Cox Foundation gives big grant to help bridge ‘digital divide’ in Middle Georgia

The philanthropic arm of Cox Enterprises announced a new program Wednesday aimed at providing low-cost Internet service and computer tablets to low-income families across Middle Georgia.

The James M. Cox Foundation gave a $288,500 grant to EveryoneOn, a national nonprofit that’s working to eliminate the “digital divide,” to support its mission to make “computers and free digital literacy courses” accessible to all unconnected Americans.

The grant will help supply 1,500 computer tablets for low-income families that are now using the Connect2Compete service. That’s EveryoneOn’s flagship program, which started about three years ago and has provided high-speed Internet for under $10 a month to K-12 students and families that qualify.

More than 100,000 people have been connected with Connect2Compete.

“Homework that children do nowadays is just not like it was when we were in school,” said Quintin Green, the principal at Ingram-Pye Elementary. “In order for our children to be successful, they’re going to need devices to do their schoolwork at the house. They’re going to be able to do a whole lot more, learn a whole lot more, if they’re able to have the digital devices.”

Curtis Jones, the Bibb County school system’s superintendent, also weighed in, saying the new program would help forge a “true possibility” for each student to get engaged with education and technology.

Mayor Robert Reichert proclaimed October 2015 as Digital Inclusion month.

“Poverty is a significant problem in Macon-Bibb County,” he said, adding that indigence can cripple a student’s educational opportunities through a lack of access to technology at home.

“The digital divide is real,” he said.

Pat Esser, president of Cox Communications, said he was thrilled to be a part of the program. He said he hoped the program would also help students stay in school.

“We want kids to stay in school, compete, get good grades, graduate and go on and do what their passions are in life,” he said.

He also commented on the Bibb school district’s new computer network, calling it one of the “most advanced platforms in the country.”

“Knowing they have a 40GB network here, knowing that the schools are very committed to a long-term plan around education and technology, it makes it a natural place for us to come do a pilot,” he said.

He added, however, that “the kids can’t put that network in their back pocket and take it home at night,” reiterating the need to get computers in the hands of students at home.

Esser said Bibb and its educators have been willing and open to working with Cox.

“I know many of my parents would certainly appreciate knowing that there is an avenue for us to be able to get Internet connectivity at the house,” Green said.

To see if you qualify for a reduced-cost home Internet service and a $30 tablet device, call 227-9990 or visit Connect2Compete.org/Cox.

To contact writer David Schick, call 744-4382 or find him on Twitter @davidcschick.

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 10:26 PM with the headline "Cox Foundation gives big grant to help bridge ‘digital divide’ in Middle Georgia ."