THIS IS NOT A SCHOOL BASED PROGRAM! PLEASE READ BELOW....
Governor Kay Ivey has committed $100 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to deliver free internet access to eligible K-12 students in their homes this fall. The State of Alabama will use the funds to purchase internet service for low-income households with K-12 students so the children can participate in distance learning.
Voucher letters could be received as early as Monday, August 24, 2020, for qualified students. These vouchers can be used by their parents for free high-speed internet service through December 30, 2020.
How will you recognize this letter? The front of the envelope will say: “To the parents of…..” followed by the eligible child’s name.
If qualified, the parent needs to do these four things:
- Call an internet provider listed in the voucher letter
- Say “I have an Alabama ABC voucher.”
- Receive equipment and installation support from your internet provider.
- Connect to distance learning.
The voucher covers the cost of equipment, installation fees and internet service. Students enrolled in the National School Lunch Program are automatically eligible, which is limited to households earning $48,470 or less for a family of four.
The voucher can be used once, with one internet service provider, to sign up for service for the duration of the program. Enrolled households will not receive any bills and will not be charged any additional fees by the internet service provider.
If you have questions or need assistance in Spanish, call the Alabama Broadband Connectivity for Students Program at 1-888-212-4998 or visit their website at www.abcstudents.org (website also available in Vietnamese and Lao).