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Episode 36: Getting Free Internet to Families Who Need It Most (ft. Dirk Tillotson)

BY April 6, 2020
In this episode, we speak with activist Dirk Tillotson about how, due to a lack of internet access, low income students are being denied an education during COVID-19. You’ll hear how Comcast’s free internet service is not actually free, why a lack of internet access is an extreme barrier to academic success, and how activists and business leaders are stepping up to solve the problem. [spp-player url=http://traffic.libsyn.com/voices4ed/36_-_Education_Post_-_Free_Internet_Should_Be_Free.mp3] [spp-tweet tweet="“These kids are being denied access to an education. We know this is happening. We know this is going to continue to happen until something is changed.” – Dirk Tillotson"]

Episode Details:

  • How Comcast’s “free internet” is not actually free
  • How Comcast has responded to Dirk’s petition
  • The power of local education activism
  • The lack of national leadership towards allowing students to continue to learn during COVID-19
  • How business leaders are stepping up for students
  • Whether or not Comcast and other ISPs should continue to provide internet after COVID-19

Links Mentioned:

[spp-tweet tweet="“We often look at educational change as something that someone is going to think up somewhere at the top. The reality is that I think we need to listen to the folks at the bottom and how they’re experiencing things, respond to them and then push up to the top for the change.” – Dirk Tillotson"]
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