Cox has announced the continuation of its participation in Connect2Compete for two more years and pledged $15 million in support of broadband adoption initiatives through 2016. The broadband adoption program offers discounted high speed Internet service to low-income families with children who qualify for the National School Lunch Program.
Locally, Cox Arizona also announced a partnership with Mesa Public Schools to help connect low-income families who qualify for Connect2Compete with the tools needed to bridge the digital divide for school-aged children.
Today, more than 15,000 families have enrolled in Cox’s Connect2Competeprogram, bringing broadband service to their homes and helping close the digital divide for some of America’s most vulnerable residents. Since 2012, Cox has actively promoted the Connect2Compete program in partnership with dozens of community organizations, agencies and officials to help spread the word about the program. Across its 18 state footprint, more than 500,000 flyers have been distributed to families in 6,500 schools, and nearly 200,000 public service announcements have aired on its cross-channel cable network lineup.
“Connecting youth to technology is a core value of Cox Communications, and has guided our community investment initiative for decades. But in today’s digital economy, the Internet is a critical educational resource for America’s youth and their families,” said Pat Esser, Cox President, when he announced Cox’s renewed commitment to Connect2Compete. “Together with Connect2Compete, we are making great progress in bringing Internet service to more low-income families in the communities we serve.”
The partnership with Mesa Public Schools is a pilot program in which a $10,000 grant to Good Tech America, underwritten by Cox Arizona, is offering 100 refurbished computers to Mesa families for just $10 when they sign up for Connect2Compete.
“Cox’s involvement in Connect2Compete has demonstrated the powerful impact a company can have on its local school districts and their students,” said Dr. Michael B. Cowan, superintendent of Mesa Public Schools. “We applaud Cox’s is commitment to closing the digital divide for our families and their willingness to expand Internet access to low-income households in Arizona.”
Cox has made the Connect2Compete program enrollment easier for families by expanding low-income eligibility programs from beyond just the National School Lunch Program. Other legibility programs include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
For more information on Cox’s Connect2Compete program, visit www.connect2compete.org/Cox.
