How do Wi-Fi hotspots work?
Hotspots are basically public Wi-Fi networks, so they work just like your home or office network. Just connect, fill out any forms that pop up, and you’re good to go.
Background info
Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1 (844) 488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.
Findings:
❏ Please visit the following website: allconnect.comin order to see what internet providers are in your area.
❏ If there are Optimum towers in the area, it is more than likely that Spectrum will not be offered in that area. This means they do not offer this solution to the majority of Brooklyn.
❏ They will set up a modium in the home and waive the two months of internet charge.
❏ This is a pay as you go service, which means that you have to cancel before the two months are done to avoid being charged the third month.
❏ This can support the internet on tablets, gaming devices, phones, and smart tvs.
Findings:
❏ Please visit the following website: allconnect.comin order to see what internet providers are in your area.
❏ This option is for free internet for low income families., new customers (should not have had Comcast in the last 90 days).
❏ Your child has to be enrolled in a school, and should be enrolled in Free and Reduced Price Lunch. They may ask you to provide government form/documentation.
❏ They will set up a modium in the home and waive the two months of internet charge.
❏ After the two months the monthly charge will be $9.95 (to avoid being charged the $9.95, you have to call and cancel the service.
❏ This can support the internet on tablets, gaming devices, phones, and smart tvs.
Findings
❏ This is a satellite internet service, meaning a dish would have to be installed in the home
❏ They would have to enroll in a 24 month contract (there could possibly be a first month credit).
❏ They do not currently provide any feasible/free internet solutions.
D. Verizon
Findings
❏ Small Business and Families services will not get turned off if there is a late payment and that late fees for payments will be turned off.
Background Info
The internet is essential for successful learning and Mediacom wants to help families with K-12 students get connected. Mediacom Connect2Compete is offered as one of the ways our company works to close the "digital divide."
We participate with "EveryoneOn," a national non-profit program. Our goal is to make home internet access simple and affordable so that students have a reliable connection to participate in a digital curriculum and extend the learning experience from school to home. Mediacom makes this service available to eligible families in all areas where Mediacom's broadband network is present.
Findings:
❏ Mediacom offers internet service in your community or area.
❏ You have at least one student in grades K-12 living at home.
❏ At least one child qualifies for free or reduced-priced school lunch through the NSLP ( National School Lunch Program)
❏ You are not a current Mediacom internet customer and have not subscribed to their internet service in the last 90 days
❏ You do not have an outstanding Mediacom bill or unreturned equipment
❏ There is no contract, no installation fees, no equipment fees, or rental fees.
❏ It will cost $9.95/month
Findings:
❏ Offering free internet for all customers
❏ They have to use this websiteto find a hotspot and see if there is one near there house.
❏ You do not need a password or login in credentials
❏ This is a service they are providing to everyone regardless if they are a member so not.
❏ CON-Their home has to be a hotspot
❏ To login in they open their cellphone/tablet/smart tv and they open the wifi settings and it should automatically connect.
Hotspots are basically public Wi-Fi networks, so they work just like your home or office network. Just connect, fill out any forms that pop up, and you’re good to go.
Follow these directions in your settings app:
You can toggle the hotspot on or off and adjust the network name and password from there.
If you’re on a computer, just find the Wi-Fi menu on your device. (It’s an antenna icon at the bottom right of your screen on Windows PCs and at the top right on Macs). With your phone, you can usually find available networks through your Settings page. Once you find the network list, select the one you want and enter the password if required.
There are a number of smartphone and web apps that can be used to help find hotspots. Some of the more popular include Wefi, Wi-Fi Map (iOS and Android). These apps use crowdsourced data to build global hotspot maps. Wi-Fi Map is especially impressive, with over 100 million hotspots in its database.
Wi-Fi Space is a good web app, so it can be used from your laptop, which can be handy if you’d rather not hunt for a hotspot on a tiny screen.
Many hotspots are free—they’re offered by businesses and ISPs as an added convenience for customers. Many places will have a sticker or other sign advertising free Wi-Fi in the window. If the hotspot isn’t free, you’ll have to provide payment information before you can connect.