Cox Communications today announced it is extending its efforts to close the digital divide through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s ConnectHome internet adoption project. 

ConnectHome is a pilot program launching in twenty-seven cities and one tribal nation, and is focused on expanding high-speed internet service to low-income households. The program was announced today by President Obama and US Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro.

Macon is one of four markets served by Cox Communications which is participating in the pilot program. In these cities, Cox will partner with local public housing authorities to offer home internet service for $9.95 per month to eligible families with school-aged children.  Additionally, in Macon, the James M. Cox Foundation will make 1,500 discounted tablets, pre-loaded with educational software, available for $30 to students and their families participating in ConnectHome.  More information on that phase of the program will be announced in September.

“As Internet-based homework quickly becomes the norm, students who don’t have internet at home struggle to keep up. This is especially challenging for low-income families who are disproportionately on the wrong side of the digital divide,” said Lynn Murphey, market leader for Cox Middle Georgia. “We are excited to build upon our strong foundation of community support for our broadband adoption efforts, and will continue to leverage public-private partnerships to provide students and their families the tools and technology they need for future success.”

Cox has led the industry by voluntarily offering affordable Internet service to low-income families with school-aged children.  The company was a founding partner of Connect2Compete, which provides affordable Internet service and devices to K-12 students and their families who qualify for the National School Lunch Program. The program is modeled after a broadband adoption program Cox launched in California in 1999. Since 2012, Cox has connected more than 100,000 low-income Americans to the internet through the Connect2Compete program. 

In addition to providing access to internet service in the home, Cox has been a National Technology Partner of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for more than a decade, funding more than 75 Cox Technology Centers across its 18-state footprint. Its commercial services division, Cox Business, provides Internet services to more than 7,400 schools serving 4 million students.

“As a partner in Connect2Compete and now ConnectHome, we’re excited to join Cox Communications—one of our core partners since our launch in 2012—in this venture and bring our knowledge of home adoption to local communities,” said EveryoneOn Chief Executive Officer Zach Leverenz. “The road to ending the digital divide is a challenging one and ConnectHome is a vital part of helping connect hundreds of thousands of individuals across the country.” 

Connect2Compete (C2C) is EveryoneOn’s flagship program for K-12 students and provides affordable Internet and devices to students and families that qualify for the National School Lunch Program.