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Sprint Offers Free LTE to 50,000 Students

Back in January the White House announced that as part of their "ConnectED" initiative, they'd be bringing 100 Mbps broadband service to 99% of the nation's schools. At the time, we noted how the initiative was painfully vague, failing to specify precisely who would be deploying this service -- and how. The announcement noted that the government would be forming "new philanthropic partnerships" with companies like Apple, Microsoft, Sprint and Verizon, though it didn't specify what those partnerships entail.

Sprint recently made their role in the program somewhat clearer with the announcement that they'd be providing up to four years of Sprint Spark LTE connectivity. "Sprint Spark," a technology that effectively combines the company's 800 MHz, 1.9 GHz and 2.5 GHz LTE spectrum to provide what Sprint promises will be real-world downstream speeds of 50-60 Mbps -- to devices that can support it.

"Participating schools will be determined based on a comprehensive process that will assess, among other factors, applicants’ current 1:1 digital learning program and off-campus strategy, and the availability of Sprint Spark service in their surrounding market," notes the announcement.

While these one-off donations are certainly helpful, it remains unclear how the government is going to reach its 99%, 100 Mbps promise. Originally, the Administration had considered levying a new USF tax on your broadband connections, but quietly backed off that idea after significant backlash. They've since decided to pull funds from the existing, historically somewhat dysfunctional, fund pool.
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Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Joe12345678

Member

still capped?

they talk about having an 3GB cap

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt

Premium Member

Re: still capped?

said by Joe12345678:

they talk about having an 3GB cap

From the June 13 release
"With each line having access to 3GB monthly of Sprint's wireless data service, participating students "

Not surprising to have a cap, teach kids about budgeting.
It's basically the $35/3GB data only plan. (overages on net are 5cents a meg, roaming is 25 cents a meg)
and according to Sprint's number if you avoid camera apps (30%) and Facebook (18%) you can save a lot of unnecessary usage.

why60loss
Premium Member
join:2012-09-20

why60loss

Premium Member

Re: still capped?

said by tshirt:

said by Joe12345678:

they talk about having an 3GB cap

From the June 13 release
"With each line having access to 3GB monthly of Sprint's wireless data service, participating students "

Not surprising to have a cap, teach kids about budgeting.
It's basically the $35/3GB data only plan. (overages on net are 5cents a meg, roaming is 25 cents a meg)
and according to Sprint's number if you avoid camera apps (30%) and Facebook (18%) you can save a lot of unnecessary usage.

How is $35/3GB any better than AT&T or Verizon pricing?

This is stupid, 50mbs is useless with only 3GB to use. I thought sprint was unlimited, but I guess they are backpedalling quick with trying to buy T-Mobile.

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt

Premium Member

Re: still capped?

Click for full size
said by why60loss:

I thought sprint was unlimited,

not on any plan I saw.
said by why60loss:

How is $35/3GB any better than AT&T or Verizon pricing?

The point is this is being offered FREE to students that otherwise wouldn't be connected.
If they are careful (a skill that low income people NEED to perfect to successfully survive and flourish) this is enough for homework/after school research, which is it's purpose.

and those that question why wireless data caps exist didn't carefully read the latest Akamai report.

bobjohnson
Premium Member
join:2007-02-03
Spartanburg, SC

bobjohnson to why60loss

Premium Member

to why60loss
Sprint has had capped data only plans for a long time now. Even the phone tethering plan has been 5gigs for at least 5 years now.
m3nphls
join:2012-10-02
Brooklyn, NY

m3nphls

Member

Only if....

100Mbps and Sprint do not mix together. I'd be surprised if those kids can use the service at all at dial up speeds!
Hellrazor
Bah Humbug
join:2002-02-02
Abyss, PA

Hellrazor

Member

big deal

Didn't the kids already have tins cans and a string? Should be faster than sprint....
ajac
join:2000-08-15
Norman, OK

ajac

Member

Poor kids

Walking information from the east to west coast be faster then using sprint.

Selenia
Gentoo Convert
Premium Member
join:2006-09-22
Fort Smith, AR

Selenia

Premium Member

Re: Poor kids

Sailing a vessel around the world with the information would be faster than Sprint. Of course, some of that information might end up like the Titanic when they can't connect