Keeping ROANE COUNTY Connected During Coronavirus pandemic
March 13, 2020

Keeping ROANE COUNTY Connected During Coronavirus pandemic

Broadband and wireless companies are signing a “Keep Americans Connected Pledge” at the request of Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, to ensure customers in the US aren’t cut off from communications services during the coronavirus pandemic.

Internet and wireless providers will waive late fees and keep Americans connected. This is part of a broader pledge instituted by the FCC and taken by companies like Verizon and AT&T that also opens up free Wi-Fi networks.

AT&T

Coverage map – https://www.att.com/coverage/

  • AT&T halts caps on broadband data as coronavirus drives many Americans inside
  • COVID-19: Our Response
  • For the next 60 days, ATT will:  
    • Not terminate the service of any wireless, home phone or broadband residential or small business customer because of their inability to pay their bill due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
    • Waive any late payment fees that any wireless, home phone or broadband residential or small business customer may incur because of economic hardship related to the coronavirus pandemic.
    • Keep our public Wi-Fi hotspots open for any American who needs them.

To provide further relief and support, AT&T announced:

  • Unlimited AT&T Home Internet – All AT&T consumer home internet wireline customers, as well as Fixed Wireless Internet, can use unlimited internet data.  Additionally, we’ll continue to offer internet access for qualifying limited income households at $10 a month through our Access from AT&T program.
  • Helping You Work and Learn Remotely – Businesses, universities and schools can keep their teams and classrooms connected through conference calls and video conferencing with Cisco Webex Meetings with AT&T for 90-days, and seamlessly forward calls to both mobile and landline phones with AT&T IP Flexible Reach.
  • Distance Learning – AT&T is underwriting expenses for a “one-stop” resource center to support eLearning Days from the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) available to all educators in schools to help them handle school closures and the increase in virtual learning due to COVID-19.

Additional details about these commitments will be available soon.

COMCAST/xfinity

Coverage map – https://www.xfinity.com/locations/in-my-area

Effective 3/16/2020 Comcast Increases Access to and Speeds of Internet Essentials to Support Americans Through Coronavirus Pandemic

  • Speeds will increase from 15/2 MBPS to 25/3 for all new and existing customers and will become the speed of the service going forward.
  • New families who connect will get 60 days of Internet service for free.
  • The Internet Essentials program is normally available to all qualified low-income households in Comcast’s service area for $9.95/month.

VERIZON

Coverage map – https://www.verizonwireless.com/featured/our-network/

On Friday 3.13.2020, Verizon said it will waive late fees for the next 60 days, and keep homes and small businesses connected while they’re “negatively impacted by global crisis.”

SPRINT

Coverage map – https://coverage.sprint.com/IMPACT.jsp?

Sprint signed the FCC’s pledge Friday which involves not terminating residential or small business services due to their inability to pay bills during the coronavirus pandemic; waiving late fees; and opening their Wi-Fi hotspots to all Americans for the next 60 days.

T-MOBILE

Coverage map – https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/coverage-map

T-Mobile announced Friday that it would be providing unlimited data on all mobile plans for the next 60 days. This includes T-Mobile and Metro customers. It will also be providing an additional 20GB of its mobile hotspot service for the next 60 days, and is offering free international calls to any Level 3-impacted nations worldwide.

CHARTER/SPECTRUM Communications

Coverage map – https://broadbandnow.com/Charter-Communications

Charter to Offer Free Access to Spectrum Broadband and Wi-Fi For 60 Days For New K-12 and College Student Households and More

Roane County Public Libraries

Click on the links below for library information

Refurbished COMPUTER PACKAGES for Roane County Students

If your school-aged child, K-12 (who lives in Roane County) needs a computer and you have NO working computer in your home, ROANEnet has FREE refurbished desktop computer packages available (desktop computer, mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer, ink, paper), please fill out the Computer Package Request Form.