Looking for an internet connection after Hurricane Helene? Get one for free from these providers
Hurricane Helene tore through Appalachia last week, causing unprecedented flooding and destruction. Regular mobile phone and internet systems are slowly coming back online. According to the US, Mitchell County, North Carolina, still has 90% of cell sites out of service as of October 3, while Yancey County has 77% of cell sites out of service. Federal Communications Commission.
People in the storm’s path can get free Wi-Fi and internet use from five top internet providers in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida.
The FCC has also expanded the Lifeline discount for victims of Hurricane Helene. Regardless of whether or not you previously qualified for the $9.25 discount, you can enroll in the Lifeline program if you are receiving assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individuals and Households Program.
Scroll down for the ISPs that offer free service.
Starlink
Starlinkone of the first major ISPs to respond and the only ISP that works with the US governmentoffers 30 days of free Starlink Internet service to both current and new customers. Working with FEMA, Starlink plans to ship as many as possible 500 Starlink kits in all affected areas, including parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
You can check your eligibility on the Starlink site. If you think your address qualifies but you don’t have a Helene Relief option, you can do so create a customer support ticket.
Spectrum
Spectrum has opened 90,000 free Wi-Fi access points that will be available through October 7. The access points are primarily located in public areas, both indoors and outdoors, in North and South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
You can find an access point through Spectrum’s Out-of-Home Wi-Fi card.
Xfinity
Xfinity also offers some free Wi-Fi access points, but only through Georgia, South Carolina, and parts of East Tennessee. There are more than 250,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in public areas, free for non-customers. To find a hotspot near you, you can navigate to The map of Xfinity.
Verizon
Verizon offers 24/7 free power and WiFi stations in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. You can find a location at Verizon’s update page.
Verizon suffered severe network outages after Hurricane Helene and says its network has been restored more than 78% of locations affected by the storm. Verizon is offering free domestic calling, texting and data usage to all postpaid customers from September 28 to October 27.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile offers charging stations and free Wi-Fi hotspots in North and South Carolina. The stations are located in Asheville, Black Mountain, Fletcher, Weaverville (all in North Carolina) and Greenwood, South Carolina.
T-Mobile extended unlimited calling and texting data to all T-Mobile customers in affected counties in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia through October 4.
