On the digital divide and new funding opportunities. Video link.
On the digital divide and new funding opportunities. 
View the recording (link above) for nonprofit perspectives on the impact of the digital divide impacts people seeking healthcare, middle and high school students, young adults connecting to employment, and adult learners. Lack of equipment, knowledge, and internet access are having a disproportionate impact.

Ruschelle Reuben, Associate Superintendent, MCPS

  • Mental health and technology presentation.
  • Collaboration Council Webinar: Bringing Digital Learning Equity to Your Program: Pre-Recorded Webinar is being offered by the Collaboration Council as a part of its Youth Development Community of Practice.

Technology and OBP (Montgomery County Office of Broadband Programs)

Low Cost Internet at Home: 

  • Comparison of low cost home Internet programs.
  • Comcast and RCN are offering $10/mo, first 2 months free, no equipment fees or installation charges – AND NO CREDIT CHECK.
  • If families sign up by Dec 31, Comcast will waive all debt the family may owe (prior to Covid they offered to waive debt older than 1 year). Now they will waive all past debt which is a big reason families can’t enroll in the program. The other fine print is the family cannot have been a Comcast Internet subscriber in the last 90 days.
  • For RCN and Comcast, families are eligible if they qualify for 12-13 low income programs including SNAP, WIC, SSI, public housing, and Medicaid
  • Comcast’s Internet Essential Partners Program program provides the opportunity for nonprofits and school districts to fund and quickly connect large numbers of students and families to broadband access at home.
  • For Verizon, there is a small group of people eligible. The customer qualifies for a federal Lifeline benefit which reduces the cost to $19.99.  Verizon offers greater bandwidth. After 3 months there is $15 equipment fee. No installation fees, but there is a credit check and you must not owe money to Verizon.
  • You can also call 311 to request a tech support appointment or help signing up for low cost home Internet programs.

Main Street Connect
To learn more about the joint pilot project with Main Street Connect and Montgomery County providing free WiFi to Main Street residents, click here.