en.Wedoany.com Reported - U.S. nonprofit wireless broadband provider and funding foundation Mission Telecom recently announced a milestone in Englewood, Colorado, stating that its partner network has connected over 20,000 households, impacting the lives of more than 50,000 people. The organization is dedicated to bridging the digital divide, expanding affordable connectivity and advocating for alternative solutions as schools, libraries, and nonprofits face threats of federal funding cuts.
Mark Colwell, Executive Director of Mission Telecom, stated that the organization has witnessed how reliable connectivity transforms access to education, healthcare, and opportunities. As federal support for connectivity declines, Mission Telecom remains committed to expanding access, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that relevant institutions have the tools needed to serve their communities.
Last fall, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to remove hotspots and school bus Wi-Fi from the E-Rate program, causing school districts that had already signed contracts for the current academic year to lose nearly $58 million in expected reimbursements. In response, Mission Telecom launched a $7 E-Rate discount and an E-Rate matching discount in July last year to maintain off-campus connectivity for schools and libraries. Currently, the organization offers schools pricing of $5.99 per month for 100GB or $7.99 per month for unlimited data. Recently, Mission Telecom also launched a national initiative called "Project: Volume Up" to help public libraries start or expand hotspot lending programs, and introduced the Inseego MiFi Pro M4 mobile hotspot for $179, providing high-speed internet to nonprofits, schools, and libraries.
In terms of library partnerships, a project by Mission Telecom at the Belen Public Library in New Mexico revealed that nearly 90,000 rural households lack reliable internet. Surveys found that 88% of users utilized the device to learn new skills, 66% for homework or education, and 32% for telemedicine appointments. Kathleen Pickering, Director of the Belen Public Library, stated that the organization's support enabled the library to sustain its hotspot program. In York County, South Carolina, a partnership expanded the library's hotspot program to over 200 devices across five branches, with an expected 4,000 checkouts this year. Stacy Williams, Marketing Manager of the York County Library, noted that many patrons expressed gratitude for being able to borrow devices to work from home, check emails, and connect with family.
Additionally, Mission Telecom has expanded its services through partnerships with nonprofits. In August, the organization collaborated with CACRC to provide affordable computers to families in need in Louisiana. In September, Mission Telecom launched the RESPOND toolkit—a portable hotspot and broadband solution for maintaining community connectivity during natural disasters. The organization also provides flexible, secure wireless broadband for Lutheran Services Carolina's New Americans Program and its human trafficking victim assistance program. Through the Asheville Medical Research and Education Corporation, Mission Telecom has extended services to telemedicine and veteran communities, helping connect veterans in areas where fiber or affordable access is unavailable.
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