Awardees Announced!

Kansas City, Missouri (February 17, 2023) – Access, adoption, and use are three words that are often correlated with closing the Digital Divide. Ensuring that individuals and communities have access to the devices, connections, and knowl...

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Lily McCoy, Evan Dolive, Molly Weiner, and Alek Argueta

January 30, 2023

How digital literacy workshops create an opportunity for personal and community growth

AT&T Impact, Blog, AT&T, AT&T Impact, digital learning, Digital Literacy, Digital Skills, Longview Publis Library, Longview Texas, online skills, Texas, United Way

Longview, Texas (January 31, 2023) — Digital inclusion and digital literacy are not only essential for personal development, but also for community growth. That’s why Connected Nation (CN) is committed to empowering communities and t...

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January 26, 2023

Community Matters — How Austin Texas’ urban residents are bridging the Digital Divide together.

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Austin, Texas (January 26, 2023) – Communities are often united by common goals or experiences. Longtime residents who lack access to the same things can empathize with one another and form plans of action to help each other. In some cas...

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January 24, 2023

Expanding digital literacy throughout the Lone Star State

AT&T Impact, Blog, Success Stories, AT&T, AT&T Impact, computer basics, Connected Nation, Cyber Security, digital learning, Digital Literacy training, internet basics, Longview Texas, Online learning

Longview, Texas (January 24, 2023) – Digital literacy is an essential competency in today’s digital world. We use computers on a daily basis to pay bills, communicate with loved ones, go to school, stream our favorite shows, and much mor...

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September 26, 2022

Connected Nation launches Digital Literacy program in collaboration with AT&T

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Program is bringing digital literacy workshops to communities to help advance digital skills and empowerment for families across the U.S Bowling Green, Kentucky (September 26, 2022) – Connected Nation (CN) announced the launch of a new...

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May 25, 2022

Closing the homework gap: New hotspots help connect university students across the country

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Nashville, Tennessee (May 25, 2022) — This past year, Connected Nation and AT&T partnered to help bridge the Digital Divide and narrow the homework gap for vulnerable students across the country. As part of this $10 million dollar comm...

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May 18, 2022

Keeping kids connected: Connected Learning Program gives rural students a chance to learn outside the classroom

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Marion, Kentucky (May 18, 2022) – As part of AT&T’s $10 million commitment to helping our nation’s most at-risk children, the company and national nonprofit Connected Nation (CN) partnered last year to deliver hotspots to 150 schools...

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April 25, 2022

C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California lands first place, largest cash prize at the national Kids Tech Summit

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Virtual event – (April 25, 2021) – C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California (C5LA) earned top honors at the national Kids Tech Summit held Friday, April 22. The friendly competition was hosted by national nonprofit Connected Nation (...

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AT&T K-12 Homework Gap Program: Frequently Asked Questions

Does the service or equipment have any associated costs?

What information will I receive for the hotspot devices that I’ve been awarded?

What do parents/students need to know in order to use the hotspots?

Students/Parents will need to be shown how to find their Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and the password for that network. We recommend having them connect to the device when they pick it up to ensure there are no connectivity issues with their laptops/tablets/etc. that may require troubleshooting. You can find the Wi-Fi network name and password by doing the following: 1. Press and hold the Power Button for 3 seconds until the welcome logo appears on the display. After a few seconds, the Wi-Fi signal icon will appear on the display. 2. Look for the network (SSID) “Moxee HotspotXX_2.4G”or “Moxee HotspotXX_5G”, where XX are the last two digits of the device IMEI. 3. Click “Connect” and enter the default password found on your device. Your Wi-Fi SSID and password information can be found on your device’s “Wi-Fi Info” screen or on the SSID label located underneath the battery cover.

What is included in the award?

You will receive Moxee hotspots, that have an unlimited data plan and built-in Enterprise Traffic Protector (ETP) content filtering. See below for more information on the data plan:

DATA RESTRICTION: After 50 GB of data usage on a line in a bill cycle, for the remainder of the cycle, AT&T may temporarily slow data speeds on that line during times of network congestion. VIDEO STREAMING: Plan is not eligible for Stream Saver. For content we can identify as video, wireless streaming speed will be slowed to Standard Definition quality (max1.5 Mbps, about 480p). Video speed is capped at Standard Definition regardless of network device is on (for example, 4G LTE). Ability to stream, video resolution, and other data usage (including speed) are not guaranteed, may vary, and may be affected by a variety of other factors.

What content is filtered by Enterprise Traffic Protector (ETP)?

