• Low-income households can now apply for a $50 monthly discount for internet (NY Times, May 12, 2021)
• People are using Facebook and Instagram as search engines. During a pandemic, that’s dangerous. (Nieman Lab, August 10, 2020)
• How the US’ massive failure to close digital divide got exposed by coronavirus (Reveal News, June 22, 2020)
• Closing California’s digital divide is an emergency (San Francisco Chronicle, June 8, 2020)
• Iowa Receives Millions In Emergency Education Relief To Expand Broadband Access (KIWAradio, June 2, 2020)
• How the US’ massive failure to close digital divide got exposed by coronavirus (Reveal News, June 22, 2020)
• FCC PARTNERS WITH  INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES  TO ADDRESS DIGITAL DIVIDE DURING COVID-19 (FCC, May 21, 2020)
• Erasing America's Digital Divide (NYT,  April 14, 2020)
• US's Digital Divide 'is going to kill people' as COVID-19 Exposes Inequalities (The Guardian, April 13, 2020)
• Austin ISD is Rolling Out 110 Buses Equipped with Wi-Fi for Neighborhoods with Limited Online Access (KUT, April 10, 2020)
• When School is Online, The Digital Divide Grows Greater (Wired, April 9, 2020)
• A Quarter of the Nation is Without Broadband (TIME, March 30, 2017)

What is "Media Justice"?

Media Justice was formerly the Center for Media Justice and is the home of the Media Justice Network.  They describe themselves as an organization that is "fighting for a future where we are all connected, represented and free."  Consult their website to learn more about their ambitious mission and opportunities connect.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges that many people and communities will face in the coming months, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) called on telecommunications companies across the nation to take a Keep Americans Connected pledge.  To day, over 400 companies and associations have signed the pledge.  They have committed to maintaining internet and telephone service for those who have been adversely affected by these exceptional circumstances and can no longer afford these essential services.

The FCC pledge asks companies to commit to the following for the next 60 days for those affected financially by the pandemic:

1. They will not terminate services.
2. They will waive any late fees.
3. They will open WiFi hotspots to any American who needs them.

Selected companies and offers are included below.  Be sure to check each company's website for more information and qualification requirements.  

• Comcast is offering free WiFi for two months to low-income families.  All Xfinity hotspots are free to members of the public until further notice.
• Internet Essentials is offering access for $9.95 a month with no contract.
• Charter Free Internet is offering access for two months.
• AT&T is offering open hotspot, unlimited data to existing customers, and a $10/month plan to low-income families.
• Sprint is providing unlimited data to existing customers and will allow all handsets to enable hostpots for 60 days as of March 17, 2020.
• T-Mobile is offering unlimited data to existing customers, and will allow all handsets to enable hotspots for 60 days at no extra charge.
• EveryoneOn can connect users with low-cost internet service offers in their area.  
• Verizon is not providing any new offers at this time, but is committed to the FCC agreement.

If you learn of any new offers or updates to the offers listed above, please let us know at reference@law.howard.edu and we'll be sure to update this page accordingly.