Cox Highlights Plans to Extend Internet to Low-Income Students and Families

Cox Communications is taking advantage of a shout-out it got around the announcement of President Obama’s ConnectALL initiative last week to highlight its program to help lessen the Digital Divide.

“Cox Communications is announcing it will host more than 200 events across the nation for low-income K-12 families, automatically qualifying attendees for their low-cost broadband option,” the ConnectALL fact sheet released by the Obama Administration notes. “Later this year, the company will partner with Univision to promote Internet adoption through live programming, public service announcements and community events in such markets as Phoenix, Las Vegas and San Diego.”

In a press release that followed, Cox Communications President Pat Esser, says: “Today’s digital classrooms are tomorrow’s connected businesses. The investments we are making in closing the digital divide help ensure our students are prepared for their careers and life-long success after school.”

With a focus on making the process easier for every eligible low-income family with K-12 children in its footprint, Cox confirms that it will host more than 200 events across the country in 2016, looking to sign up at least 100,000 low-income Americans for the program.

Later this year, the company will launch a media campaign in partnership with Univision, promoting discounted internet service and digital literacy tools available to Hispanic families through Univision’s stations and across Cox’s media properties. The campaign will reportedly reach Cox’s six million customers nationwide through live programming, public service announcements and community events in markets including Phoenix, Las Vegas and San Diego.

Cox is a founding partner of the Connect2Compete program, which says it has connected nearly 160,000 people to the Internet in the last four years. K-12 families who are eligible for the National Free School Lunch program, TANF and SNAP benefits are eligible. Public housing residents in Macon, Ga., Meriden, Conn., Baton Rouge, La., and New Orleans also are eligible through the company’s support of ConnectHome, the US Housing and Urban Development pilot program that seeks to increase Internet adoption among public housing residents.