ETP includes: • Automatic enforcement of Strict Mode for access to YouTube Content • Automatic Safe-Search enforcement for all web searches via Google and Bing • Access to common education tools like Zoom, Blackboard, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams • Enforcement via DNS-Based policies – this is seamless and operates separately from other on-prem tools and filters & protects all devices accessing the Internet via protected hotspot device

What should I do if a valid educational website is being blocked?

You will see a message in the internet browser when a site is blocked, and it will provide a specific reason. Please take a screenshot of the message you are receiving and send to Connected Nation at lconrad@connectednation.org. The team will review and add the site to the whitelist if necessary. NOTE: Adware and Malware can cause blocking errors to appear if it is installed on your laptop/tablet/etc. Please review the URL on the blocking message to confirm if it matches the website you are trying to access before sending in your whitelist request.

What should I do if a hotspot is lost, stolen, or is physically damaged?

What should I do if a hotspot is malfunctioning?

How long is the service agreement?

What do I do with the hotspot once the service agreement has ended?

IMPORTANT NOTICE/DISCLAIMER: Connected Nation, Inc. (CN) has been selected as an independent third-party non-profit organization to assist AT&T in fulfilling its K-12 homework gap program commitment and will make the sole and final determination as to which schools or non-profit organizations, if any, receive an award under the program. The submission of an application is part of a competitive process that in no way guarantees the award of any contribution to the applicant. CN is not an agent of AT&T, and this program is entirely independent of any past, current, or future E-rate procurement process. An award agreement must be fully executed before any award under this program is final.

Additional Resources for Students and Parents

Broadband Emergency Benefit

Find and Access FREE Internet Hotspots

A hotspot is a physical location where people can access the internet, typically using Wi-Fi. Some internet service providers offer “hotspots” across the country. The following list of links can help you find these.

Check your local library and ask if they are loaning out hotspots.
Check state offices. For example, InnovateOhio has identified free hotspots throughout the state: https://innovateohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/innovate/news/news-and-events/04042020
Check local universities and community colleges. Many are offering free Wi-Fi to the public. WKU located in Bowling Green, Kentucky is one example: https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=article&articleid=8656 /

Locate Free Provider Hotspots

Cox Communications: https://www.cox.com/residential/internet/learn/cox-hotspots.html
Frontier Communications: https://www.frontierwifi.com/location/
AT&T provides hotspots nationwide. To access from your AT&T smartphone or wearable device:
- Your device should automatically connect to AT&T’s network when you’re at a Wi-Fi hotspot location
- From a tablet or laptop
  - Note: Make sure your Wi-Fi is enabled
  - Select att-wifi or attwifi from your list of available wireless networks.
Get access to free Spectrum Wi-Fi hotspots: https://www.spectrum.com/wifi-hotspots
Xfinity Wi-Fi (covers Comcast) — the company is giving free access to everyone, including nonsubscribers, for 60 days. You can find hotspots anywhere by heading to this website: https://hotspots.wifi.xfinity.com/

Resources for Finding Low-Cost Internet (or Phone) Service and Devices

Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the monthly cost of phone or internet. Eligible customers will get up to $9.25 toward their bill. Head to this website https://www.lifelinesupport.org/ to see if you qualify and to find companies near you that participate.

EveryoneOn provides a short form to help you establish eligibility for low-cost internet and devices (laptops and desktops) and locate companies based on your ZIP code. This can be found at https://www.everyoneon.org/find-offers.

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance recently put together a list of free and low-cost internet plans (all less than $20 a month total cost). You can find that list here: https://www.digitalinclusion.org/free-low-cost-internet-plans/.

Mobile internet offers

Home internet offers

Access from AT&T is offering two months of free service as well as $5 a month and $10 a month plans (plus tax), based on speed, for new customers who order before April 30. It also expands eligibility based on income (household income based on 135 percent or less than the federal poverty guidelines) and participation in the National School Lunch Program/Head Start and is waiving all home internet data overage fees. This pdf provides additional details, including how to enroll, or simply call 1-855-220-5211 (English) or 1-855-220-5225 (Spanish). Additionally, visit att.com/access to enroll.

Internet for Students on Low Income

Help for School Districts Trying to Identify Students Who Need Access

Other Resources and Applications

Learn More About the Awardees

According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, nearly 17 million public K-12 students have fallen into the “homework gap” due to COVID-19 school closures. In addition, Bellwether Education Partners estimates that approximately 3 million at-risk students may not have experienced any formal education—virtual or in-person—since March 2020.

These schools and nonprofits are receiving devices and services to help finally close that homework gap for some of our nation’s most at-risk kids. Use the map below to find links to each of the groups benefitting from this program. Click here for the full list of awardees.