With schools now in session, Charter Communications announced on Monday it was re-launching its Remote Education Offer for free internet and Wi-Fi access for 60 days. The services are available to households with K-12th students, college students and/or educators. The promotion is for customers who live in a Spectrum market, but don't currently have Spectrum internet services.
Charter first launched its Remote Education Offer in March, which resulted in 448,000 new households added through June, to its Spectrum service for two free months.
In addition to the Remote Education Offer, Charter said it was making high-speed broadband more accessible through its Spectrum Internet Assist (SIA) program. SIA is a low-cost broadband program available to eligible low-income households and seniors. It includes a free internet modem, high-speed data at 30 Mbps, no data caps or contracts, and optional in-home Wi-Fi service for an additional $5 per month.
SIA is available to households in which one or more members are a recipient of assistance through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP, or Supplemental Security Income for the elderly. Charter said it would offer two free months of Spectrum Internet Assist to eligible low-income households with students or an educator not already a Spectrum customer.
Charter also recently announced a doubling of its original 2020 commitment to digital education, awarding a total of $1 million in grants to organizations providing broadband education, technology and training.
"The pandemic has prompted new focus on the technology divide and Charter is committed to being part of the comprehensive solution needed to close these gaps," said Charter CEO and Chairman Tom Rutledge, in a statement. "This offer is the latest example of Charter's ongoing commitment to improving access to broadband and helping to ease the strain of the pandemic in the communities we serve.
"From extending our network to rural areas to making high-speed broadband more accessible for low-income students and seniors through Spectrum Internet Assist, Charter provides a range of options that deliver critical connectivity to our customers."
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Along similar lines, Comcast launched a multi-year program last week to provide free Wi-Fi at more than 1,000 community centers in the United States.