IMPORTANT NOTE: Knology is no longer offering this internet plan. For information on other low-income or otherwise inexpensive plans, please CLICK HERE.
Of the various companies and programs we’ve seen which work towards helping low-income Americans cross the Digital Divide by providing them inexpensive or even free broadband internet, a company in Kansas named Knology is somewhat of an anomaly. In a good way. A very good way.
Knology has for some time now been offering the financially disadvantaged in Kansas absolutely free high-speed internet. They are not being reimbursed by anyone government body for this, they are simply doing it because they want to give back to the community. Here’ show they explain it:
Knology’s Lifeline Internet service is a voluntary program. Knology receives no subsidy to offset the costs of this service. The reason we offer this service to the citizens living in our service area is because local help agencies reached out to Knology in 2007 saying there was a need and it was not being fulfilled by the current low-income provider who only offered conditional approval for their service offering to low-income families. Knology offers this service without a waiting list or other conditions, beyond the criteria set by the state for Lifeline Telephone Service, to all those who qualify.
Who Gets Free Internet in Kansas?
Knology takes the eligibility requirements of the FCC’s Lifeline Telephone Program, and applies them to applicants in their service areas of Kansas. If a person qualifies under Kansas state and federal guidelines for Lifeline Telephone service, then they qualify for free cable internet from Knology.
You qualify for free Knology high-speed internet if you participate in any of the following assistance programs, or are at or below 150% of the federal poverty level:
- General Assistance
- Medicaid
- Food Stamps
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
- Head Start
- Free School Lunch Program
- Food Distribution program (United Tribes of Kansas and NE Nebraska, Inc.)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- Head Start ( only those meeting its income qualifying standard )
Here is a chart showing the income equal to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level:
Household members / | Income |
1 | $16,245 |
2 | $22,695 |
3 | $28,635 |
4 | $34,575 |
5 | $40,515 |
6 | $46,455 |
7 | $52,395 |
8 | $58,335 |
each additional | 5,940 |
So, if you are in Kansas and meet the eligibility requirement, you won’t find a better deal than Knology. And it sounds like you won’t find another vendor who cares as much. If fact, reading their mission statement says a lot about who they are:
- We are honest, fair and evenhanded
- We deliver as promised, professionally and personally.
- We show courtesy, respect and friendliness.
- We work relentlessly as a team.
- We give customer matters urgent attention.
- We take responsibility for problems and are always responsive to customer needs.
- We work hard to make doing business with us easy.”
Sounds good to us.
Contact Information:
Knology Lifeline Internet
1 Riverfront Plaza
Suite 301
Lawrence, KS, 66044
785-841-2100 or 800-869-1214
The specific page about the Knology Lifeline-based free internet program is found here:
http://kansas.knology.com/internet/lifeline/
No says
Why is this up?????take it down if u don’t offer it!!!!!
Misrepresentation is still wrong
People come looking for help then u sell them something all through guise of helping
You said we don’t offer this. Just take it down insteD of free commercial:( bad form
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
You run your website your way, we’ll run our website our way. (Some comments just plain piss us off, and this was one of them. Our initial response to this comment included a common word beginning in “f” and it took every ounce of our self control to go back and put up this more family friendly response. One other thing: the word beginning with “f” was neither “family” nor “friendly.”)
Lynn Owen says
Do you offer this on kansas city kansas
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
You can find a complete list of low-income internet plans to find the one that its your needs best, Lynn:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
coral stout says
How to I go about finding out of they cover my area
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Review the article on this page. You’ll find Knology’s contact info near the bottom of the article.
Tara says
Can you get this just for your Internet?
Kathleen Sparks says
Do you offer this in the Emporia area
Maureen says
they advertise that service is available in my area but i cant even get past answering machine.
DARCY ZONGKER says
I AM I NEED OF FREE INTERNET HELP FOR MY 13 YR OLD DAUGHTER . SHE IS IN THE 8TH GRADE . I AM ON SSI DISABILITY. WE ARE DESPERATELY I NEED OF HELP . THANK YOU .
Sadam says
Norm, I agree with your assessment. I have used both AT&T and Comcast and with each I eprcxieneed excessive outages and very long hold times when in need of customer support. For the past year I have been using Knology and have been surprisingly pleased with the amount of up-time and rapid support. If they are new to your neighborhood, take advantage of the great discounts being offered. It is well worth it!
Cary Bruce, Jr. says
Happy Birthday James!
I will help you…..Read all the pages of information and thats your help!
James Friedman says
Live in section8 housing i am going to be 77 years old on
Sept 15 this year please help me
Thank You in advance
teresa says
hmmm not available in great bend ks either 🙁
dale says
Just when you think corporate america is this greedy old man. Thank you Knology.
carolyn stephen says
I have Windows 7. May I still be able to get internet service from you? Thank You!
Robbie says
I wish Knology would offer it here in Tennessee. They don’t offer it on their home phone service either.