Episode 36: Getting Free Internet to Families Who Need It Most (ft. Dirk Tillotson)
Apr 6, 2020 12:00:00 AM
In this episode, we speak with activist Dirk Tillotson about how, due to a lack of internet access, low income students are being denied an education during COVID-19. You’ll hear how Comcast’s free internet service is not actually free, why a lack of internet access is an extreme barrier to academic success, and how activists and business leaders are stepping up to solve the problem. [spp-player url=http://traffic.libsyn.com/voices4ed/36_-_Education_Post_-_Free_Internet_Should_Be_Free.mp3] [spp-tweet tweet="“These kids are being denied access to an education. We know this is happening. We know this is going to continue to happen until something is changed.” – Dirk Tillotson"]
Episode Details:
How Comcast’s “free internet” is not actually free
How Comcast has responded to Dirk’s petition
The power of local education activism
The lack of national leadership towards allowing students to continue to learn during COVID-19
How business leaders are stepping up for students
Whether or not Comcast and other ISPs should continue to provide internet after COVID-19
[spp-tweet tweet="“We often look at educational change as something that someone is going to think up somewhere at the top. The reality is that I think we need to listen to the folks at the bottom and how they’re experiencing things, respond to them and then push up to the top for the change.” – Dirk Tillotson"]