Cox seeking families for low-cost Internet program

Posted 5/24/17

Cox Communications is seeking to hook some Cranston families up with low-cost high-speed Internet if they qualify through its Connect2Compete initiative. Cox Public Relations Manager Jeff Lavery spoke about the requirements and benefits of the program.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Cox seeking families for low-cost Internet program

Posted

Cox Communications is seeking to hook some Cranston families up with low-cost high-speed Internet if they qualify through its Connect2Compete initiative.

Cox Public Relations Manager Jeff Lavery spoke about the requirements and benefits of the program. There would be neither a deposit nor a contract, and the $9.95 Internet installment is free.

“This is a program that is in effect nationwide and then there are cable companies like Cox that basically raise their hand to be the local connecter,” Lavery said. “The program is still going strong. We had 87 families signed up in 2016. We just continue to see the benefits from it. It seems to dovetail nicely with a lot of the things that are happening at the statewide level.”

Lavery offered some of the qualifications for the program: Families must live in a Cox service area and have at least one student from kindergarten through grade 12 in the Cranston system. There must be no outstanding Cox bills or “unreturned equipment,” no Cox Internet subscriptions in the last 90 days. Families who take part in one of the following programs are also eligible: SNAP, TNAF, Public Housing or Section 8 Voucher and National Free School Lunch.

Lavery said the program can help children bring learning home with them from school, particularly in STEM fields.

“Schools are increasingly trying to move to environments to provide students with laptops or Chromebooks,” Lavery said. “Teachers want to migrate to a curriculum where there’s some classroom structure, but they take that work home. If you’re making strikes for a kid that learns that way, they continue that self-teaching. It’s a burden for a child who can’t keep up. This gets everybody on that same page.”

State Sen. Hanna Gallo is a speech language therapist in the Cranston system, and she sees the benefits of the program as well.

“It’s so important not only for students, but the parents,” Gallo said. “The way schools are going is with that technology, we’re trying to find more communication at the schools and home. Parents can now go on a website and see what homework is for the night. Years ago you had to go to the library and look things up in the encyclopedia and now students can do it at home.”

For more information, head to cox.connect2compete.org.

Comments

2 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • spider125681

    I hope this will go for all of the State.

    Saturday, May 27, 2017 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    Don'ts have internets? go to the lieberry and use it there. stop driving up my cable bill

    Tuesday, May 30, 2017 Report this