Charter Spectrum has introduced a new budget-priced internet plan for households with students, offering a 50/5 Mbps internet connection for $29.99 a month.

Spectrum’s unusual discounted internet plan bypasses the usual paperwork verification that low-cost internet options usually require by contracting directly with area schools that would offer the plan to their existing students. The service is managed by Spectrum Enterprise, a commercial services division at Charter Spectrum.

Connie Lack, a Charter representative who briefed members (sub. req’d.) of Cleveland City Council’s Finance Committee this week about the plan, explained that at least 50 connections per school would be required to offer “Stay Connected K-12” to students. The plan is available to students, teachers, and staff of public, charter and parochial schools.

The plan includes free Wi-Fi service and equipment and offers unlimited access with no data caps or speed throttling. Anyone can access the service, but there must be at least one qualified student in the home to keep the plan.

The plan appears to be Charter’s answer to students that lack quality internet connections at home to take advantage of in-home schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. But unlike other plans, Spectrum closely partners with educational institutions to market, manage, and maintain the service.

“‘Stay Connected K-12’ allows schools to offer high-speed, cable broadband Internet access direct to students, educators and staff in their homes so learning, teaching and working are uninterrupted,” a brochure about the service explains. “It offers schools and districts flexibility to add locations where access is needed and remove locations when it is no longer required. Schools and districts can simply provide the details of residences in need of access and Spectrum Enterprise takes care of the rest.”

Signing up for service must be handled through a participating school, not Charter Spectrum. Once signed up, Spectrum will send a self-install kit with all necessary equipment and instructions. If your school is currently not enrolled in this program and needs more information, you can share this phone number with school officials so they can get more information: (866) 850-5136.