Hello Oakland Residents: Please read! ousd.k12.ca.us/domain/3418 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Low-income Households Now Eligible for Free Broadband, Free Computers, Free Training, and Free Tech Support Families can sign up through September 20th Oakland, CA – High-speed internet access at home is more important than ever to the success of students in East Bay public schools. But according to Pew Research, 46% of households with an income under $20,000 lack access to broadband. Without high-speed internet access, students struggle to complete research assignments and fall behind their peers in developing the digital literacy skills that are essential in an evolving workplace. “Every student in our community needs to have regular access to the internet to be successful in their studies,” said Oakland Mayor Jean Quan. “Right now we have a digital divide that separates families who can afford internet access from those who cannot. We’re here to level the playing field and make high-quality broadband internet accessible to every family in the East Bay.” Fortunately, help is available. Now through September 20th, any family in the East Bay with one or more children who qualify for free or reduced-cost school lunches is eligible for six months free broadband service ($10 per month thereafter), a free computer loaded with software, free tech support, and free digital literacy training. This offer is provided by East Bay Connects in conjunction with Comcast Internet Essentials and OTX West. Families must be new subscribers to Comcast. New broadband subscribers that don’t qualify for this opportunity, can sign up for other low-cost broadband opportunities and still get the free computer, training, and tech support. “Having access to technology and the internet in low-income communities is a critical component to removing the ever growing barriers of poverty and illiteracy” said President of Alameda County Board of Supervisors and Chair of the East Bay Economic Development Alliance Keith Carson. “East Bay Connects is supporting students and families in their efforts to achieve higher standards in education, access to resources, and enabling them to compete effectively in the digital workplace.” “Thank you to East Bay Connects and OTX West for their work to bring high-speed internet access into the homes of our students,” said OUSD Superintendent Antwan Wilson. “It’s so important that students have access to the internet at home so they can complete assignments, work on college applications, research career paths, and a million other tasks. Many of our students only have access to the internet at school, which puts them at a disadvantage compared to students who have broadband at home. This is another way we can work to close the achievement gap and provide equal opportunities for all of our students.” East Bay Connects is a regional initiative organized by a partnership of the East Bay Broadband Consortium and Oakland Technology Exchange West (OTX West) to bridge the Digital Divide in the East Bay by improving broadband deployment, access, and adoption. East Bay Connects is supported by funding from the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Emerging Technology Fund and computer donations from Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. OTX West provides up to 2000 refurbished computers each year to low-income East Bay families, with over 35,000 computers distributed during its 16-year history. Get Connected Oakland! is a partnership of the City of Oakland, the Oakland Unified School District, OTX West, and other community organizations who are cooperating to bridge the digital divide in Oakland. To sign up for the program, families can call the East Bay Connects Contact Center 866-460-7439 or email info@eastbayconnects. Media Contacts: Charon Darris, Acting Executive Director for OTX West 917-304-4644 [email protected] Dan Cohen, Full Court Press Communications O: 510.465.8294; C: 510.282.7621 April Thomas, Full Court Press Communications O: 510.550.8176; C: 206.321.3850
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 01:57:26 +0000
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