With the start of the back-to-school season, and the end of the federal government’s Affordability Connectivity Program (ACP), low-income households are finding themselves in need of affordable internet options for their children’s education, Cox Communications reports.

Noting that it has never wavered from its commitment to closing the digital divide, Cox Communications will continue to provide its Connect2Compete program to qualified K-12 families to help them get and stay connected to technology at home.

Connect2Compete provides $9.95 a month in-home wifi at fast speeds of 100 Mbps. Connect2Compete participants also can buy low-cost laptops and tablets from nonprofit computer distribution partners.

“Shopping for back-to-school supplies is no longer just about notebooks and pencils,” said Chanelle Hawken, Cox’s West Region vice president of public and government affairs.

“Students who don’t have internet connectivity at home struggle to complete their homework, fall behind their peers academically, receive lower grades, and have lower high school and college graduation rates, which could impact their future career options and long-term financial stability,” she said.

For more than a decade, Cox has connected some five million people through its digital equity programs. Cox offers the following internet options through its digital equity efforts for households with and without school age children.

• Connect2Compete — $9.95 per month internet service for families with a child in grades K-12 in the home who participate in the National School Lunch Program or other select federal programs such as SNAP.

• ConnectAssist — $30 per month internet service for low-income households that participate in select government programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, Public Housing, and Pell Grant. ConnectAssist is available to all Cox customers who were receiving the ACP benefit, as well as those who meet the eligibility criteria for ACP.

• Cox Digital Academy — Free online educational resource where customers can increase their digital proficiency and access discounted personal computers.

• Cox Mobile — Starting at $15 per gigabit per line and as low as $30 a month per line for Gig Unlimited, Cox Mobile offers extra savings when combined with internet services.

“Cox Communications’ digital equity programs have been a constant support and resource for families facing financial constraints,” said Chelsea Duffy, executive director for Partners in Education.

“As a community organization dedicated to bridging the digital divide, we greatly appreciate the effort Cox makes in forging strong relationships with local nonprofits, so their offerings can reach those who need them most,” she said.