Free Internet for Your Home (clickable Link)
The following internet carriers are offering free household Wi-Fi or special accommodations for 60 days:
- Comcast
- Charter Communications/Spectrum
- Altice
Learn more about the above at NYC.gov(Open external link).
Free Internet Locations in NYC
There are many places across the city where you can go to connect to internet for free. Locations include:
- All branches of the New York Public Library(Open external link)
- Several public spaces in Lower Manhattan(Open external link)
- LinkNYC kiosks(Open external link) across the City
Low-Cost Internet Plans
The following internet plans are available to eligible participants. Eligibility varies by provider. Contact the provider for more information.
The Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
The Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit Program helps to lower the cost of high-speed internet, computers, and tablets for eligible low-income households during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will provide:
- Up to $50 a month to low-income households for broadband service;
- Up to $75 a month to households on tribal land for broadband service; and
- A one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute $10-$50 toward the purchase price.
Apply at the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program website(Open external link). This is a temporary benefit so you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Altice (also known as Optimum)
Altice offers Altice Advantage(Open external link), a plan that starts at $14.99/month. To qualify, you must be:
- eligible for--or participate in--the National School Lunch Program (NSLP); or
- a New York City resident who attends a New York City public school; or
- eligible for--or receive--Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and 65 years of age or older; or
- a veteran and receive state or federal public assistance.
Charter (also known as Spectrum)
Charter offers Spectrum Internet Assist(Open external link), a plan that starts at $14.99/month. To qualify, one or more members of your household must be a recipient of one of the following assistance programs:
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP
- Supplemental Security Income (for applicants age 65+ only)
Verizon
Verizon offers the Lifeline program(Open external link), a plan that starts at $19.99/month. To qualify:
- Your annual income is at 135% or less than of the U.S. federal poverty guidelines
- You, or someone in your household, participates in a qualifying federal assistance program:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as food stamps), or
- Medicaid, or
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- Tribal Programs (and live on federally-recognized Tribal lands)
For more eligibility information, visit Lifelinesupport.org(Open external link)
Wi-Fi Hotspots for Existing Cable Customers
As an extension of their internet service, the providers listed below enable each other's high-speed internet customers to access up to 500,000 nationwide WiFi hotspots through the network name CableWiFi:
- Cox
- Optimum
- Spectrum
- Xfinity