Alex Fitzpatrick2013-03-25 17:04:40 -0400FreedomPop, a company offering free and reduced-price wireless broadband Internet connections and equipment, has announced a new partnership with non-profit Connect2Compete to offer up to 1GB of free data to low-income families in cities across the country.
Anyone who lives in a zip code where average income is $35,000 or less is welcome to apply for the service, which requires the purchase of a discounted mobile or home connectivity device, ranging in price from $20 to $59. Connect2Compete previously offered reduced Internet plans only to families with students that qualify for free or reduced-cost school lunches.
"FreedomPop was founded on the belief that the Internet is a right, not a privilege and we have a shared objective with Connect2Compete to ensure more Americans have free access to it,” said Stephen Stokols, FreedomPop CEO, in a statement. "We’re excited to partner with Connect2Compete to leverage our disruptive free model to help bridge the digital divide for low-income communities."
Approximately 19 million Americans still lack access to broadband Internet per the Federal Communications Commission's data, making it difficult for them to keep up in an increasingly connected global marketplace. The problem comes in two primary categories: Low-income city residents who can't afford access and rural citizens who exist outside the reach of broadband infrastructure. Stokols told Mashable the FreedomPop/Connect2Compete partnership will be focused on the former.
One GB of data a month won't sustain heavy use, but it may compliment connection-seeking trips to schools, libraries or restaurants for those who apply for the service. Families in more than 30 markets will get access to the FreedomPop/Connect2Compete Internet package over the next four weeks. FreedomPop has also announced a commitment to get 1 million disconnected families online by the end of the year.
FreedomPop's main business model takes a freemium approach by offering cheap equipment and a free 500MB per month plan to any customer within its city-focused coverage map. Customers who require more bandwidth can up the plan to $17.99 per month for 1GB or choose from other payment structures. Given those rates, it's more suited for sporadic Internet users or use as a backup connectivity plan than as a primary means of connection.
For now, FreedomPop operates on Clearwire's 4G network, but the company is planning on switching over to Sprint later this year, given the regulatory hurdles facing Clearwire. Can FreedomPop help get lower-income Americans connected to the Internet at broadband speeds? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Image via iStockphoto, Nikada
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