We made a prediction on the first day we introduced CheapInternet.com to the world. We predicted that all the various cheap internet programs being tested across the nation would eventually morph into a free internet service similar to the very successful free government cell phone program.
Suddenly we appear prophetic because the school board in Barrington, Illinois, a bucolic bedroom community 30 miles or so northwest of Chicago, has just announced that it will be the first school district in the country to offer free internet to its needy students and their families. And we imagine that a significant percentage of the town’s 10,371 residents are celebrating.
The Barrington Sun-Prime reports, “Project Horsepower, which would be a partnership between District 220, Comcast and the Barrington Area Development Council, would be available to families whose children qualify for free and reduced lunches.”
Project Horsepower Aims at Students
The pilot program is aimed at middle and high school students and will expand to include elementary school students next year.
Technically, the program isn’t really free. In an unusual arrangement, Comcast will provide high-speed broadband service to eligible needy families for just $9.95 per month. What makes the program particularly interesting is the fact that the Barrington Area Development Council will cover those costs for the needy families and Netgear will donate wireless routers.
Everyone involved in the Barrington project seems to think the program could be an important breakthrough in teaching.
“They are a very progressive district and they wanted to see if they could take Internet Essentials further,” Nelson said. “They wanted to bridge that last mile. It’s a really unique program because it takes that digital divide and leaps right over it.”
“This is a really important piece in enabling us to move forward in how we deliver education,” School Board President Brian Battle noted. “We look forward to … making this a reality.”
“This is an extension of the learning process that is so important,” board member Joseph Ruffolo added. “This stuff isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s actually a necessity.”
Here at CheapInternet.com, we greet this announcement with a high level of excitement. From our perspective, it’s the first step toward the universal free internet program we’ve always believed in.
Source: Sun Times
Cary Bruce, Jr. says
I applaud that someone is trying to do a good thing but Barrington, Illinois???? Come on!!
I happen to live about 20 miles from there and Barrington, Illinois is one of the richest towns in all of Illinois. I really think that they could have tried a little harder to find some “needy” families. Just within 20-30 miles of Barrington there are some VERY poor areas that could use help in a big time way. Not only that but Comcast has a major operations hub in Barrington…..Can you say “corporate tax break”? This has it written all over it!