1Million Project
-
Free wifi for eligible students from the 1Million Project Foundation
Portland Public Schools has received an award from the 1Million Project Foundation to provide free internet connectivity for high school students who do not have reliable internet access at home, starting with the 2018-19 school year. This will include a mobile hotspot and 10GB per month of free internet connectivity during the time they are in high school. There is no cost to students to participate in the 1Million Project and no personally identifiable information about students or their families will be captured as part of their program participation. www.1millionproject.orgInternet access is critical for homework and for college and career research and applications, financial aid, social services, health care and much more. Participation in this program will give students a tool that has the potential to help them grow, achieve and excel in today’s digital learning environment. This preparation is essential as we face a dynamic and challenging future work environment.
To qualify for the program, students can fill out and return the student survey/parent permission form that is in their high school registration packet.
Eligible students will receive:
- A mobile hotspot device
- 10GB per month of free high-speed LTE data (If usage exceeds 10 GB in a month, unlimited data is available at 2G speeds for the remainder of the month.)
- Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) compliant content filter with every device
- Wireless service for up to four years while still in a participating high school
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Who is eligible to receive a hotspot?
High school students who are 13 and older who do not have high-speed internet access at home, which includes:
- No home internet access at all
- Multiple students in the same household, working from a single computer
- Internet is available at home, but at a very low bandwidth (i.e., dial-up speeds) and is not adequate for completing homework assignments
-
What exactly is a hotspot and how does it provide internet connectivity?
A mobile hotspot provides secure access to the Sprint LTE network for a smartphone, Chromebook, tablet, or other mobile device, up to a maximum of eight (8) devices. It has its own data plan so you do not need to use your own cell phone provider data plan and will not use your cell phone battery.
-
How can a student sign up?
Students and their parent/guardian can complete the required consent form and bring to the designated person at your school.
-
If there are multiple PPS students in one household, can each student have their own hotspot?
Yes, each student can receive their own hotspot.
-
Does the hotspot have a web content filter?
Yes. Sprint provides a free Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) compliant content filter with every hotspot to block inappropriate content and malware for any computing device while on the Sprint network. The filter uses the Symantec Rulespace engine which is industry best-in-class and has been employed worldwide to over 700 million customers.
-
Does the hotspot still work after reaching the maximum data usage for the month?
Yes, the hotspot will continue to work at slower speeds (2G) for the rest of the month after the student uses the 10GB of high-speed LTE data.
-
Does the student keep the hotspot over summer and winter breaks?
Yes. The hotspot remains in the student's possession continuously until the student graduates or completes four years of school.
-
What happens to the hotspot if a student transfers schools?
If a student transfers schools and remains in Portland Public Schools, the hotspot will stay with them. If a student leaves the school district, the hotspot is returned to the school. If the device is not returned, the student's account may be charged a replacement fee for the cost of a hotspot.
-
What happens if the hotspot is lost?
Students report a lost device to their school’s 1Million Project administrator. They will either provide you with a replacement device or direct you to your online account to purchase a replacement device. If you need to purchase a replacement device, the school MUST place your account in suspended status or you will be unable to see the devices available for purchase.
-
What happens if the hotspot is damaged?
Contact Sprint at 844-309-1680 to identify the next steps. Sprint will determine if the damage to your device is covered under warranty.
-
What happens if the hotspot is stolen?
If a supply exists, a stolen hotspot will be replaced only once, after a police report is made and presented to the school. If there is no supply, students will be directed to their online account to purchase a replacement device. If you need to purchase a replacement device, the school MUST place your account in suspended status or you will be unable to see the available devices for purchase.
-
After graduation, does the student get to keep the hotspot?
Yes, students with hotspots who graduate from Portland Public Schools will get to take the hotspot with them. Sprint intends to offer students their own discounted service plan upon graduation.
-
Who do I contact for help with my hotspot?
If you have any questions about your device or service, please log into your Sprint portal or call Sprint at (844) 309-1680 from 7AM to 10PM Central Time.
