Access to Internet Service

• Catalog and provide easy resources for those that can't afford a connection. Identify ISPs in the community that offer low-cost programs for qualifying households, and ensure the Lifeline eligibility website is front and center and ISPs participating in Lifeline are identified.

• Comcast: https://www.internetessentials.com/
• Charter: https://www.spectrum.com/browse/content/spectrum-internet-assist/
• AT&T: https://m.att.com/shopmobile/internet/access/
• Lifeline: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/lifeline-support-affordable-communications/

• Contact all community anchor institutions in the community and catalog their Wi-Fi hot spot capabilities and provide guidance on moving their routers closer to windows and the interior edge of buildings to broadcast further into surrounding areas. Schools, libraries, businesses, and government offices are particular targets for this effort. Create a simple Google map of hot spot locations in the community and host that map on the Campaign resource website. Below are links to hot spots from some providers and information on using school buses for Wi-Fi hotspots.

• Comcast: https://hotspots.wifi.xfinity.com/
• Spectrum: https://www.spectrum.com/wifi-hotspots/
• Enabling school buses with Wi-Fi and parking them in strategic locations in the community could also provide Wi-Fi hot spot connectivity.
• https://twitter.com/OzarksGo/status/1243231734931566593
• https://cradlepoint.com/t-mobile
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/04/02/google-giving-rural-school-bus-riders-free-wi-fi-homework/476899002/
• https://www.startlandnews.com/2020/03/transportant-wifi-covid-19/
• https://www.kajeet.net/

Access to Devices (Laptops, Desktops,Tablets)

• Create a call to action in the community for device donations, funding, and other related resources. The call should also include a request to ISPs for special pricing and accommodations for vulnerable populations and low income households. The call to action should target businesses, philanthropic organizations, community foundations, and similar organizations. Some elements of the following recommendations could also be included in this call to action.




• Identify a local refurbisher to receive and manage donations. The refurbisher should help with the management and technical support for equipment donated to the community.

Digital Literacy and Internet Safety Training

• Collaborate with the school system to identify their preferred resources for digital literacy training and cybersafety resources. . These resources will be shared on the campaign website. Also share other training resources. Below are some publicly available resources:

• Connected Nation’s Drive your Learning Training Portal https://www.driveyourlearning.org/
• Common Sense Media Internet Safety training for parents https://www.driveyourlearning.org/
• GCFLearnFree.org offers internet safety training https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/internetsafety/

• Identify or develop a virtual training and placement program to help displaced workers secure remote jobs. Advertisements for work-at-home jobs can sometimes be scams and particularly prevalent at a time when people are most vulnerable. Identify the programs and job postings that have been vetted for legitimate outcomes. For displaced workers that lack the skills and experience for work-at-home employment, identify virtual training programs that can quickly upskills participants for open jobs. Digital Works is a long-standing program offered by non-profit, Connected Nation that offers training, placement and mentoring services exclusively for remote based jobs: https://digitalworksjobs.org/

• Identify key stakeholders in the community and schedule regular touch points with those entities to identify opportunities and needs. Those key stakeholders should include, but are not limited to, schools, libraries, healthcare facilities, public safety agencies, etc. Taskforce members and the champion should have regular targeted discussions with each about connectivity opportunities and challenges. Any relevant resources should be added to the Campaign’s resource website.




• Identify local outlets to broadcast information to the community from the Campaign. Most small towns/communities have local Facebook groups. These groups should be leveraged to broadcast connectivity information to the community. While an online format is only good for those with an internet connection, even those without a home internet connection often have access to a mobile device. Local media should also be included and the campaign should release regular press materials to the media to ensure resources are being broadcast to the community. Messaging should be succinct and useful. The campaign should not add noise to the already crowded news around the COVID-19 emergency. Information should also be distributed to libraries, senior centers, and schools for email distribution to those they serve.

• Identify any public (or private) assets that can be leveraged for infrastructure expansion. Identify vertical assets in the community for wireless equipment and communicate these assets to wireless internet service providers as a way to expand coverage. Work with the owners of vertical assets to negotiate 6-12 month lease abatements for locating equipment on their assets to entice rapid expansion. An example from Northeast Michigan http://connectmycommunity.org/nemcog-vertical-assets/.




• Establish temporary suspensions of certain permitting processes to expedite build out. Ease right of way permitting and fees, tower co-location and siting requirements (if any), and any permitting related to the deployment of COWs (cell towers on wheels). The regulations to be eased can be identified through conversations with the ISPs. Also, ensure public meetings are being held virtually to keep approvals moving.




• If significant funding can be found, create a local fund that helps offset the cost of installation for internet service or the monthly cost of service for a certain period of time for low-income households. This would be a short application process, primarily targeted for households with school aged children to ensure they can get connected. Work with providers to lower these fees on the front end, but a local community foundation fund, or similar, could help to offset any remaining installation costs or abate monthly fees for a certain period of time for those most in need. A voucher-like system may be the quickest way to create such a program for low-income households. The fiduciary can qualify applicants and distribute vouchers, and ISPs can accept vouchers to provide service and receive reimbursement from the fund.