Restricted or Unsecure Wi-Fi Service

If you're in an area where the cellular signal is strong, a Wi-Fi hotspot can provide better security than a public Wi-Fi connection. It also gives you a way to get your laptop online. You can create a Wi-Fi hotspot using a small, portable Wi-Fi router, or with your cell phone if it provides that feature and your cellular plan allows it. You can buy them from retailers that sell electronics.

Slow Wi-Fi at Home

Several factors can contribute to poor Wi-Fi service at home. Things to consider:

• Make sure the package you purchased from your internet service provider (Spectrum, Frontier, etc.) is the right size for what you and others in your home need to do online. You may need to upgrade to a higher level of service.

• Verify whether your internet service provider has posted any reports of service interruptions or performance problems.

• Follow your internet service provider's recommendations for at-home troubleshooting.

• Consider connecting your computer directly to your internet modem using an Ethernet cable (instead of using Wi-Fi).

• Consider whether your Wi-Fi router needs to be upgraded. Newer routers provide better speed and range.

• If your Wi-Fi is fast in some parts of your home but not in others, try moving your Wi-Fi router to a more central location in your home. If that doesn't help, you may need to consider a "mesh network" to provide better coverage. You can buy mesh networks from retailers that sell electronics.

• Consider disconnecting devices that don't need to be on your Wi-Fi network. Also consider how many people on your network are doing activities that use a lot of network capacity, such as gaming and streaming movies and shows.

Restricted or Unsecure Wi-Fi Service

If you don't see an offer that helps in your situation, try calling your vendor and asking. Geneseo has heard that some vendors will provide no-cost temporary upgrades and other enhancements if they know it is to support students doing online learning during the pandemic. (Don't see your vendor here? Find internet (broadband) vendors in the U.S.)

In the list below, click the vendor name to go to its support webpage:

• AT&T
  Suspending broadband usage caps for home internet customers, which means no overage fees while people are home using more data. Offers internet access for qualifying limited-income households at $10/month through Access from AT&T program. Will not terminate service or charge late fees due to an inability to pay bills as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

• Comcast Xfinity
  Offering Internet Essentials free for two months to new customers. Automatically increasing speeds for all Internet Essentials customers.

• Spectrum / Charter
  If your household includes K-12 and/or college students, and you don't already have a subscription, you can request free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days. To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395. Charter will also open its Wi-Fi hotspots for public use (you may need to click the Find Me button or enter your zip code into the search field for a local hotspot map).

• Sprint
  No extra cost for 60 days (minimum of two bill cycles) for an additional 20 GB of mobile hotspot data per month and, for customers with metered data plans, for unlimited data per month. Will provide customers with mobile hotspot-enabled handsets who don't already have hotspots with 20 GB per month for 60 days (a minimum of two billing cycles) at no extra cost. Will not terminate service or charge late fees due to an inability to pay bills as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

• T-Mobile
  No extra cost for 60 days for unlimited smartphone data (excluding roaming) for customers with data plans and for additional 20 GB of mobile hotspot/tethering service. Working with their Lifeline partners to provide those customers up to 5GB extra data per month for next two months.

• Verizon
  Added 15 GB of 4G LTE data to existing plans (to be used by April 30, 2020). Activation fees waived on new lines and upgrade fees starting March 18. Late fees waived from March 16, 2020 to May 16, 2020, and will not terminate service due to events involving coronavirus.

Don't Have Internet Service

If you don't have or can't get Internet Service at home, here are some ideas:

• Geneseo's wireless network is fully operational and can be accessed from many outdoor locations such as parking lots, campus quads, and spots close to buildings. You'll have to search for a spot that works for you. Geneseo is a member of eduroam. The eduroam network offers our community seamless secure wireless access at over 5000 locations around the world. A map of US eduroam subscribers can be found here: Eduroam Locator Map.  Locally, eduroam is available at the University of Rochester, RIT, University at Buffalo, Cornell, SUNY Oswego, Hobart & Williams Smith Colleges, Binghamton University, LeMoyne, Colgate, Hamilton, and Syracuse University. A global eduroam subscriber map can be found here: Where Can I Eduroam.

• Your local library or town government buildings may offer some outdoor wireless service.

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