BY JASON COHEN
The coronavirus has forced
millions of kids to learn from
home virtually. However, not
all of them have internet.
Teachers and administration
saw the dilemma and
immediately contacted their
elected offi cials informing
them of the problem. The issue
was that many students
were having diffi culty getting
connected to Wi-Fi because
Optimum had a requirement
that all outstanding obligations
be paid before free Wi-
Fi could be delivered.
So, a few politicians decided
to step in. Assemblyman
Jeffrey Dinowitz, Senator Jamaal
Bailey and Councilman
Andrew Cohen, sent a letter
on March 27 to Altice USA
asking it to remove their requirement
that all outstanding
balances be paid before
families can receive free Wi-
Fi.
Altice promptly heeded
their request and have lifted
this requirement and are
working with schools to ensure
all students are able to
connect to the internet during
the virus-related closures.
“The education of a student
should not be contingent
on whether their parents
have unpaid bills or not,” the
elected offi cials said in a joint
statement. “School teachers
and administrators are working
incredibly hard to ensure
that all students are able to
access remote learning curricula
from their homes, but
all that work is for naught if
their students can’t access the
internet from home.”
Optimum is offering Altice
Advantage Internet free for 60
days, where available, to any
household in its service area
that has a student in kindergarten
through 12th grade
and/or college. This special
Optimum service is for students
who are displaced due
to school closures and who
don’t have Internet access at
home.
After 60 days, those affected
STAY HOME TO STOP THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS
New Yorkers working together and staying home can slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)
in New York City. When you go out for essential needs, work or to get fresh air, keep distance
between yourself and others and take the following precautions.
BRONX TIMES R 8 EPORTER, APRIL 3–9, 2020 BT
Councilman Andrew Cohen was among the pols who sent a letter to Altice about free Wifi for students Schneps
Media Jason Cohen
can either cancel the
service or keep it for a low
rate of $14.99 per month, with
no annual contract and free
equipment.
The elected’s said the refusal
to connect students to
Wi-Fi confl icted with the Keep
Americans Connected Pledge
that the company signed onto
in conjunction with FCC
Chairman Ajit Pai.
“No student should be denied
the opportunity to participate
in remote learning
simply because their parents
are behind on bills,” the
elected offi cials said in their
letter. “Our public school system
is desperately trying to
adapt in-classroom curricula
to remote learning models,
with teachers and school administration
putting extensive
effort into making sure
that all students are connected
with their academic
materials. This is an unprecedented
crisis, and it is imperative
that all of us – public
sector and private sector both
working together – take unprecedented
action to ensure
that our children can continue
to receive the education
that they need.”
Bronx electeds thank
Altice for removing
Wi-Fi restrictions
NEW YORKERS:
Text COVID to 692-692 for real-time updates or visit nyc.gov/coronavirus.
Call 311 to report harassment or discrimination. Call 888-NYC-WELL, text "WELL" to 65173
or chat online at nyc.gov/nycwell to connect with a counselor.
*Messages and data rates may apply. Check your wireless provider plan for details.
Bill de Blasio
Mayor
Oxiris Barbot, MD
Commissioner
PROTECT YOURSELF
AND OTHERS
• Keep at least 6 feet between
yourself and others.
• Wash your hands with soap
and water often.
• Cover your nose and mouth
with a tissue or sleeve when
sneezing or coughing.
• Do not touch your face with
unwashed hands.
• Monitor your health more
closely than usual for cold or
flu symptoms.
IF YOU ARE SICK
• Stay home.
• If you have a cough,
shortness of breath, fever,
sore throat and do not feel
better after 3-4 days,
consult with your doctor.
• If you need help getting
medical care, call 311.
• NYC will provide care
regardless of immigration
status or ability to pay.
REDUCE
OVERCROWDING
• Stay home.
• Telecommute if possible.
If you do go out:
• Stagger work hours away
from peak travel times.
• Walk or bike.
• Do not gather in crowds.
PROTECT THE
MOST VULNERABLE
• Stay home if you have
lung disease, heart disease,
diabetes, cancer or a
weakened immune system.
• Stay home and call, video
chat or text with family or
friends who have one of
these conditions.
/coronavirus
/nycwell