Giving students access to Internet - at no charge

More than 28,500 students who live in Hamilton County now have internet access at home so they can complete their schoolwork remotely.

Making sure every student in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has internet access became more important than ever when the COVID-19 global pandemic swept through the area, forcing many children to complete their schoolwork at home for safety. Students who were living in economically challenged households were left unable to engage with or complete their schoolwork, since many lacked a reliable computer and internet connection. This was especially difficult since many classrooms require on-camera video conferencing to carry out socially-distant schooling, an online activity known for using up lots of bandwidth.

Determined to empower Chattanooga youth with equal opportunities to continue their education, EPB Fiber Optics partnered with Hamilton County Schools to provide low-income students with high-speed wireless internet for at-home use.

Determined to empower Chattanooga youth with equal opportunities to continue their education, EPB Fiber Optics partnered with Hamilton County Schools to provide low-income students with high-speed wireless internet for at-home use.

HCS EdConnect Powered by EPB Fiber Optics is a first-ofits-kind initiative to bridge the digital divide. Disadvantaged families receive fiber-to-the home internet with upload and download speeds of at least 100 Mbps, plus a professionally installed WiFi router, at no charge to them — all set up and provided by EPB Fiber Optics.

Families with K–12 Hamilton County students who qualify for the Federal Free & Reduced Meals program or SNAP benefits, based on their income, are eligible for HCS EdConnect. Participants are also encouraged to take full advantage of this program by learning how to use and troubleshoot technology from the Tech Goes Home Chattanooga video library.

Parents and students can visit the Tech Goes Home website — techgoeshomecha.org — to watch videos to learn how to use apps like PowerSchool, HCS app, Gmail, Google Drive, and Classlink. You can also learn the basics of computers, the internet, and using a Chromebook, as well as how to stay safe online.

HCS and EPB Fiber Optics also partnered to create EPB Quick Connect Free WiFi hotspots so families can travel to hotspot and connect from the safety of their vehicles, or while maintaining a distance of at least six feet. Both parents and students are free to use these hotspots for their schoolwork, career, or other needs. Locate the nearest EPB Quick Connect hotspot at techgoeshomecha.org/epb or call EPB at 423-648-1372 to learn more about HCS Ed Connect and high-speed internet.