For many of these populations, having access to a tv or a smartphone isn’t necessarily the case, especially when the choice is to put that money towards food on the table, paying for housing, &/or medical expenses.
Some public schools helped to bridge this access gap by providing Chromebooks and other internet-accessible devices, and some internet service providers highlighted their offerings for less-expensive internet. If you didn’t have a public school-aged child though, you likely were ineligible to access these specific types of programs.
I lived in a very diverse area (SES, housing type, race/ethnicity/nationality, age, intergenerational families and single people, students, those who are working in paid employment, and those who are trying their best to get by), and as the pandemic got underway, I found myself frustrated with many things due to lack of access and saw the burdensome lengths that some of my fellow neighbors had to go through, just to do something seemingly “basic” like:
1) check the news,
2) find public transit times from schedules that constantly changed,
3) send or respond to an email
4) apply for/interview for prospective jobs and
5) try to return Dr.’s messages and phone calls to their medical providers
One of the things I learned that I believe makes a difference is the importance of civic engagement, locally. Sometimes, decision-makers don‘t realize there’s a problem until someone raises the argument and speaks up to let them know.
I wrote a suggestion about this to my local legisltors and community suggesting at the very least, free or low-cost internet should be available to those most in need, especially if in Section-8 & affordable housing communities.
It was voted on along with the many really great crowd-sourced suggestions from the greater community, & my idea won! I felt so proud. It felt as though I had been able to channel the first-hand frustrations I, and others, in the community had felt related to the pandemic and it demonstrated proof-of-concept for those who had the power to implement change on a wider scale.
While the city didn‘t exactly implelement my suggestion, as written, they did create and expand upon a pilot program they had been running for seniors that has since been opened up to all residents, and I’m really proud of that.
All throughout the city, there are key public sites that have free wifi, but in the neighborhood, it was a free wifi desert.
If you, too, are looking for inspiration, know that right now, you, too, have the power to make a positive life-changing difference in the local community around you.
Mahatma Ghandi said, “be the change you wish to see in the world,” and I think this is a great example that your time spent helping others matters.
With that in mind, this post is not sponsored by anyone and is not an ad, but I’d like to highlight a couple of programs in case it might be of help to you.
Comcast Internet Essentials
-previously was 25 mbps, but as the pandemic progressed, is now up to 50 mbps speed
-cost is approximately $10/month, +$5 or so in taxes and fees (about $15/month, total)
-data is capped at 1GB/month
-don’t watch 4k videos because you will hit that data quota VERY fast & may either get cut off, or throttled & have to pay data usage difference (unsure)
-if you receive EBT SNAP benefits, are a LIHEAP recipient, or meet other income-eligible criteria, you may qualify for this ongoing program
-rental of a Comcast Xfinity-provided router/modem is included in the cost. If you already have a router/modem or Gateway that you own, you may be able to use your own i
equipment and not have to wait for a Comcast Xfinity-owned router/modem to be provided to you.
-with the federal Affordble Connectivity Program (ACP), that cost is now FREE.
Limitations
-You cannot have Comcast Xfinity internet services for at least 90 days.
-If you currently have Comcast Xfinity Internet that you cannot afford, you will need to end that Intenet service for at least 90 days (exception: if you move addresses where you receive internet service, the 90 day waitperiod is waived).
-if you enroll and then move states, you have to re-apply in order to re-gain this specific service.
-if you enroll and then move within your state, your service can transfer easily without a break or discontinuation.
NOTE:
-If the Comcast Internet Essentials Limitations are to restrictive to the amount of data and speed that your household members need, you can apply the $30 ACP credit towards the Internet portion of your existing internet bill, whether you have internet-only service or a combination of internet/phone/tv bundled services.
Find out about Comcast Internet Essentials here:
Find out about ACP with Comcast Internet Essentials here:
Verizon FiOS
-they currently offer a 300 mbps fiber optic internet (in available serivce areas) for around $30/month
-if you meet similar income requirements as listed above for the Comcast Xfinity one, you can apply for a federal program called ACP (the Affordable Connectivity Program).
-once you certify that you qualify for the ACP, that $30 credit can be applied to your account, making your cost $0/month.
-the price includes rental of a Verizon FiOS-owned rental router/modem, if needed
-if you already own your own router/modem or Gateway, you may be able to use your own device
-if you apply on the Verizon FiOS site, the install fee is $0, otherwise $99.
Find out about Verizon FiOS 300 mbps plan for ACP enrollees here:
***Find out about the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) here:***
For those who may not qualify, if any of the following are applicable to you, please reach out to your internet service provider (ISP) about a possible internet discount:
-veteran or active duty service member discount
-retiree discount
-senior citizen discount
-educator discount
-first responder discount
-medical discount
-low-income discount
-student discount
-nes graduate discount
YMMV.
What other affordable, low-cost or FREE internet resources have you found that would be helpful for others?
Are there any other discounts you’ve found that may help others that aren’t mentioned above?
Please feel free to thoughtfully share those resources in the comments below.
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