Approximately 15 million students across the United States still lack reliable internet access at home, a reality that sharply divides educational opportunity—especially in under-resourced communities. This digital divide interrupts homework performance, restricts virtual learning potential, and limits long-term academic advancement for millions of K–12 learners. Without high-speed connections, many students fall behind; not due to lack of potential, but due to a lack of access.

Recognizing the urgency, T-Mobile launched Project 10Million, a nationwide program designed to remove connectivity barriers for students who need it most. By providing free internet access to eligible K–12 households, the initiative aims to directly close the homework gap and enable equal participation in digital education.

Connecting Classrooms: What is Project 10Million?

Overview of the Program Launched by T-Mobile

Project 10Million is T-Mobile’s nation-spanning initiative, introduced in 2020, designed to tackle one of the largest education equity issues in the United States—the digital divide. Through this program, T-Mobile pledged to invest $10 billion over a five-year span to provide free internet access to up to 10 million eligible K–12 student households across the country.

Mission: Closing the Homework Gap

The homework gap, a term coined to describe the challenge faced by students who lack internet access at home, disproportionately affects low-income households. Students in such environments struggle to complete assignments, access learning platforms, and participate in virtual education. Project 10Million directly addresses this issue. By focusing on connectivity, T-Mobile aims to erase this barrier and create a more level educational playing field.

Scope: A Nationwide Connectivity Effort

This isn't a limited pilot or regional subsidy. With its massive scale, the program spans all 50 states and targets students regardless of whether they live in urban centers or rural corners of the country. T-Mobile distributes mobile hotspots along with free wireless data allotments to eligible families, enabling internet access where broadband options are either unaffordable or unavailable.

Target Audience: K–12 Students Without Reliable Home Internet

The program zeroes in on K–12 students who are enrolled in the National School Lunch Program or other government-subsidized programs. Any student falling into this category—regardless of grade level—qualifies if they lack reliable internet access at home. The goal is not only to support digital assignments but to create digital equity for every learner.

Why Free Internet Access Is a Game Changer for K–12 Students

The New Foundation of Learning: Connectivity

Traditional classrooms no longer define the boundaries of education. Digital resources — from interactive assignments to real-time collaboration tools — now shape how students learn. According to the Pew Research Center, 61% of U.S. teens have used the internet to complete homework, even before the pandemic began. This reliance has only grown. Without internet access, students are cut off from essential academic tools like learning portals, video tutorials, virtual libraries, and online assessments.

The Pandemic Exposed the Connectivity Gap

When school buildings shuttered in response to COVID-19, students without home internet were left scrambling. Data from Common Sense Media and the Boston Consulting Group in 2020 showed that about 15 to 16 million students in the U.S. lacked adequate internet or devices for distance learning. This wasn’t a temporary issue — it disrupted academic progress, reduced teacher-student interaction, and forced many students to fall behind, particularly in low-income households.

Underserved Communities Face Structural Barriers

In rural and economically disadvantaged areas, broadband infrastructure remains underdeveloped or unaffordable. Families with limited resources must often choose between basic necessities and connectivity. A 2021 report from the National Center for Education Statistics revealed that only 66% of students from households earning under $25,000 had access to home internet, compared to 94% of households earning $75,000 or more.

• Schoolwork increasingly requires streaming, uploading, and collaboration — activities that demand stable internet.
• Without access, students lose out on multimedia education tools, test prep platforms, and digital feedback from teachers.
• Inconsistent access perpetuates the achievement gap across socioeconomic lines.

Free internet provides more than convenience — it ensures that learning doesn’t stop when the school day ends. It creates continuity, levels the field, and supports consistent academic development across all grade levels.

Who Qualifies for T-Mobile’s Project 10Million Free Internet Program?

Meeting the Core Eligibility Criteria

T-Mobile’s Project 10Million provides free internet connectivity to K–12 students across the United States, but access isn’t open to everyone. Instead, it’s designed to reach families who meet specific financial and educational criteria. The primary qualifier: participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

The NSLP, a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools, uses household income thresholds to determine eligibility. Students from families earning at or below 185% of the federal poverty line are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. This directly connects them to Project 10Million.

Verification Through School Districts

Eligibility must be verified through the student’s school district. Each district works directly with T-Mobile—cross-referencing enrollment records with NSLP participation status. This provides an additional layer of authentication and ensures resources are allocated correctly.

