Sprint To Provide 1 Million Students With Free Internet, Mobile Devices (reuters.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: Wireless carrier Sprint Corp on Tuesday pledged to provide 1 million U.S. high school students with free mobile devices and internet access as part of a White House initiative to expand opportunities for lower income kids. Marcelo Claure, chief executive of Sprint, said the plan builds on the company's prior commitment through the White House's ConnectED program to get 50,000 students high speed internet. He said Sprint realized that while providing students with internet at school was helpful, students would still need to be able to use the internet at home. "We are going to equip 1 million kids with the tools they need to reach their full potential and achieve their dreams," Claure told reporters on a White House call. Sprint aims to give cell phones, tablets, laptops or mobile hot spots to students who do not have internet at home. Students would be able to choose the type of device that might meet their needs and it would be coupled with four years of free data plans. The company hopes to reach its goal of a million students in five years. Manufacturers have agreed to provide the mobile devices at no cost, Claure said. He also said the company would encourage customers to donate their old devices to the program and that it would not cost Sprint much to allow the free use of its network.

Comments

Mystery solved!

[JonnyO]

I guess we know where all those returned Galaxy Note 7's are going.

Re:Mystery solved!

[Oswald McWeany]

I guess we know where all those returned Galaxy Note 7's are going.

Double purpose, acts as central heating if you can't afford the electricity bill.

I'm just not sure how you're going to charge it to provide the heating if you don't have electricity... ... I may not have thought this through completely.

Much better than Facebook

[Oswald McWeany]

This is a much better than Facebook's plan of giving access to their tailormade list of sites that suits their interests.

Anyone who has kids knows how much the internet is central to a child's schooling needs now. It's more than just using the internet for research now. The internet is used as the medium in which teachers hand out assignments, give grades, accept assignments.

Without internet you can't be an affective student. If your parents don't have internet service you have to go places to access it from free-public places; libraries, whilst they're open, etc. Poor kids manage, but it's a definite disadvantage than having to access your work from home. Poor kids in rural areas are probably in extra trouble.

Re:Why does Iggy Pop even Fucking Bother?

[Hognoxious]

You go to school, get good grades, get a good job, stay out of trouble, all to make a good living and enjoy some luxuries.

# Dum dum daah, dum dum didah dum, Dum dum daah, dum dum didah dum, LUST FOR LIFE!