Free and Low Cost Internet Options for TASD Families
Due to Tyrone High School starting online instruction next week, many parents worried about being able to access the internet.
With this problem in mind, the Tyrone Area School District recently shared a list of free and low cost internet opportunities to families. For free and immediate access to the internet, families can now go to Tyrone Area School District or the Tyrone-Snyder Public Library parking lots for access.
Below are some of the ways families can now get access to the internet:
Access to free Wi-Fi
Tyrone Area School District
From the parking lots of the Tyrone Area School District, district-issued Chromebooks are able to get WiFi signal. People should remain in their cars or at a safe distance away from others.
The Tyrone-Snyder Public Library
Although we are closed, we have left our Wi-Fi on at the library. If you park in the row of parking adjacent to the library’s back door, you should be able to access the Wi-Fi. We ask that people stay in their cars or a safe distance away from others. No password is required – just – log on to TSPLGuest.
Low or no-cost options
Comcast Xfinity
Xfinity offers an Internet Essentials program that allows qualifying customers to purchase a plan for just $9.95 per month. Internet Essentials is designed to help students, seniors, and low-income families. The program offers 15 Mbps internet and free in-home Wi-Fi and requires no credit check.
Xfinity also offers low-cost computers as part of the Internet Essentials program. Customers can choose a laptop or desktop computer for $149, which includes Microsoft Office, Norton Security Suite, and a 90-day warranty.
To get Internet Essentials, customers need to fill out an application and wait to be approved. For a family to qualify, they must have at least one child eligible for the National School Lunch Program and meet a handful of other requirements.
Comcast Xfinity is currently offering its Internet Essentials program free for two months to new customers. The internet provider is also automatically increasing speeds for all Internet Essentials customers.
Comcast Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots are also open and free to use by anyone.
AT&T
AT&T’s Access program offers up to 10 Mbps internet to eligible low-income families for $10.00 per month. To qualify for Access, customers must have at least one family member who participates in the SNAP program.
Visit the Access page to fill out an application and see if you qualify.
Charter Spectrum
Free internet for students from Charter Spectrum
Households with students K–12 or university students can sign up for a new Charter Spectrum internet account to get the first two months of internet with speeds up to 100 Mbps for free. Installation fees will be waived for those who qualify for the offer. Call 1-844-488-8395 to enroll. Spectrum Wi-Fi hotspots are also currently open and free to use.
NetZero
NetZero offers customers up to 10 hours of free dial-up internet use every month. The connection requires a home phone line, and it’s limited to data speeds of around 56 Kbps (about half of 1 Mbps). It’s not a fast enough connection for online gaming or streaming video content, but it’ll do for basic messaging, email, and web browsing if you’re patient.
FreedomPop
FreedomPop also has a few options for free internet service. The company offers both free mobile phone service and free home internet service via 4G LTE connections. The high-speed internet claims to be faster than DSL (and definitely faster than dial-up), but you’re limited to 1 GB of data per month.
Lifeline
Lifeline is a government program backed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It provides a monthly phone or internet service discount for low-income households. At the time of writing, Lifeline benefits give eligible subscribers a discount of at least $9.25 per month off landline phone service, wireless phone service, broadband, or bundled services.
There are two ways to qualify:
Through your income.
If your income is 135% of the federal poverty guideline or less, you can qualify for Lifeline assistance. The guidelines vary with household size and the state you live in, but the average federal poverty guideline is generally about $34,000 for a family of four.
Through a government program.
If you or someone in your household participates in select federal assistance programs, you may qualify for Lifeline. These are the eligible programs:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits
Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
Medicaid
You can also qualify if a child or dependent participates in one of the listed programs.
How does Lifeline work?
If you qualify, you choose a participating provider in your area and sign up. You’ll have to provide proof of eligibility and renew your Lifeline subscription every year. You can also have only one Lifeline benefit per household, so you have to choose between a phone or internet subsidy.
Several ISPs participate in Lifeline benefits programs. You can find all your options using the Lifeline provider database. Here are a few examples of companies that participate:
Hailey Vanish is in her fourth and final year as a member of Tyrone Eagle Eye Newspaper. As she enters her senior year, she hopes to write more stories...
