Miami Heat Helps Bridge the Digital Divide with Internet Essentials Partnership Program

As Miami students prepare to head back to class completely virtually for the new school year next week, the Miami Heat is teaming up with Comcast to make sure local families in need get connected to the internet at home so kids can fully participate in online classes.

The Miami Heat is the first South Florida organization to join the new Internet Essentials Partnership Program (IEPP). Launched nationally earlier this month, the IEPP is designed to help accelerate Internet adoption at a critical time and gives schools, nonprofits, healthcare providers, and other community-based organizations the ability to sponsor Internet Essentials service for eligible low-income households at the cost of $9.95 a month.

At a special event at Jesse J. McCrary Elementary, Comcast joined longtime partners Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and the Miami Heat, including Alonzo Mourning, former player and Vice President, Player Programs, and mascot Burnie. About two dozen families received surprise care packages from the Miami Heat and partnering businesses Florida Blue, Microsoft Corporation, JBL and Publix Supermarkets. The packages included Microsoft laptop devices, Florida Blue-branded backpacks, JBL headphones and Publix Supermarket gift cards. Along with home internet service through the Internet Essentials Partnership Program, the students will be ready to successfully start the new school year virtually. Check out photos from the event in the gallery below.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, any new Internet Essentials customer who qualifies and signs up by the end of the year will get the first two months of service for free. Visit Internetessentials.com/covid19 for additional information on eligibility, the online program application and more.