Sprint Provides Free Wireless Devices and Service to 1 Million Disadvantaged Students
The 1Million Project is the largest corporate initiative in U.S. history
to bridge the digital divide and help close the “Homework Gap” for
students lacking home internet access
GREENSBORO, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sprint (NYSE: S) and the Sprint Foundation will help change the lives of
1 million high school students by giving them opportunities to reach
their full potential. The 1Million Project is a multiyear initiative to
offer free mobile devices and free high-speed wireless internet
connectivity to 1 million low-income, U.S. high school students lacking
a reliable source of internet access at home.
The expansive new program will help eliminate the “Homework Gap” that
puts low-income students at a major disadvantage because they don’t have
ready access to the internet needed for completing homework,
communicating with teachers, or applying for jobs, scholarships or
college.
“Education is the foundation for our society to prosper, and the
internet is an incredibly powerful tool for learning. But it’s a huge
problem in America that we have 5 million households with children that
lack internet connections. Those kids have a huge disadvantage and we
are failing them. All of us at Sprint are committed to changing this by
providing 1 million students in need with free devices and free wireless
connections.”
Marcelo Claure, Sprint CEO
Pew Research Center reports that 5 million U.S. families with
school-aged children do not have broadband access at home. Low-income
homes with children are four times more likely to be without broadband
than middle- or upper-income households. Their chances for success are
significantly reduced because at least 70 percent of teachers assign
homework that requires web access, based on a report by the Federal
Communications Commission’s Broadband Task Force. Nearly two-thirds of
students used the internet at home to complete their homework and
school-related activities. The digital divide also is an obstacle to
parent engagement. Many schools use online grading systems, requiring
parents to rely on the internet for staying informed of their child’s
academic progress.
Sprint will work with non-profit agencies including EveryoneOn and My
Brother’s Keeper Alliance which will help to recruit community
organizations – schools, libraries, public-housing authorities, and
non-profits. These program members will execute locally, deliver the
devices, and activate the mobile internet service that participating
students will be able to access virtually whenever and wherever they
need it (while on the Sprint network) for up to four years in high
school.
Sprint and the Sprint Foundation also will work closely with these
program members to determine the best device solution for local
students. Each student may receive either a free smartphone, tablet,
laptop or hotspot device and 3GB of high-speed LTE data per month.
Unlimited data is available at 2G speeds if usage exceeds 3GB in a
month. Those who receive a smartphone can use it as a hotspot and for
unlimited domestic calls and texts while on the Sprint network.
The 1Million Project will help create opportunities for these high
school students to participate in the digital world and transform their
lives. Sprint was inspired by President Obama’s ConnectED
and My
Brother’s Keeper initiatives, and, with the 1Million Project, is
building on its experience with those initiatives to accelerate
solutions to address this problem. ConnectED is a public and private
sector effort to get technology into classrooms. In 2014, Sprint
announced a commitment to provide wireless broadband to 50,000 K-12
students in low-income school districts. Claure serves on the board of
directors for My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, a non-profit organization
whose vision is to make the American Dream available to all boys and
young men of color.
“We’re excited that Sprint has committed to provide 1 million
disadvantaged high school students with four years of free devices and
connectivity. This will make a huge difference in their lives, and will
help support the President’s ConnectED and My Brother’s Keeper
Initiatives.���
Jeff Zients, Director of the National Economic Council, The White
House
“Through our participation in ConnectED, we heard loud and clear that
students need devices and internet access to complete their homework.
Sprint’s 1Million Project is an end-to-end solution that enables 1
million low-income youth to keep learning after they leave the
classroom.”
Marcelo Claure, Sprint CEO
Claure is a member of the 2016 class of the Henry Crown Fellowship
program, which focuses on developing the next generation of
community-spirited leaders. Each participant drives a leadership venture
that puts the Fellowship’s principles into action. The 1Million Project
is consistent with these principles.
Sprint also recognizes its role and responsibility to give back to
communities. Doing good is also good business and Sprint has designed
the 1Million Project to minimize cost to the company and maximize value
to students in need. As a result, the overall cost to Sprint is not
substantial.
To support the 1Million Project, Sprint and the Sprint Foundation will
receive donations from device manufacturers and raise funds through
special events, donation drives and other activities. This plan engages
its strong and passionate employee and customer base and thousands of
company-owned, dealer and national retail partner stores across the
country.
