Lydia’s son was good at math, and she was thrilled that he could attend a diverse charter school with a focus on STEM subjects, a proven track record of achievement, and enrichment activities that she could never afford as a single mom with a limited income. She’d done everything she could to help him keep up with the demanding curriculum, including enrolling him in a program that provided eligible K-12 students with free internet service. She was dismayed when that service was cut off without explanation, and very anxious when a bill arrived soon afterward from the internet service provider (ISP). She called 211, the original point of entry for the program, and was referred to the Digital Navigator at Beyond Literacy, which provides access and opportunity to learners in the local community. A staff member there helped Lydia apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program, an FCC benefit program that provides low-income households with discounts on internet service and computer hardware. She also contacted Lydia’s ISP and arranged to have her home service restored. Lydia is grateful for the fast and efficient way PA 211 connected her to the help she needed. “I got excellent service from you and from the agency you sent me to,” she told PA 211 in a follow-up call. “You took good care of us.”
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