Just like books, students can check-out one of 150 wireless devices
for hotspots this school year
Company Website:
http://www.sprint.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- (Business Wire)
This school year, Charlotte-area students will be able to check out a
free Wi-Fi hotspot through a new agreement between Sprint (NYSE:S) and
the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Sprint and the Charlotte Mecklenburg
Library have made a commitment of offering 150 wireless hot spots to
students of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools who need to borrow the devices
in order to stay connected at home. The Library will lend students
without broadband access at home the devices for up to 30 days. The
value of Sprint’s service for the pilot project is estimated at $288,000
for the 2016-2017 school year. For more information about how the pilot
project will work, visit www.cmlibrary.org/oneaccess.
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“Children in households without online access are, increasingly, locked
out of learning once school lets out,” notes Lee Keesler, CEO for
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. “That’s why we’re enthusiastic about this
pilot. Giving CMS students the ability to borrow a device that will let
them access the internet from home gives them the freedom to learn
whenever they are curious. While this pilot program is limited in scope,
it could be a catalyst for future, larger initiatives so that we can
ensure no child or family is left behind.”
With an estimated 18 percent of households in Charlotte without internet
access in their homes due to costs, it significantly limits
opportunities for children to complete homework assignments, research
next-level learning, and apply for jobs online.
“Children today use the internet and wireless devices to stay on-track
during the school day, but it’s increasingly clear that far too many of
our children simply don’t have the access they also need at home to give
them a competitive advantage and succeed,” said Michael Miess,
president, North Carolina/South Carolina Region at Sprint. “We’re very
excited about the opportunity these Wi-Fi hotspots will bring to
Charlotte Mecklenburg students. It’s time to close the digital divide
and help students reach their highest educational potential.”
As part of the ConnectED initiative, Sprint joined President Obama and
other leaders in the technology and telecommunications industry in
pledging its in-kind support. For the past two years, Sprint has worked
to provide wireless broadband connectivity for 50,000 low-income K-12
students across the U.S. Sprint’s in-kind contribution is valued at $100
million.
About Sprint:
Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more
and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about
most. Sprint served more than 59.4 million connections as of June 30,
2016 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying
innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a
national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands
including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless;
instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a
global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the past five years. You
can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com
or www.facebook.com/sprint
and www.twitter.com/sprint.
About the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library:
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is one of America’s leading urban
public libraries, serving a community of more than one million citizens
in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Through 20 locations, targeted
outreach and online, the Library delivers exceptional services and
programs, with a mission to create a community of readers and empower
individuals with free access to information and the universe of ideas.
For more, visit cmlibrary.org.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160822005063/en/
Contacts:
Media Contacts:
Sprint
Roni Singleton, 404-649-8354
Eronia.singleton@sprint.com
or
Charlotte
Mecklenburg Library
Sarah Goldstein, 704-416-0702
sgoldstein@cmlibrary.org
Source: Sprint and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
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