Closing the Digital Divide: How Project 10Million Connects Students to Essential Internet Access
John Sousa, the Chief Information Officer for the East Orange School District in New Jersey, observed a critical issue during the Covid pandemic that he had long recognized: the digital divide among students.
“There was an existing disparity,” Sousa noted, recalling how online state-required testing before the pandemic highlighted the lack of internet access for some families. “The pandemic only deepened this divide for many of the 11,000 students in our district.”
This issue wasn't unique to Sousa's district. A report by Boston Consulting Group and the nonprofit Common Sense revealed that in 2020, between 15 and 16 million U.S. students lived in households without reliable internet access.
In response, Sousa reached out to T-Mobile during the pandemic to find ways to improve internet connectivity for his district's students.
“I contacted T-Mobile to discuss how we could bridge the gap, as up to 20% of our community couldn’t afford high-speed internet for their students,” Sousa explained. “We wanted to ensure a smooth partnership between T-Mobile, the school, and the students to avoid any confusion or overlap regarding the needs we were addressing.”
T-Mobile quickly responded, providing around 3,800 hotspots through Project 10Million, their $10.7 billion education initiative. Launched in 2020, Project 10Million aims to close the digital divide in education by offering free internet access and mobile hotspots to up to 10 million eligible student households. The program also provides school districts with either free or heavily subsidized data plans and ensures that participants have access to affordable laptops and tablets.
By the end of last year, T-Mobile had delivered $6.4 billion in products and services, connecting nearly 6 million students nationwide through Project 10Million and other education initiatives.
“The hotspots have been a relief because we no longer worry about missing students who lack internet access,” Sousa said. “We’re understaffed and lacked the resources needed to manage the project as required. T-Mobile handled all the details, delivering the equipment and ensuring broadband access reached students caught in the digital divide.”
In a district where many families are homeless or lack regular internet access, Project 10Million has become an essential service.
As students return to school this fall, internet access is increasingly vital for their learning and success in a digital world. Yet, 24 million U.S. households still lack reliable internet access.
For this reason, Sousa encourages families in need to consider adding Project 10Million to their back-to-school preparations, emphasizing that it could be one of the most crucial steps in ensuring a successful school year.
“There was an existing disparity,” Sousa noted, recalling how online state-required testing before the pandemic highlighted the lack of internet access for some families. “The pandemic only deepened this divide for many of the 11,000 students in our district.”
This issue wasn't unique to Sousa's district. A report by Boston Consulting Group and the nonprofit Common Sense revealed that in 2020, between 15 and 16 million U.S. students lived in households without reliable internet access.
In response, Sousa reached out to T-Mobile during the pandemic to find ways to improve internet connectivity for his district's students.
“I contacted T-Mobile to discuss how we could bridge the gap, as up to 20% of our community couldn’t afford high-speed internet for their students,” Sousa explained. “We wanted to ensure a smooth partnership between T-Mobile, the school, and the students to avoid any confusion or overlap regarding the needs we were addressing.”
T-Mobile quickly responded, providing around 3,800 hotspots through Project 10Million, their $10.7 billion education initiative. Launched in 2020, Project 10Million aims to close the digital divide in education by offering free internet access and mobile hotspots to up to 10 million eligible student households. The program also provides school districts with either free or heavily subsidized data plans and ensures that participants have access to affordable laptops and tablets.
By the end of last year, T-Mobile had delivered $6.4 billion in products and services, connecting nearly 6 million students nationwide through Project 10Million and other education initiatives.
“The hotspots have been a relief because we no longer worry about missing students who lack internet access,” Sousa said. “We’re understaffed and lacked the resources needed to manage the project as required. T-Mobile handled all the details, delivering the equipment and ensuring broadband access reached students caught in the digital divide.”
In a district where many families are homeless or lack regular internet access, Project 10Million has become an essential service.
As students return to school this fall, internet access is increasingly vital for their learning and success in a digital world. Yet, 24 million U.S. households still lack reliable internet access.
For this reason, Sousa encourages families in need to consider adding Project 10Million to their back-to-school preparations, emphasizing that it could be one of the most crucial steps in ensuring a successful school year.
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