Required Documentation and the Enrollment Workflow

The process begins with an application submitted either online or through a participating school. Here’s what families should have ready before applying:

• Proof of enrollment in the National School Lunch Program — This could be an official letter from the school or district indicating NSLP eligibility.
• Student's full name and school information — Including district, school name, grade level, and student ID (if applicable).
• Parent or guardian contact details — Accurate phone number and residential address are required for delivery of the mobile hotspot device.

Once documentation is submitted, applications typically undergo a review phase. If approved, families receive a free mobile hotspot and access to 100GB of high-speed data per year per eligible student.

Applications can be submitted individually by households, or in bulk by school administrators on behalf of multiple students. This flexibility helps reach students in diverse academic and geographical contexts.

What’s Included in the T-Mobile Project 10Million Program?

Project 10Million equips qualifying K–12 students with the digital tools and connectivity required for effective online learning—without the financial burden. The program doesn’t just offer access; it delivers tangible, ongoing connectivity support tailored for students from lower-income households.

Key Benefits Delivered Through the Program

• Free Wireless Hotspot Device: Each eligible household receives a mobile hotspot at no cost. This device connects to T-Mobile's nationwide 4G LTE and 5G networks, offering reliable internet access for students who might not have consistent service at home.
• 100GB of High-Speed Data Annually: Every year, the hotspot comes loaded with 100 gigabytes of high-speed data. This allocation is specifically designated for educational needs—sufficient for hours of video conferencing, assignment downloads, and research activity across diverse subjects.
• Low-Cost Data Add-Ons: Once the annual 100GB limit is reached, families can choose to purchase additional data at significantly reduced rates. These options are designed to remain affordable and accessible, supporting families with evolving learning demands throughout the school year.

Optional Technology at a Discount

The initiative also extends beyond connectivity by offering deeply discounted laptops and tablets. These optional devices, made available through partnerships with select manufacturers, help round out the digital learning experience by ensuring students can fully participate in virtual classrooms, complete assignments, and engage with educational platforms.

Every component of Project 10Million is structured to remove technology barriers for under-connected students and families, empowering them to stay connected, stay current, and stay competitive in an increasingly digital educational landscape.

How COVID-19 Exposed and Widened Gaps in Education Access

Pandemic Pressure: A Sudden Surge in Demand for Connectivity

The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t introduce the digital divide — but it forced it into the national spotlight. When in-person classrooms shut down almost overnight in spring 2020, schools across the United States pivoted to remote learning. This shift turned a reliable internet connection from a learning enhancer into a non-negotiable requirement for participation. As millions of students began logging into virtual classes, those without broadband access or devices simply couldn’t attend. Education ground to a halt for them.

Remote Instruction: A Quick Transition with Unequal Outcomes

School districts moved fast to adapt, but digital inequity slowed their reach. A 2020 survey by Common Sense Media and Boston Consulting Group estimated that up to 15 to 16 million K–12 students in the U.S. lacked adequate home internet or devices for remote learning. That meant roughly 30% of students couldn’t connect consistently — or at all — to the virtual classroom. Students in rural areas, low-income households, and communities of color were disproportionately affected, with Black, Hispanic, and Native American students facing up to 1.5 times higher disconnection rates compared to white peers.

Digital Inequities: Not Just Connectivity, but Everything Around It

Technology isn’t just about a Wi-Fi signal or a laptop. It’s also about data plans that support streaming video, hardware that accommodates multiple applications, and households with enough bandwidth for multiple students learning simultaneously. Many families scrambled to fill the gaps using smartphones, public Wi-Fi, or borrowed devices — stopgap solutions that limited participation and affected engagement.

• Students often had to share limited devices among siblings.
• Lack of quiet or designated spaces for learning added further obstacles.
• Assignments, testing, and even meals were harder to access for the digitally disconnected.

This landscape made it clear: education access now hinges on digital access. The pandemic didn’t just accelerate the adoption of remote learning — it permanently redefined what students require to succeed, prompting the urgent scale-up of initiatives like T-Mobile’s Project 10Million.

Bridging the Digital Divide in Education

Reaching Students Beyond Urban Centers

Lack of broadband infrastructure in low-income and rural areas has long prevented equal access to academic resources. T-Mobile’s Project 10Million directly addresses this by delivering mobile internet access that circumvents the need for fixed-line broadband. Using hotspot devices and leveraging T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G and LTE networks, students in previously disconnected zones gain access to consistent and secure online learning tools.

