Mediacom Communications says that over the past 12 months, it has doubled the number of K-12 student families who receive low-cost Internet service to extend educational learning from classrooms to home. More than 2,000 families in Mediacom's footprint who did not previously have home Internet service are now using Connect2Compete, a product Mediacom makes available to low-income families with K-12 students.
Connect2Compete provides low-cost Internet service to students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The offering, which Mediacom subsidizes as an educational initiative, includes home WiFi. Eligible families pay $9.95 per month to receive the home Internet service, and equipment and installation fees are waived. Cox Communications also participates in Connect2Compete and is one of its founding members.
"Technology and the Internet play an essential role in student learning. As one of America's leading broadband companies, Mediacom recognizes the importance of closing the achievement gap between students in homes with access to high-speed Internet and those without it," said Mediacom Senior Vice President Ed Pardini.
The number of Connect2Compete participants has grown each month and doubled from one year ago. The 2,000-plus families who currently use the service live in 408 communities across Mediacom's multi-state service area, mostly in communities with populations below 5,000.
"Access to quality broadband service is a topic that policymakers are concerned about, especially in non-metro areas. With Mediacom Connect2Compete, the results are real, and the impact is transformational for the students and their families," Pardini said. "In the past year, we've doubled the number of families who use this discounted service to provide digital learning for their sons and daughters, and we plan to continue our local investments to ensure that students don't miss out on the benefits of living in an Internet-connected home."
Connect2Compete is available in all communities along Mediacom's network. Families can retain the discounted home Internet service during the school's summer break to further support student learning. New participants can sign up at any time. Families who live in Mediacom service areas and have K-12 students who qualify for the NSLP can sign up to participate.