ACA Connects and EducationSuperHighway today announced they are partnering in support of the “K-12 Bridge to Broadband” initiative to connect students with online learning. Under the program, broadband service providers help school districts and states identify students that lack broadband at home and then supply these connections.
“The K-12 Bridge to Broadband program is a great opportunity for ACA Connects members to support students, schools, and their communities. We are honored to join with EducationSuperHighway in this initiative,” commented ACA Connects President and CEO Matthew M. Polka.
Polka added, “Broadband is essential for students, and never has this been truer than during the COVID-19 emergency. Without robust broadband connectivity for online learning, students who need to learn from home will be left behind, and that is simply unacceptable. The K-12 Bridge to Broadband program is targeted at addressing this problem, and our members are well-positioned to help. In communities across America, they have deployed high-performance networks that can deliver broadband service to students in need.”
Providers that participate in the program agree to follow a set of core principles, which include creating a “sponsored service” offering that schools can purchase on behalf of students; working with schools to identify unserved student homes; standardizing eligibility; facilitating enrollment; and abiding by privacy protections.
“EducationSuperHighway is excited to partner with ACA Connects on the K-12 Bridge to Broadband program,” said EducationSuperHighway CEO Evan Marwell. “Meeting the connectivity needs of students will take broadband providers of all sizes and in all areas, including the community-based providers that make up ACA Connects’ membership. We are thrilled to have them on board.”
ACA Connects announced that the following of its member companies are participating in the initiative, following ACA Connects’ initial outreach to members:
• Tennessee Broadband
• ALLO Communcations
• Armstrong
• Atlantic Broadband
• Blue Devil Cable TV
• Comporium
• Consolidated Communications
• Ellijay Telephone Company
• GCI
• H&B Communications
• Horizon Cable
• Hotwire Communications
• ImOn Communications
• Jefferson County Cable
• Madison Communications Company
• Mediacom
• MCTV
• Murray Electric System
• NITCO
• Nortex Communications
• Nuvera
• Point Broadband
• Premier Communications
• QCOL
• Rainier Connect
• RCN, Grande Communications and Wave Broadband
• Red River Communications
• River Valley Telecommunications Co-op
• S&T Communications
• Shentel
• Sparklight
• Sjoberg’s
• Vast Broadband
• Vexus
• Vyve Broadband
• Wilkes Communications
• Windstream
• WOW!
• X-Stream Services
These companies represent a cross section of ACA Connects’ membership. They include both medium-sized and smaller broadband providers that operate primarily in rural areas, as well as others that serve more urban markets. More information is available at https://acaconnects.org/.