The 1Million Project is the largest corporate initiative in U.S. history to bridge the digital divide and help close the “Homework Gap” for students lacking home internet access
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FACT Sheet: 1Million Project
INFOGRAPHIC: 1Million Project
GREENSBORO, N.C. – October 11, 2016 – Sprint (NYSE:S, news, filings) and the Sprint Foundation will help change the lives of 1 million high school students by giving them opportunities to reach their full potential. The 1Million Project is a multiyear initiative to offer free mobile devices and free high-speed wireless internet connectivity to 1 million low-income, U.S. high school students lacking a reliable source of internet access at home.
The expansive new program will help eliminate the “Homework Gap” that puts low-income students at a major disadvantage because they don’t have ready access to the internet needed for completing homework, communicating with teachers, or applying for jobs, scholarships or college.
“Education is the foundation for our society to prosper, and the internet is an incredibly powerful tool for learning. But it’s a huge problem in America that we have 5 million households with children that lack internet connections. Those kids have a huge disadvantage and we are failing them. All of us at Sprint are committed to changing this by providing 1 million students in need with free devices and free wireless connections.”
Pew Research Center reports that 5 million U.S. families with school-aged children do not have broadband access at home. Low-income homes with children are four times more likely to be without broadband than middle- or upper-income households. Their chances for success are significantly reduced because at least 70 percent of teachers assign homework that requires web access, based on a report by the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Task Force. Nearly two-thirds of students used the internet at home to complete their homework and school-related activities. The digital divide also is an obstacle to parent engagement. Many schools use online grading systems, requiring parents to rely on the internet for staying informed of their child’s academic progress.
Sprint will work with non-profit agencies including EveryoneOn and My Brother’s Keeper Alliance which will help to recruit community organizations – schools, libraries, public-housing authorities, and non-profits. These program members will execute locally, deliver the devices, and activate the mobile internet service that participating students will be able to access virtually whenever and wherever they need it (while on the Sprint network) for up to four years in high school.
Sprint and the Sprint Foundation also will work closely with these program members to determine the best device solution for local students. Each student may receive either a free smartphone, tablet, laptop or hotspot device and 3GB of high-speed LTE data per month. Unlimited data is available at 2G speeds if usage exceeds 3GB in a month. Those who receive a smartphone can use it as a hotspot and for unlimited domestic calls and texts while on the Sprint network.
The 1Million Project will help create opportunities for these high school students to participate in the digital world and transform their lives. Sprint was inspired by President Obama’s ConnectED and My Brother’s Keeper initiatives, and, with the 1Million Project, is building on its experience with those initiatives to accelerate solutions to address this problem. ConnectED is a public and private sector effort to get technology into classrooms. In 2014, Sprint announced a commitment to provide wireless broadband to 50,000 K-12 students in low-income school districts. Claure serves on the board of directors for My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, a non-profit organization whose vision is to make the American Dream available to all boys and young men of color.
Jeff Zients, Director of the National Economic Council, The White House
Claure is a member of the 2016 class of the Henry Crown Fellowship program, which focuses on developing the next generation of community-spirited leaders. Each participant drives a leadership venture that puts the Fellowship’s principles into action. The 1Million Project is consistent with these principles.
Sprint also recognizes its role and responsibility to give back to communities. Doing good is also good business and Sprint has designed the 1Million Project to minimize cost to the company and maximize value to students in need. As a result, the overall cost to Sprint is not substantial.
To support the 1Million Project, Sprint and the Sprint Foundation will receive donations from device manufacturers and raise funds through special events, donation drives and other activities. This plan engages its strong and passionate employee and customer base and thousands of company-owned, dealer and national retail partner stores across the country.
Beginning in January 2017, Sprint, in conjunction with the Sprint Foundation, will pilot the program in seven to 10 markets. The pilots across several markets and community partners will provide a better understanding of the varying needs of students and the resources they require to be successful. The program can be refined before a nationwide rollout planned for the start of the 2017-18 school year.
As part of the comprehensive program, www.sprint.com/1millionproject will feature details, updates and additional information for those who want to get involved. U.S. schools and community organizations interested in learning more about the program or participating in the pilot should apply online. The company will also share 1Million Project news on Sprint’s social media channels using the hashtag #1MillionProject.
Blair Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, My Brother’s Keeper Alliance
Chike Aguh, Chief Executive Officer, EveryoneOn
Crosby Kemper III, Director, Kansas City Public Library
“Sprint has been an excellent partner to Community High School District 99 in closing the homework gap caused by lack of Internet access at home. Last year we closed the device gap with a 1:1 program and this year Sprint and the ConnectEd program have allowed us to ensure that 100% of our students have an option for access to Internet when away from school. Assuring that students have a connected device allows us the certainty that every student has access to the world’s information and creates an equal foundation of resources. Guaranteeing access to today’s basic tools for communication, collaboration, and creativity creates opportunities by opening pathways to possibilities.”
CONTACT(S):
lisa.dimino@sprint.com
ABOUT SPRINT:
Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served more than 59.4 million connections as of June 30, 2016, and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the past five years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
ABOUT THE SPRINT FOUNDATION:
Since its establishment in 1989, the Sprint Foundation (the philanthropic arm of Sprint) has provided millions of dollars to community organizations across the country. A separate legal entity from Sprint, the Sprint Foundation is able to make a huge impact where it is needed most, supporting hundreds of organizations every year that focus on education, arts and culture, youth development, community development, and disaster relief. For more information visit sprint.com/goodworks.
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