6/21/2023 0 Comments High speed internet minco![]() ![]() The hot spots can be checked out for a month and renewed up to five times in a row as long as there’s not a waiting list. The hot spots are free and available to all OCLS members no matter the income. “You’ll get a little box with the hot spot inside along with a quick start guide and charging cable.” “They are available at all of our locations and all you have to do is go to the customer service desk and tell them you’d like to check out a hot spot,” said Schimpf. The OCLS received a nearly half a million dollar grant through the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund purchasing 1,000 wi-fi hot spots. Everything is online so we’re hearing more and more of those stories,” said Orange County Library System Chief Project Officer Lynette Schimpf. “Life just happens and someone may lose their job and have health issues and not be able to afford the internet, and you need the internet to apply for jobs. If your child is in their school’s free or reduced lunch program you qualify,” said Schwantes.Īnother option for free in-home internet service may be as easy as a trip to your local library. “If you qualify for SNAP, WIC or received a Pell grant if you’re a college student, Medicaid is another way to qualify. There is an income requirement, income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, but a quick way to find out if you’re eligible. We’d like to see that number increase, but it’s relatively new,” said Schwantes. “Maybe only a third of eligible households are taking advantage of this program. Keep in mind, many internet service providers offer their own discounted internet programs for qualifying households, some costing $30 a month, so with the ACP, the service would be free. More than 100 providers in Florida are a part of the program and combined with a low-cost internet option, would make home internet free for some plans. In 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Communications Commission launched the $14 billion Affordable Connectivity Program covering $30 a month for in-home internet and up to $75 a month on qualifying tribal lands. ![]() So, the government wisely stepped in,” said Consumer Reports Senior Policy Counsel Jon Schwantes. “For a lot of Americans struggling to make ends meet, that’s just too much. – It’s turned from a luxury to a necessity - high-speed internet.īroadband internet is used in just about every aspect of life from getting a job to education and even healthcare.īut what if you can’t afford broadband or wi-fi at home?Īccording to Consumer Reports, the average internet bill is $75 a month. ![]()
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