South Dakota Program Offers K-12 Families Free Internet

(TNS) — A new program will provide free Internet service to eligible families of K-12 students for the remainder of the school year.

Gov. Kristi Noem announced the creation of K-12 Connect Tuesday in a news release.

Eligible households will receive a letter this week identifying a telecommunications company to call for free Internet service. They qualify if they have at least one student enrolled in an accredited K-12 school, meet eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-cost school lunches and were not subscribed to a fixed broadband Internet service as of July 1.

To enroll, call the telecommunications company noted in their letter. Providers will install the necessary equipment on a first-come, first-served basis. Service will be provided through June 30, 2021. Families can enroll in K-12 connect until Nov. 20.

K-12 Connect is a partnership of the governor's office, Bureau of Information and Telecommunications, Department of Education and participating telecommunications companies. Funding is from the CARES Act.

For more information, including options for households that might qualify but didn't receive a letter, visit k12connect.sd.gov.

(c)2020 the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.