“The 1Million Project is a powerful example of the role that business
must play in society today to address our most pressing problems.
Increasingly, people are seeking to do business with companies committed
to creating social, as well as shareholder value. Brands that create
social value by making a meaningful difference in people’s lives are in
a stronger position to attract new customers, recruit and retain better
employees, and build stronger ties to their communities.”
Marcelo Claure, Sprint CEO
Beginning in January 2017, Sprint, in conjunction with the Sprint
Foundation, will pilot the program in seven to 10 markets. The pilots
across several markets and community partners will provide a better
understanding of the varying needs of students and the resources they
require to be successful. The program can be refined before a nationwide
rollout planned for the start of the 2017-18 school year.
“The nation’s tremendous progress in connecting America’s schools to the
internet is transforming teaching and learning every day in classrooms
around the country. Sprint’s 1Million Project will extend the promise of
digital learning beyond the classroom at an unprecedented scale –
helping deliver on America’s promise to provide equal access to
educational opportunity for all students.”
Evan Marwell, Founder & CEO, EducationSuperHighway
As part of the comprehensive program, www.sprint.com/1millionproject
will feature details, updates and additional information for those who
want to get involved. U.S. schools and community organizations
interested in learning more about the program or participating in the
pilot should apply online. The company will also share 1Million Project
news on Sprint’s social media channels using the hashtag
#1MillionProject.
“My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (MBK Alliance) is proud to be a partner on
Sprint’s 1Million Project to provide students essential tools for 21st
century success. As MBK Alliance works to expand pathways to success for
boys and young men of color, we applaud Sprint and MBK Alliance Board
Member Marcelo Claure for leading the way and filling critical gaps for
our nation’s youth. The 1Million Project will not only unlock latent
talent and potential in one million young people, but will also serve as
a model of innovative private sector support for the next generation –
our nation’s future leaders, employees, and consumers. MBK Alliance
commends Sprint for this demonstration of our shared belief that “doing
good is good business” and are thrilled to be a partner in bringing this
initiative to life in 2017.”
Blair Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, My Brother’s Keeper
Alliance
“Since 2012, EveryoneOn has connected, with the help of public and
private stakeholders, more than 300,000 people in United States to
low-cost home Internet service, devices, and digital literacy training.
We believe that Sprint’s 1Million Project is a worthy step forward in
support of our mission to end the digital divide and that efforts like
this are an important down payment for digital inclusion for youth and
their families. In short, we believe that all people in America should
be afforded the opportunity that the Internet brings, not just those
that can afford it.”
Chike Aguh, Chief Executive Officer, EveryoneOn
“SETDA commends Sprint Corporation for this generous effort to help
close the digital divide. As content shifts from print to digital, and
students prepare for college and careers in the digital age, seamless
internet access both in and outside of school is no longer a perk – it
is a necessity, Students must be able to rely on access, particularly at
home to leverage digital resources, create content and connect with
teachers and their peers.”
Christine Fox, Deputy Executive Director, State
Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA)
“Sprint has been an excellent partner to Community High School District
99 in closing the homework gap caused by lack of Internet access at
home. Last year we closed the device gap with a 1:1 program and this
year Sprint and the ConnectEd program have allowed us to ensure that
100% of our students have an option for access to Internet when away
from school. Assuring that students have a connected device allows us
the certainty that every student has access to the world’s information
and creates an equal foundation of resources. Guaranteeing access to
today’s basic tools for communication, collaboration, and creativity
creates opportunities by opening pathways to possibilities.”
Dr. Hank Thiele, Superintendent, Community High School
District 99, Chicago, Illinois
About Sprint:
Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more
and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about
most. Sprint served more than 59.4 million connections as of June 30,
2016, and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying
innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a
national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands
including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless;
instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a
global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the past five years. You
can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com
or www.facebook.com/sprint
and www.twitter.com/sprint.
About the Sprint Foundation:
Since its establishment in 1989, the Sprint Foundation (the
philanthropic arm of Sprint) has provided millions of dollars to
community organizations across the country. A separate legal entity from
Sprint, the Sprint Foundation is able to make a huge impact where it is
needed most, supporting hundreds of organizations every year that focus
on education, arts and culture, youth development, community
development, and disaster relief. For more information visit sprint.com/goodworks.
Contacts
Sprint
Lisa Dimino, 646-845-0886
lisa.dimino@sprint.com