In regions where fiber or cable installation remains financially impractical, the flexibility of mobile hotspots eliminates dependency on physical infrastructure. This method reaches students whether they live in inner-city apartments or distant farm towns—and it does so without delay.

Centering Educational Equity and Inclusion

Digital access sets the stage for long-term academic achievement. Every student, regardless of ZIP code, receives the same bandwidth for research, coursework submission, and classroom streaming. Through standardized data allotments, Project 10Million ensures that no child enters the virtual classroom with a disadvantage.

The program also serves English language learners, students with disabilities, and migrant children—all demographics historically excluded from uninterrupted digital access. By enabling them to access adaptive learning applications, speech-to-text tools, and other assistive technologies, Project 10Million redefines what equitable learning support looks like.

Equipping Families for Digital Participation

Connectivity alone isn't the whole solution. Families participating in Project 10Million also receive the training and tools to help navigate digital learning environments. This empowers parents and guardians to assist with homework platforms, troubleshooting, and communication with teachers.

• Multilingual digital literacy materials help bridge cultural and language gaps.
• Workshops introduce caregivers to learning management systems like Google Classroom or Schoology.
• Simple enrollment processes in schools streamline device and data distribution to households.

With consistent internet access and foundational tech knowledge, families gain confidence. This active participation fosters stronger academic behaviors at home and increases student engagement in formal education.

Mobilizing Communities: How T-Mobile Leverages Partnerships for Project 10Million

Government, School Districts, and Nonprofits: A Coordinated Effort

T-Mobile’s Project 10Million does not operate in isolation. It relies on coordinated collaboration with federal and state governments, local school districts, and nonprofit organizations. These partnerships shape the program’s national reach and amplify its local impact.

School districts act as direct channels to distribute information and devices to eligible students. State and federal education agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education, help align the program with national digital equity goals. Meanwhile, nonprofits such as EveryoneOn and EducationSuperHighway provide critical infrastructure, logistical support, and community trust—especially in underserved areas.

Community Outreach and Local Activation

T-Mobile uses an embedded approach to engage communities. Rather than waiting for families to apply, the company works through local education leaders to proactively identify eligible students. Customized outreach strategies—ranging from virtual information sessions to on-site enrollment drives—help remove barriers to access. Language-specific materials and culturally competent communication ensure that bilingual and immigrant households are not left behind.

In rural school systems, where connectivity gaps are often most acute, the company deploys field teams to coordinate directly with administrators and technology directors. Meanwhile, in urban centers, T-Mobile partners with community centers, libraries, and housing authorities to set up registration events and distribute mobile hotspots.

Local Collaborations in Action

• Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD): One of the largest public education systems in the U.S. partnered with T-Mobile to integrate Project 10Million into its broader digital curriculum strategy. Tens of thousands of students received data-enabled devices through this initiative.
• Houston Independent School District: In collaboration with local nonprofits and the city government, Project 10Million helped connect over 30,000 students with free internet during remote learning transitions.
• Appalachian Regional Schools: Through a partnership with regional education cooperatives, T-Mobile reached deeply underserved mountain communities with no high-speed infrastructure by leveraging LTE hotspot solutions.

By combining national infrastructure with grassroots cooperation, Project 10Million converts policy into action. Each partnership extends the program’s reach and tailors it to the needs of diverse student populations—school by school, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Technology and Internet Access in Underserved Communities

Why Mobile Hotspots Offer a Practical Solution

In neighborhoods where wired broadband is unavailable or unaffordable, mobile hotspots provide an immediate and flexible alternative. T-Mobile equips eligible K–12 students with free hotspots under Project 10Million, allowing families to connect to the internet without requiring long-term contracts, technician installations, or credit checks. These devices are portable, easy to use, and powered by T-Mobile’s nationwide LTE network.

Rather than relying on fixed connections, mobile hotspots give students the ability to study from home, during transit, or even in places like community centers and libraries. This adaptability proves especially effective in areas where geography or infrastructure limits high-speed cable or fiber availability.

Advantages of Wireless Access for Households Without Broadband

• No Infrastructure Barriers: Wireless devices bypass the need for buried cables or nearby nodes, which can be scarce in remote areas.
• Cost Predictability: Families with tight budgets avoid surprise overage fees since Project 10Million includes a fixed amount of free monthly data—100GB per year, or about 8.3GB per month.
• Ease of Deployment: No waiting period for installation—students receive a working device with pre-loaded data directly.
• Scalability: Whether a home has one learner or several, multiple devices can be distributed based on student eligibility rather than household limits.

