Update Thursday, August 6, 2020: Greenville County Schools has extended the deadline for households to apply to receive free internet until the end of 2020, the school district announced in a release. Orders made after August 3, however, may still not be completed by the first day of school on August 24.
The South Carolina State Legislature has set aside part of its federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding under Act 142 to provide at least 100,000 students across the Palmetto State with free internet through December 2020, according to Greenville County Schools.
Service on the students’ devices is guaranteed only until Dec. 31, 2020.
The federal government appropriated $1.9 billion to South Carolina through the CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by Congress due to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To receive free internet, households must meet the following requirements:
- The household must have at least one pre K-12th grade student in the household who attends Greenville County Schools.
- The household does not currently have internet service.
- The family income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.
- The household needs internet for educational purposes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those who qualify for the internet service must submit an online application by Monday, Aug. 3, 2020. You can apply here: https://forms.gle/mefMq16pvtEqmVSRA.
If you need assistance completing the form, you can contact the GCS Service Center at 864-355-3100.
Households who meet the eligibility requirements and are allocated a hot spot under the program will be notified, and a time to pick it up will be arranged with the school district.
