The Digital Access Project, a program of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC), and Basic-Internet.com are providing free hot-spots to people with disabilities and their families who currently do not have Internet service at home.
“The best gift possible is giving someone affordable Internet at home,” said Kim Hogan, Digital Access Program Coordinator. “We are thankful for the donation of free hot-spots from Basic-Internet.com. This generous gift will help people with disabilities, seniors and low-income families get online to improve the quality of their lives.”
Basic-Internet.com offers high-speed residential Internet service to the general public, starting at $10 per month, with some restrictions. Typically, other Internet service providers charge as much as $70 a month. Louis Flores of Elk Grove is one of the first to get a free hotspot, which normally retails for about $89.00, and is signing up for the $10 a month plan. “The Internet has been unaffordable for me. Now my sons can look for work from home without having to go to the library and my daughter will not have to stay late at school to finish homework in a computer lab,” Flores said. “And my wife and I can use free online telephone services to talk to our families in Mexico. This is the best gift I could imagine.”
Basic-Internet.com focuses on helping bridge the digital divide and providing affordable Internet service. “Once a luxury, having Internet at home in the 21st Century now is a necessity to tap educational and employment opportunities, save time and money and stay in touch with loved ones,” said Roland S. Williams, President of Quick Swipe Services, N.A., the goodwill arm of Basic-Internet.com. “This donation is just a small step, and we hope that many other companies will follow this example so we can finally close the digital divide and the digital literacy gap.”
The Digital Access Project has 20 partners throughout California who can assist you in getting connected to the internet!
Community Access Center — Riverside
Central Coast Center for independent Living –Salinas
Computers for Classrooms — Chico
Center of Vision Enhancement — Merced
Dayle McIntosh Center — Garden Grove
FREED Center for Independent Living — Grass Valley
Independent Living Center Kern County — Bakersfield
Independent Living Resource of Solano and Contra Costa Counties — Concord
Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. – Santa Barbara
Marin Center for Independent Living – San Rafael
Veterans Advocacy Foundation/PCs4Vets – San Diego
Placer Independent Services, Inc.- Auburn
Resources for Independences, Central Valley – Fresno
Rolling Start, Inc. – San Bernardino
Sacramento Autism Alliance – Sacramento
Service Center for Independent Life – Claremont
Southern California Resource Services for Independent Living – Downey,
Supported Life Institute – Sacramento
Silicon Valley Independent Living Center – San Jose
We Care A Lot Foundation – Redding, Chico
If you live in the Sacramento Region
The Digital Access Project regularly holds digital literacy training sessions for new Internet and computer users. In Sacramento, the project is partnering with Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. Media is invited to the Dec. 3 hot-spot giveaway and training session at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.
You can call the CFILC office to find out about the free hot spots or visit the Sacramento Food bank and Family Services on one of the dates listed below.
DECEMBER EVENT DETAILS
When: Wednesday, December 10th, 11th and 13th Starts at 10 AM
Where: Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
Education & Technology Center
3308 Third Ave, Sacramento, CA 95817
Who: Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and Digital Access Project training staff and people
receiving free hotspots
To learn more about eligibility for the free hot-spots and affordable Internet service, please call 800-390-2699. Deadline to apply for free hotspots is December 14, 2014. Please note: The free hot-spots are not available at www.basic-internet.com.
About California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
The mission of CFILC is to increase access and equal opportunity for People with Disabilities by building the capacity of Independent Living Centers. For more information, visit www.cfilc.org. The Digital Access Project is a program that supports people with disabilities in getting Internet services at a lower cost and digital literacy training. For more information, visit www.digitalaccessproject.org.