Connectivity Gains in Rural and Low-Income Urban Areas

In rural districts, broadband penetration remains lower than the national average. According to the Federal Communications Commission 2020 Broadband Deployment Report, around 22.3% of rural Americans lack access to high-speed internet, compared to just 1.5% in urban areas. Mobile connectivity addresses these gaps by using cellular towers rather than fixed lines.

In low-income urban neighborhoods, cost—not coverage—is the barrier. Even where broadband infrastructure exists, monthly service fees, equipment rental costs, and installation charges pose deterrents. Here, the zero-cost structure of Project 10Million levels the playing field for families who prioritize essentials over connectivity.

What does this mean in human terms? A high schooler in a farming community can now attend a Zoom class while riding the bus. An elementary student in an apartment without broadband can submit assignments online on time. Every hotspot distributed rewires opportunity—one home, one student, one future at a time.

Putting Parents at the Center: Supporting Digital Learning at Home

How Project 10Million Empowers Parents

Project 10Million doesn’t stop at delivering free internet—it gives parents the tools to turn connectivity into educational results. Through this T-Mobile initiative, families play a central role in integrating digital tools into their child’s routine. By offering high-speed data and mobile hotspots directly to eligible households, the program makes remote access predictable and manageable for caregivers. No more searching for public Wi-Fi or battling inconsistent broadband—this program puts parents in a position of control.

Parents' Roles in Supporting Digital Learning at Home

With access to the internet solved, parents can turn their focus to the support their children need academically. Their involvement can take many forms:

• Establishing a structured tech-friendly environment: A quiet corner, regular screen-time routines, and clear expectations foster better learning habits.
• Monitoring assignments and deadlines: With internet access at home, it becomes easier to engage with school portals, track progress, and communicate with teachers.
• Encouraging responsible tech use: Parents guide children on how to stay productive online instead of distracted by social media or games.
• Participating in digital literacy: Many parents navigate technology together with their kids, reinforcing skills and learning digital tools side by side.

Tools for Families to Manage Data and Device Use

Managing the new digital ecosystem isn't left to chance. Project 10Million provides families with management tools that are easy to understand and implement. Every hotspot device includes features allowing data tracking, usage monitoring, and time-based controls. Parents can monitor how much of the monthly 100GB of data has been used and understand where that data is going—streaming, downloads, academic platforms.

In addition, some school districts partnered with T-Mobile offer training or webinars, specifically geared toward parents, focusing on digital safety and productivity. Families leave equipped not just with a device, but with confidence in how to use it wisely day-to-day.

Are parents ready to be digital guides and learning partners? With Project 10Million, the resources are in place to say yes.

Safeguarding Students Online: T-Mobile’s Commitment to Internet Safety and Privacy

Built-In Protections for Safer Connectivity

Project 10Million doesn't just provide free internet—it incorporates structured safeguards that align with federal privacy laws and digital safety best practices. T-Mobile designed this program with controls that minimize exposure to harmful online content while promoting a secure learning environment.

Parental Controls and Content Filtering

Recipients of the Project 10Million program receive access to curated filtering tools that help parents manage what their children can see online. T-Mobile integrates network-level content filtering that blocks explicit material, proxy sites, and malware threats. These filters operate automatically but can be customized to meet age-appropriate needs.

• Customizable filtering levels allow restriction settings for elementary, middle, or high school students.
• Time-based usage limits can be added to reduce online distractions during non-school hours.
• Reporting features offer visibility into browsing activity, giving caregivers insight into digital consumption habits.

These controls do more than restrict—they create boundaries that encourage focused, purposeful engagement with academic content.

Compliance with Federal Privacy Standards

T-Mobile Project 10Million operates within the legal framework of student data protection, aligning directly with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These federal laws require strict oversight on how children’s data is collected, used, and shared.

• COPPA mandates verifiable parental consent before collecting personal data from children under 13.
• FERPA guarantees parents—and students over 18—the right to access and control their educational records.

T-Mobile does not monetize or use student data for advertising purposes. All personal and browsing data through the program is protected under strict non-disclosure and encryption protocols. Schools and parents retain control over student information shared through connected learning platforms.

How Safe Is Your Child Online Through This Program?

Ask yourself: do you know who can see your child's data and what tools you have to filter their web access? Project 10Million gives families those tools at no extra cost and adheres to industry-leading safety policies. With in-place protections and compliance measures, T-Mobile drives digital accessibility without compromising privacy or security.