Completing homework that requires internet access can be a difficult task for some Bay Area students. Sprint is hoping to change that.
The major carrier on Thursday is slated to hand out free tablets, smartphones or other devices that will provide an estimated 3,200 Oakland high schoolers with hotspots that can link the students to the internet outside of school.
Oakland students are not the only ones benefiting. Rougly 4,000 East Side Union School District students, 600 West Contra Costa Unified School District students, 432 Campbell Union School District students and 242 San Jose Unified School District students also received devices this school year.
Sprint's donation is part of the company's 1Million Project, which strives to bring internet access to student who otherwise wouldn't have it when they leave the classroom. The company is working with Oakland nonprofit Tech Exchange to dish out the devices.
A report by the New York Times found that 70 percent of teachers assign homework that requires students to jump on the internet.
Sprint is taking applications for the second year of the project, which will impact students next school year.
