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DOTHAN, Ala. (AP) — Students in low-income families may have a better chance of accessing the Internet from home through discounted services provided by area companies.
Both Comcast and CenturyLink offer Internet service for a minimum $9.95 base fee per month for low-income families. CenturyLink's program, Internet Basics, advertises Internet speeds of 1.5 mbps or higher and a current promotional offer for a $150 iPad mini. Comcast's program, Internet Essentials, recently announced it has increased its program's service speed to 10mbps.
Internet Essentials requires participants have at least one child who qualifies for the National School Lunch Program or attends a school where at least 50 percent of the students qualify for NSLP. Generally, Internet Basics applicants must either have an income that is at or below 135 percent the federal poverty guideline or participate in one of multiple federal or state assistance programs.
The U.S. Department of Education classifies low income as $17,655 or less annually for one person and $36,375 or less for a family of four.
National census data showed about 92 percent of children up to age 17 lived in a home with a computer in 2013, but that only about 81 percent of those homes had Internet access. In homes where there was an annual income of less than $25,000, about 62 percent owned a computer. Of that number, about 48 percent of those computers had Internet access, according to census data.
Mark Williams, Dothan City Schools' director of technology services, said many students who don't have Internet access at home won't admit it. While Williams said he pushes for teachers to give students ample time to complete assignments that would require research after school, Internet accessibility from home is important.
"The country as a whole is in some respects behind in connectivity in terms of the rest of the world," Williams said.
"It gets better every year.with smartphones and hotspots, but connectivity is still an issue."
Comcast spokeswoman Cindy Arco said more than 1,600 low-income families in Alabama - or 6,400 individuals - have connected Internet service in their homes through Internet Essentials. She said the program has connected more than 500,000 families nationally since its launch in 2011.
Arco said Internet service for students is often as important as other school supplies. She said the company's partnership with Wiregrass United Way, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Wiregrass and the Dothan Education Foundation is a critical component to Internet Essentials' success in the local area.
"We remain committed to continuing to roll up our sleeves and help close the digital divide, one family at a time," Arco said in a statement.
"Studies have also found that people need to be educated about how to use the Internet effectively to close the digital divide, so the Internet Essentials program also offers opportunities for digital literacy training and education."
CenturyLink spokeswoman Simone Alley said anyone who meets the low-income qualifications for Internet Basics and who does not currently have CenturyLink service may enroll once for a 12-month term, which may be extended on a month-to-month basis.
"CenturyLink is pleased to offer this program to qualifying individuals and families as a way to make Internet service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families," Alley said in a statement.
She said CenturyLink also participates in a government benefit program called Lifeline, which allows the company to offer discounted rates for telephone service.
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Information from: The Dothan Eagle, http://www.dothaneagle.com
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