Library HotSpot Program from SprintClose the digital divide with loanable hotspots for fast, affordable Wi-Fi access

In an era where everything from civic engagement to education is handled online—including welfare, job applications and homework—it’s alarming that 27% of Americans lack broadband internet access at home.1

What’s more, 18% of U.S. students don’t have internet access at home, giving rise to what is known as the ‘homework gap’. A very real struggle for nearly 12 million students who are unable to complete homework assignments requiring a connection.2

With the Library HotSpot Program from Sprint, public libraries and school districts can help close the digital divide—and the homework gap—by giving patrons and students access to fast, reliable Wi-Fi connections—at home or on the go.

How the program works

Until now, few public libraries and school libraries have had the opportunity to loan mobile broadband devices to their patrons and students. And among those that have, an inability to track usage and compile that data into accurate reports makes justifying funding such programs a challenge.

The Library Hotspot Program enables libraries and schools to loan out portable wireless modems the same way they loan books and multimedia, as long as the patron:

• Has no internet access at the time of sign-up

• Has a valid adult library card or school ID, with no outstanding fines

• Meets requirements set by the library system

To ensure school and public libraries retain control of devices and gain the insights needed to secure long-term funding, we offer customized dashboards through a web-based portal. Here, administrators can track usage, apply content filters, create tailored reports and remotely disable overdue hotspots.

Staff can also vary the length of time a device can be checked out, up to a maximum of six months, and patrons can renew their devices online or at any library branch, while students can just pop into their school library.

The homework gap:

Writing essays on mobile phones and studying in parking lots of restaurants with free Wi-Fi is the reality for 12 million students in the U.S. who don’t have access to broadband at home. And it’s limiting what they can achieve in school.3

• 70% of teachers assign homework that requires internet access4

• 49% of students failed to complete assigned homework that required internet access5

• 42% of students have received a lower grade because they didn’t have internet access6

Why is hotspot access important?

Internet access remains a problem for both low-income households and citizens living in rural areas. Less than half of households earning under $25,000 have access to a computer,7 while 35% of lower-income households with school-age children don’t have a broadband connection at home.8

By providing ‘takeaway’ internet access, public and school libraries can offer a new, relevant service to their local communities—just like when they introduced loanable multimedia such as DVDs and games in decades past. This encourages locals and students to engage with their libraries and provides disadvantaged citizens with a lifeline to access vital civic resources on-demand.

A mobile Wi-Fi hotspot also means students can connect wherever they are. Rural students who spend a lot of time on school buses can now complete web-dependent homework assignments to-and-from school. And students who engage in after-school activities can use their hotspot to work during downtime between clubs.

Why work with Sprint

Sprint’s 4G LTE network coverage means everyone can take advantage of faster data speeds with a reliable broadband network, using either a mobile or wireline device. What’s more, multiple users can be on the same hotspot. And it’s simple to keep students safe online. With our mobile device management system, libraries can activate filters depending on who’s borrowing the hotspot.

Participants in the Library HotSpot Program from Sprint also benefit from technical support through a single, web-based portal provided by each library. And device management services are also available.

Let’s talk

Get in touch with one of our friendly experts to discuss your participation in the Library HotSpot Program on 1-866-653-1060and learn about our other Public Sector solutions at sprint.com/government

1 www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband2 www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/kids_action/homework-gap-report-2019.pdf 3 www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/kids_action/homework-gap-report-2019.pdf4, 5 & 6 www.1millionproject.org/7 www.thoughtco.com/the-digital-divide-introduction-41518098 www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/05/07/digital-divide-persists-even-as-lower-income-americans-make-gains-in-tech-adoption

Library HotSpot Program