COVID-19 Internet Service Offerings
Below is a list of new and existing free or reduced service internet offerings that have been reported to the Broadband Infrastructure Office during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many places are also providing free Wi-Fi access points for the public to use.
Please note that the vendors and products listed on this page are for informational purposes only and their inclusion is not in any way an endorsement from the N.C. Department of Information Technology or Broadband Infrastructure Office. Offers and information are subject to change without notice. All questions should be directed to the vendor unless otherwise noted.
If you are a service provider that is offering free or affordable options for high-speed internet during this time, please submit it online.
Internet Service Providers
Tab/Accordion Items
Details:
- Free Altice Advantage 30 Mbps internet service for 60 days, beginning March 16, 2020, to households that do not already have a broadband subscription and have children in grades K-12 or in college
Contact: 888-633-0030 to enroll in Suddenlink region
Details:
- High speed internet will be available at a reduced price of $29.95 per month for six months, to households that do not already have a broadband subscription and have children in grades K-12 or in college
Where: Brunswick and Columbus counties
Contact: 910-754-4311, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Details:
- Low-cost wireline home internet service to qualifying households:
- With at least one resident who participates in the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), National School Lunch Program or Head Start
- With an address in AT&T’s 21-state service area, at which AT&T offer wireline home internet service
- Without outstanding debt for AT&T fixed internet service within the last six months or outstanding debt incurred under this program
- Service availability and speed may vary by address. AT&T will assign you the fastest of these speed tiers available where you live:
- 768 Kbps for $5 per month
- 1.5 Mbps for $5 per month
- 3 Mbps for $5 per month
- 5 Mbps for $10 per month
- 10 Mbps for $10 per month
- Three months of free wireless service for frontline nurses and physicians nationwide on the FirstNet network – built with AT&T in a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority
Contact: 855-220-5211
Details:
- Suspending data usage limits
- Offering K-12 schools, colleges, universities, libraries and state and local government agencies increased broadband speeds for free for 60 days at existing service locations with qualifying facilities
- Automatically increasing broadband speeds where technically feasible for residential customers currently enrolled in plans offering 20 Mbps or less
Details:
- Free high-speed internet service up to 200 Mbps for 60 days, beginning Sept. 21, 2020, to households that have teachers or children in grades K-12 or in college and do not already have a Spectrum internet subscription; standard installation and in-home WiFi included
- Spectrum Internet Assist, a low-cost broadband program delivering speeds of 30 Mbps (for eligible low-income households)
Contact: 844-310-1198
Details:
- New low-income customers receive 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service, normally $9.95 per month (at speeds of 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream)
Contact: 888-403-2667
Details:
- Free Standard HSI service for 60 days, beginning March 16, 2020, to households that do not already have a broadband subscription and have children in grades K-12 or in college; standard installation included and no security deposit required
Contact: 888-403-2667
Details:
- Limited-time, first month free of Connect2Compete service, $9.95 per month thereafter
- Free home and remote desktop support through Cox Complete Care
- Discounted, refurbished equipment through its association with PCs for People
- A Learn-from-Home toolkit for schools, including instructions on how to fast-track eligible students without internet access
Contact: 844-488-8395
Details:
- As of March 25, 2020, no disconnections for non-payment for at least 30 days
Details:
- Increasing the speed of the Mediacom Connect2Compete low-cost internet program to 25 Mbps down by 3 Mbps up
- Pausing monthly data allowances across all Mediacom broadband service tiers through May 15, 2020
- Extending the pricing of Mediacom’s Access Internet 60 broadband service to new customers at $19.99 per month for the next 12 months
Details:
- Sixty days of free Standard Broadband service and free installation to any home that is:
- The primary home of a student in K-12, technical school, college or graduate school
- Currently without Skyline internet service and hasn’t had internet service with SkyLine/SkyBest for the past 90 days
- Located where SkyLine/SkyBest would normally provide internet service
- Waiving installation fees
Contact: 800-759-2226
Details:
- Free home internet for K-12, technical, college or graduate students for 60 days
- Offer expires April 3, 2020
Contact: 336-374-5021
Wireless Service Providers
Tab/Accordion Items
Details:
- Unlimited wireless data service for qualified schools (K-12, colleges and universities) on new lines for school-issued tablets, 4G LTE-enabled laptops and hotspot devices
- Offer good through May 22, 2020
- Free integrated phone, fax, messaging capabilities and HD video conferencing for up to 100 users for new education, healthcare and non-profit social services
- Free access and unlimited usage of Caribu, a video-calling application that allows family members to read, draw, and play games with one another while at different locations
Details:
- $15 per month per device for 10 GB of data for the public sector
- No charge on refurbished hotspots
- No charge on tablets
- No charge on connected Chromebooks
- While supplies last
- Requirement of six months of service
Details:
- Free increased 20 GB data allowance per month for 60 days, beginning March 16, 2020, for schools and students using EmpowerED digital learning programs
- Unlimited plan for $20 per month a two-year contract on qualifying plans
- Unlimited smartphone data for 60 days, beginning March 16, 2020, for all current T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers with data plans
- Additional 20 GB of mobile hotspot/tethering service for 60 days, beginning March 16, 2020, for T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers
- Free international calling for all current T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers to Level 3 impacted countries
- Participating schools can receive up to $200 per student to put toward mobile internet devices, including hotspots, laptops and tablets
Details:
- Additional connectivity and upgraded data plans from 10 GB per month to 30 GB per month for 60 days, beginning March 16, 2020, to all tablets and laptops within the Verizon Innovative Learning program
- No activation fees for new lines of service or upgrade fees, starting March 18, 2020
- Will waive overage charges and late fees to support customers who may be financially affected by the COVID-19 crisis
- Adds 15 GB of high-speed data for wireless consumer and small business customers to be automatically applied with no customer action necessary
- Provides first responders with priority and preemption abilities for voice and data