The Rose State College Foundation Board is committed to supporting current RSC students who are needing financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will provide home internet access for students who do not currently have service, assist students with a portion of their outstanding spring semester balances, and other immediate needs. It’s important for students to complete the spring semester and enroll in virtual summer classes at RSC. The Foundation wants to ensure that students will complete their education without any barriers.
To be considered for COVID-19 Student Relief, the students must be currently enrolled in at least six credit hours and complete the COVID-19 Student Relief Application. The applications will be reviewed by a campus committee, and the Foundation office will notify the grant recipients. It is extremely important that students complete the COVID-19 Student Relief Application by Wednesday, April 22nd in order to receive the internet access! This is a fast turnaround, but we would love to get as many names and addresses of students to Cox Communications by that deadline. We are asking all professors who are aware of students without internet access in their home to please reach out to them and inform them of this opportunity.
The COVID-19 Student Relief Fund has been established to support Rose State students and donations will be accepted at rose.edu/studentrelief. We know the need is great and welcome support to ensure a seamless educational journey for our students.
Please call the RSC Foundation office at (405) 736-0315 if you need additional information!
During the current global health crisis, it is critical that all Oklahomans have access to adequate and affordable internet services. Schools throughout the state will transition to online course work to complete the academic year. Health care facilities will rely heavily on their telehealth programs to help ease the burden of patient care. An unprecedented percentage of Oklahoma citizens in the workforce will depend on the ability to telework for the foreseeable future.
In order to address these issues, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has requested that telecommunications and internet service providers throughout the country sign the Keep Americans Connected Pledge. By signing this pledge, providers agree to a) not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic; b) waive any late fees incurred as a result of the coronavirus pandemic; and c) open Wi-Fi hotspots to any American in need. To learn more about the pledge and the companies that have signed the pledge, visit https://www.fcc.gov/keep-americans-connected.
Oklahoma State Broadband Coordinator, Sonja Wall, is working directly with Oklahoma Broadband and Internet Service Providers to address needs throughout the state. Additional resources have been compiled in order to aid residents and businesses in Oklahoma. These resources are listed below and will be updated as more details become available. Those in need of broadband and internet service assistance can reach Sonja at:
Sonja Wall
Director of OneNet and OCAN Services
Oklahoma State Broadband Coordinator>
Office: 405.225.9345
Email: swall@osrhe.edu swall@onenet.net
Program: Connect2Compete
Details:
Find out if Cox is in your area: Click here.
To Qualify:
Program: Access
Details:
Find out if Access from AT&T is in your area: Click here.
To Qualify:
As well, AT&T is giving free wireless data to school districts to provide to students as they adjust to learning from home. Through May 22, qualified schools (K-12, colleges and universities) nationwide activating new lines for school-issued tablets, 4G LTE-enabled laptops and hotspot devices will get unlimited wireless data service for free for 60 days to offer their students.
Additional offerings include:
The T-Mobile ConnectHome Plan is donating devices (tablets and hotspots), while supplies last, to public housing authorities, schools, libraries, and nonprofits to help bridge the digital gap for K-12 students. Participating organizations must purchase Internet plans.
Currently in the process of setting up public Wi-Fi hotspots in areas with large parking areas for use from vehicles.
Customers who were transitioned into telework roles can expand their bandwidth capabilities at no additional charge – customers simply need to provide the telework directive from their employer. Processes have been initiated to simplify service activations and allow consumers to get connected using online resources.
Waiving activation fees for installation of Broadband services and a promotional package for customers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak (loss of job, online school requirements, etc.) Package includes 30/5 mbps for $30 for 6 months/Whole home Wi-Fi free for 6 months.
Providing increased data limits on wireless plans and will offer credit on applicable overage charges. Waiving all late fees and will not disconnect customers for non-payment.
Totah has 2 locations of Wi-Fi access in Oklahoma for the Caney Valley School System and area residents of Ochelata. Caney Valley has Wi-Fi access at the football field and Ochelata has access at the baseball facility.
Working closely with local Mayors and School Superintendents to set up community WI-FI locations in the towns and communities that they serve. They have customers throughout eight counties in Oklahoma and have identified 57 locations that are being set up as community WI-FI spots. These locations will provide free internet daily between the hours of 8:00am and 9:00pm. Additional locations will be added if the need arises. In addition to the free WI-FI hotspots, customers can also upgrade their current speed at no charge until the pandemic passes.
Hilliary will publish the WI-FI location list on their website and Facebook pages. The local schools and towns will also publish locations on their websites and send notices to residents and students by automated calls or texts that they have available as part of their communication systems.
For households with K-12 and/or college students who may be displaced due to school closures and who do not currently have home internet access, Suddenlink is offering the Altice Advantage Internet solution for free for 60 days to any new customer household within their operating footprint.
After the first two free months expire, a customer may either cancel the service at no charge (which they can do at any time) or keep it as a regular paying Altice Advantage Internet customer for only $14.99/mo.
Residents interested in internet connectivity due to school schedule disruptions may contact their customer service department at (888) 633-0030.
A 15 Mbps internet plan for $10 per month is available for the next 60 days to help low income families and those most impacted from coronavirus challenges, such as seniors and college students. No documentation is required to sign up for this plan.
Opened free Wi-Fi hotspots in Sparklight local office parking lots across its footprint for public use during the crisis in order to keep individuals and communities connected. The company will work to open additional Wi-Fi hotspots in other public areas in the coming days and weeks.
Beginning March 13, 2020, Sparklight made unlimited data available on all internet services for 30 days and committed to waiving late fees and deferring payments for 60 days for customers experiencing financial strain as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The company also stands ready to support critical infrastructure with speed upgrades and other requests to ensure ongoing and reliable service for local educators and health care professionals, including customers under federal rural healthcare and E-rate programs.
The Keep Americans Connected Pledge issued by the FCC states the following:
Providers agree to a) not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic; b) waive any late fees incurred as a result of the coronavirus pandemic; and c) open Wi-Fi hotspots to any American in need.
The Oklahoma companies that have signed this pledge are listed below.