During this time of crisis, there are many options available for you to access Wi-Fi! Some internet providers such as Spectrum and Optimum have made a pledge to provide broadband and/or Wi-Fi free to students for 60 days. Other wireless providers such as Verizon and AT&T have made similar pledges. Here is an up-to-date list of providers and their pledges:
AT&T pledged to do the following for its customers:
- Keep our public Wi-Fi hotspots open for any American who needs them.
- Not terminate the service of any wireless, home phone or broadband residential or small business customer because of their inability to pay their bill due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
- Waive any late payment fees that any wireless, home phone or broadband residential or small business customer may incur because of economic hardship related to the coronavirus pandemic.
If you are unable to pay your bill, AT&T askes that customers call 800-288-2020.
Verizon Wireless pledged to do the following for its customers:
- The company will not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus.
- Verizon offers its customers a variety of wireless and home broadband plans, as well as a suite of global IP-network services. Verizon does not have data caps on its Fios home, 5G Home and DSL home broadband services, or on its wireline business broadband services. Most of the company’s wireless customers are on unlimited wireless plans. Customers who are not are encouraged to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots whenever available. Wi-Fi connections do not count against a customer’s data usage.
T-Mobile pledged to do the following for its customers:
- Offering free international calling for all T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers to level 3 impacted countries.
- 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 an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot / tethering service for the next 60 days – coming soon.
- Working with our Lifeline partners to 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 our EmpowerED digital learning programs to ensure each participant has access to at least 20GB of data per month for the next 60 days.
Sprint pledged to do the following for its customers:
- Not terminating service if they are unable to pay their Sprint bill because of the coronavirus, and
- Waiving late fees incurred because of economic circumstances related to the pandemic.
- Customers with metered data plans will receive unlimited data per month for 60 days (a minimum of two bill cycles) at no extra cost.
- We 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 today will now get 20GB as well per month for 60 days (a minimum of two bill cycles) at no extra cost.
Charter to Offer Free Access to Spectrum Broadband and Wi-Fi For 60 Days
Below, please see Spectrum’s free internet access offering starting Monday, March 16th for 60 days. Please also share with those you think may benefit from this service.
- Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.
- Charter will partner with school districts to ensure local communities are aware of these tools to help students learn remotely. Charter will continue to offer Spectrum Internet Assist, high speed broadband program to eligible low-income households delivering speeds of 30 Mbps.
- Charter will open its Wi-Fi hotspots across our footprint for public use.
Optimum to offer free broadband for 60 days to college students
- In order to help students stay connected, we are offering Altice Advantage broadband free for 60 days to any new household in our service area with K-12 and/or college students who may be displaced due to school closures and who do not currently have home internet access. Click here for additional information about Altice Advantage Internet.
- Altice Business is partnering with school districts in our service area to offer its Student WiFi product at no cost for 60 days. Altice Business Student WiFi provides students who have school-issued devices the ability to use the Optimum WiFi Hot Spot Network to access their school’s network and resources from home if they do not have dedicated Internet access.
- If you are a school district interested in seeing if this is a good fit for you, please contact your existing account representative or if you are not a current Altice Business School customer visit www.AlticeBusiness.com/contact or call 877.544.4872
- We have opened up our Emergency Optimum WiFi outdoor hotspots for public use to non-subscribers. To find an Emergency Hotspot, click here.
- To join, in the Wi-Fi settings on your device, select the “optimumwifi-Emergency” network name and follow the prompts to log in.
- To ensure all of our communities stay connected, we have opened up News12.com to non-subscribers through the end of March to ensure all residents have access to what’s happening in their local communities, including closures, government press conferences, and more.
- To watch News12, visit news12.com
Xfinity to offer access to out-of-home Wifi hotspots
- Everyone can access out-of-home WiFi hotspots: Xfinity WiFi Hotspots in out-of-home locations are available for free to anyone who needs them to support communities through this challenging time. Follow instructions at xfinity.com/wifi to join a hotspot.
Tip: You can also consider checking with local colleges, libraries or parks for access to free Wi-Fi in parking lots!
For any questions, please contact your provider.
Tags: Coronavirus Employee Resources, Coronavirus Student Resources
