01

2020 Report

Connecting
America’s Students

The wireless industry is keeping America’s
students connected during COVID-19.

Education Today

2.4M

The wireless industry has helped 2.4 million
students to date.

Education Today

As schools around the country work to mitigate the risk of coronavirus, wireless providers have quickly stepped up to make sure homebound children have the tools they need to participate in distance learning and stay engaged with their classmates and teachers from afar.

To date, the industry has helped connect 2.4 million students by providing free and discounted devices and data plans, as well as millions of dollars in donations and resources. Learn more about how the wireless industry is helping, and how we continue to partner with school districts and governments to keep kids connected.

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02. connecting underserved kids

02

Connecting
Underserved Kids

The wireless industry has long partnered with schools to expand connectivity opportunities, particularly in underserved communities—in almost 1 in 5 households, the only internet connection is a smartphone. Since March 2020, the industry has intensified efforts to connect students.

Member Stories

Our Impact

Our Impact

Wireless providers have worked with state and local governments and school districts across the country to connect America's students.

See Data by State
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Helping Kids Across the Country

03. Connecting kids initiative

03

CTIA’s Connecting
Kids Initiative

The wireless industry’s Connecting Kids Initiative is a new resource for schools and school districts to help keep kids learning in these unprecedented times.

How wireless is Helping

HOW WIRELESS IS HELPING

New Program Simplifies Hotspot
Acquisition Process for School Districts

CTIA launched the Connecting Kids Initiative to simplify the process for school districts to find remote learning hotspot solutions by connecting them with wireless operators working to provide broadband access to kids and families in their area.


School districts are encouraged to submit their connectivity needs, and CTIA will help connect them to participating carriers, including the three nationwide wireless operators and regional operators across the country.

AT&T CellularOne Carolina West Cellcom Chat BlueGrass Cellular T Mobile Southern Linc Verizon US Cellular
Building Icon School Districts

The submission must be from an official representative of a school district with responsibility for procuring and managing technology and connectivity solutions. We will share your request with participating wireless operators in your community that are working hard to connect kids and families. Please remember there may be other broadband options in your community beyond our participating carriers that could help address your needs as well. Carriers will follow-up with you directly if there is a good match. Please direct any questions to [email protected].

People Icon Parents and Teachers

Please reach out directly to your wireless provider to explore your options to enable hotspot-functionality on your smartphone or other wireless device to support remote learning. Please share this initiative with your school district, as we can only process requests from school districts.

AT&T CellularOne Carolina West Cellcom Chat BlueGrass Cellular T Mobile Southern Linc Verizon US Cellular

Jaylene’s Story

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04. enhancing existing partnerships

04

Enhancing Existing
Partnerships

During the pandemic, the wireless industry expanded and enhanced their existing education programs.

Enhanced Education Programs

Carolina and Stefanie's Story

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05. high-speed data and flexibility

05

How Wireless
Keeps Kids
Connected

Wireless hotspots are helping kids access school programs on a laptop, tablet or directly from the smartphone.

Connectivity solutions

Adjusted Data Plans

Demi and Bella’s Story

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06. Fighting Student Hunger

06

Fighting
Student Hunger

Nationally, over 29 million children are eligible for low-cost or free school lunches, a critical support system under threat with the closure of so many American schools. The wireless industry is doing our part to provide meals for students and their families in this time of need.

How Wireless is Helping

Keysha and Matthew's Story

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07. Supporting educational programming

07

Supporting
Educational
Programming

Providers are also investing in educational programs and services that will help engage children in new forms of immersive, online learning.

How Wireless is Helping