Updated: Where to Get Free WiFi for Students During COVID-19
Refer your college students to these services to help them keep up with school work.
- By Campus Technology Staff
- 06/10/20
(Updated June 10, 2020; originally published April 30, 2020) The latest reporting by the Federal Communications Commission found that the number of people lacking a connection of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload was 21.3 million in the United States at the end of 2017. Some 4.3 million were in rural America or tribal lands. That translates to an untold number of college and university students living in homes without a broadband connection.
To help your institution reach students who may lack broadband connectivity, here's a list of wireless networking options they may be able to take advantage of. We've listed those that are available in more than just a handful of states first.
We developed the compilation by starting with a list of telecommunications companies that have signed the Federal Communications Commission's "Keep Americans Connected" pledge. Editors culled through the list specifically seeking information online about those companies that provided free service to students in their coverage areas and/or free public WiFi hotspots that students could access for some portion of each day while sitting in their cars or otherwise being physically isolated from others in the vicinity.
We will continue updating this list as information becomes available. If you know of other services not included on the list, please send details with a link to [email protected].
Large Companies
Atlantic Broadband (CT, MD, ME, NH, PA, SC, VA): Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://atlanticbb.com/my-services/my-account/wifi-hotspots
C Spire (national coverage): Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://www.cspire.com/cms/wireless/cspire-cares-covid-19-relief/
Cable One (AL, AR, AZ, IA, ID, KS, MO, MS, NE, ND, NM, OK, TN, TX): Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. http://one2one.sparklight.com/sparklight-extends-unlimited-data-on-internet-plans-through-may-12-2020/
Charter Communications/Spectrum (41 states): Offering free broadband and WiFi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students. Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://corporate.charter.com/newsroom/charter-to-offer-free-access-to-spectrum-broadband-and-wifi-for-60-days-for-new-K12-and-college-student-households-and-more
Comcast (national coverage)
Offering broadband service for free for 60 days to new Internet Essentials customers. https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19
Google Fiber (AL, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MO, NC, TN, TX, WA, UT): Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://support.google.com/fiber/answer/9788639