Free WiFi & Internet Access Information (MS Public Service Commission)
General Information
Most carriers are participants of the Federal Communications Commission’s Keep America Connected pledge as part of a nationwide effort. Companies pledge for the next 60 days to: not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic; waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic; and open its Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them.
Community Hotspot Locations
Mississippi Library Association
(Includes Sparklight Office locations providing hotspot access) http://www.misslib.org
Xfinity Public Hotspots www.Xfinity.com/wifi
Local TEC Office in Bay Springs, MS 382 Highway 18
Bay Springs, MS 39422
SSID(Network Name): TEC PUBLIC WIFI
Specific Information by Company
Details about COVID-19 programs, offerings, and allowances, can be found on the following pages.
AT&T/Cricket
https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html https://www.cricketwireless.com/newsroom/blog/cricket-health-and-safety-update.html
- The above pages explain deals and additional data allowances depending on the plan.
- AT&T is also working to upgrade towers to handle the increased traffic.
C-Spire
https://www.cspire.com/cms/wireless/work-from-home-wireless
- C-Spire has whitelisted over 50 education sites for users on C-Spire smartphones or hotspots and visiting those pages will not go against their plan’s data. This is regularly being reviewed to see if more educational pages can be added. Whitelisted sites can be found on the webpage.
- For most customer plans, C-Spire has added 25 GB of additional data for plans with limits.
Sprint
https://newsroom.sprint.com/covid-19-updates-sprint-responds.htm
- Customers with metered data plans will receive unlimited data per month for 60 days (a minimum of two bill cycles) at no extra cost.
- Sprint will provide customers with an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot data per month for 60 days (a minimum of two bill cycles) at no extra cost.
- Customers with mobile hotspot-capable handsets who do not have mobile hotspot today will now get 20GB as well per month for 60 days (a minimum of two bill cycles) at no extra cost.
- A 501(c)(3) working to help 1 million high school students who do not have reliable Internet access at home by giving them mobile devices and free high-speed Internet access.
T-Mobile
- ALL current T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers as of March 13, 2020 who have legacy plans without unlimited high-speed data will get unlimited smartphone data for the next 60 days (excluding roaming).
- Starting March 20, 2020, providing T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers on smartphone plans with hotspot data an additional 20GB of smartphone mobile hotspot (10GB per bill cycle for the next 60 days) for each voice (T-Mobile Connect excluded).
- Working with our Lifeline partners to provide customers extra free data up to 5GB of data per month through May 13, 2020.
- Increasing the data allowance for free to schools and students using our EmpowerED digital learning programs to ensure each participant has access to at least 20GB of data per month through May 13, 2020.
Comcast/Xfinity
www.comcastcorporation.com/covid19
- Comcast is pausing data plans for 60 days giving all customers Unlimited data for no additional charge.
- Comcast has affordable internet solutions for low income households: internetessentials.com/covid19
- Comcast is offering Xfinity Public Hotspots in For additional details: www.Xfinity.com/wifi
MaxxSouth
- For new subscribers, there is a 25 MB internet plan for $15.
- MaxxSouth is working to increase bandwidth to current customers and build out to new sites who do not currently have service.
- MaxxSouth internet service is not throttled.
Sparklight
- Local hotspots are available at Sparklight offices. (The Mississippi Library Association has a detailed map with information on those locations and details on accessing. For details, visit http://www.misslib.org.
- All plans are unlimited until May 12th.
- Sparklight does not throttle internet service.
TEC
- TEC has installed a public hotspot at their office in Bay Springs, MS. That office is located at 382 Highway 18, Bay Springs, MS 39422.
- TEC also does not throttle internet service.
Windstream
https://news.windstream.com/Windstream-COVID-19-Response
- Network can withstand additional traffic.
- For any new customer who is eligible for Lifeline service, we are offering service free of charge with no activation fee for two months.
ViaSat
https://corpblog.viasat.com/covid-19
- Viasat is prioritizing work from home and school.
- Working on a community internet options, expanding to schools.
Satellite Broadcasting & Communications Association (SBCA)
- ViaSat and HughesNet have different policies and customers should check with them, but SBCA mentioned the Bonus Zone. This is a period of time, typically 2am-8am, when all customers have access to additional data that does not count towards their plan. SBCA is encouraging customers to use this additional data to download large files like education materials, movies, system updates for your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Often, these downloads can be scheduled on the device.
Additional Provider
Spectrum
https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/covid-19-internet-offer-students
Services will be available for free for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who don’t already have internet through the company. It also said it’d open its WiFi hotspots for public use. To enroll in the program, call (844) 488-8395 or (855) 243-8892. Installation fees will be waived for new student households. (Available in specific Mississippi locations)