Student households can sign up for free Wi-Fi via
Spectrum while DOE works to deliver 25,000 iPads
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
When Mayor Bill de Blasio
announced that public schools
are shutting down from Monday,
March 16 until Monday,
April 20, to further prevent the
spread of the coronavirus, many
people felt relieved as well as uncertainty
about what it’ll mean
for students who still have a few
months left of the school year.
Chancellor Richard Carranza
said that while the city
didn’t have an immediate plan
for what the rest of the school
year will look like during the
pandemic’s containment period,
they would have more answers
about remote (or online) learning
as they train teachers from
Tuesday, March 17, to Thursday,
March 19.
“We’re transitioning to remote
learning so our students
can stay on track while remaining
safe and healthy,” a Department
of Education (DOE)
spokesperson told QNS. “This
is an ever-changing situation,
but we are committed to providing
our students and educators
the opportunity to remain connected
and engaged with their
course content.”
The most pressing issue is to
get students electronic devices
to use at home as well as internet
access, as public services like
the Queens Public Library will
be closed until further notice to
slow the spread of the virus.
Carranza said that out of
1.1 million students in the New
York City public school system,
roughly 300,000 don’t have electronic
devices.
The DOE is partnering with
companies like Apple to get students
electronic devices such as
iPads. The first batch of 25,000
iPads will be delivered to students
some time next week, according
to a DOE spokesperson.
But the DOE is also working
with internet providers like
Spectrum to guarantee internet
access for students.
As of Monday, March 16,
Spectrum is offering households
with K-12 and college students
free WiFi access and broadband
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.30 COM | MARCH 20-MARCH 26, 2020
(high-speed internet) for the
next 60 days. But this only applies
to households who do not
already have a Spectrum WiFi
and broadband subscription.
To enroll, or to ask for more
information, call 844-488-8395
or go to spectrum.com.
Installation fees will be
waived for new student households.
For most new customers,
self-installation is an option and
free professional installation is
also available.
For customers where selfinstallation
is available, equipment
and instructions can be
shipped directly to the customer
at no charge. For customers
who have never had Spectrum
services at their address, professional
installation is required.
For those struggling to pay
their Wi-Fi bills as a result of
COVID-19, a Spectrum agent
told QNS that the billing department
is willing to make accommodations.
Spectrum will also open its
Wi-Fi hotspots across their footprint
for public use. They said
they don’t have data caps or hidden
fees.
Some of these offerings also
apply to businesses.
Other internet providers
are also offering free Wi-Fi and
hotspots in public spaces include
Comcast via their Xfinity
brand and AT&T.
Although public schools are
closed, they will remain open for
grab-and-go lunches from 7:30
a.m. to 1 p.m. Any and all students,
whether they’re in pre-K
or 21 years old, can go to any
school in order to pick up their
breakfast and lunch — they do
not need to be enrolled in the
school where they pick up their
meals. Meals will be available
outside of the main entrance of
every school.
Mayor Bill de Blasio holds a media availability on COVID-19 with
Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza on Monday, March 16.
Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Offi ce
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