Ohio Connectivity Champions Assist in Connecting Cleveland Metropolitan School District Students to Internet

The Ohio Connectivity Champions (OCC) partnered with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) to help deploy free internet service to more than 6,000 district households during the 2021-2022 school year ensuring online access to health, employment, school, skill improvement, and the economy. In September 2021, CMSD was awarded approximately $12 million from the Emergency Connectivity Fund (now the Affordable Connectivity Program), a federal $7.17 billion program that helps schools and libraries provide the tools and services needed for remote learning during the pandemic. As part of Spectrum’s Stay Connected K-12 program and EmpowerCLE+, more than 6,000 high-speed modems were distributed to households in CMSD’s district. The Champions also help CMSD with address changes, identifying household internet needs, verifying installation of needed internet, ensuring that unneeded modems were returned, and making sure that households that do need modems are scheduled to receive one. “Ohio’s Connectivity Champions are committed to removing the burdens districts face while connecting families to internet,” said Geoff Andrews, chief executive officer of the Management Council, parent organization of OCC. “We are pleased to be part of an initiative that helps Ohioans connect to the internet and participate in the global economy.”