Topline:<\/p>\n
More than ever, people need internet access for shopping, engaging with local government and other everyday services. This quick guide from LAist tells you all the different ways you can get online and improve your digital literacy skills.<\/p>\n
Why? At least 3.5 million residents across Southern California don\u2019t have quality, reliable internet access. Some organizations are trying to bridge the divide.<\/p>\n
Read on \u2026 for ways to find affordable and reliable internet near you.<\/p>\n
This quick guide to getting online in L.A. County is from the LAist newsroom at Southern California Public Radio. We are SoCal\u2019s largest NPR station.<\/p>\n
NEED HELP GETTING ONLINE?<\/p>\n
Many essential things today have moved online, from government services to shopping. But what happens if you don\u2019t have the internet at home? Maybe it\u2019s slow and expensive? Or you don\u2019t know what to do once you\u2019re on?<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve encountered hurdles like these, you\u2019re not alone. Across Southern California, 3.5 million residents don\u2019t have access to reliable internet at home.<\/p>\n
To help you, LAist has put together a bunch of different resources to get you online.<\/p>\n
Free internet access:L.A. County libraries: free Wi-Fi at all libraries.City of L.A. libraries: free Wi-Fi at all libraries.City of L.A. locations: (Look for Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi)Pershing SquareGriffith ObservatoryEcho Park LakeReseda ParkVenice BeachCabrillo Beach
\nLow-cost internet access:<\/p>\n
Human-I-T<\/p>\n
Low-cost internet plans starting at $14.99 per monthAffordable mobile hot spot option\u00a0<\/p>\n
More info: (888) 268-3921 or vis3it the website<\/a>. <\/p>\n Coming soon:<\/p>\n Affordable high-speed broadband service under construction in South L.A., East L.A. and Boyle Heights<\/p>\n Plans will be as low as $25 per month for unlimited data and no contract\u00a0<\/p>\n More info: Low-cost laptops:<\/p>\n Human-I-T<\/p>\n Basic Chrome laptops as low as $129Refurbished Apple laptops as low as $799.99Refurbished Windows laptops as low as $259.99<\/p>\n More info: (888) 268-3921 or visit the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n L.A. County libraries:<\/p>\n All 85 branches offer laptop loansSome for two-hour use on-site, some to take home for up to six weeksMobile hotspots also are available<\/p>\n More info: Ask at your local branch. You can also visit this website for laptop info<\/a>, and this website for more tech resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more support, reach out to your local county library. Find your nearest location here<\/a>.<\/p>\n L.A. City libraries:<\/p>\n 25 branches offer the Tech2go programMobile hotspot, Chromebook and mouse available to borrow for up to six months\u00a0<\/p>\n More info: Ask at your local branch or go to https:\/\/www.lapl.org\/tech2go<\/a>. <\/p>\n Digital training:<\/p>\n Free digital skills training: Learn Basic Tech<\/p>\n Free beginner digital skills training for computers, smartphones, email and moreFree advanced digital skills training for AI and Excel, among others\u00a0Courses are online and in person<\/p>\n More info, email info@learnbasictech.org<\/a> or visit the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Free digital skills training and after-school classes for children and youth: Bell Tech Center<\/p>\n Southeast Community Development Corporation (SCDC), 4357 E. Gage Ave., Bell<\/p>\n More info: (323) 585 4579 or visit the website<\/a>. <\/p>\n Free digital skills training in English and Spanish: Human-I-T<\/p>\n Free bilingual one-on-one tech support:\u00a0<\/p>\n More info: (888) 268-3921 or visit the website in English<\/a> and Spanish<\/a>. <\/p>\n Free digital skills classes for seniors: Bridge the Digital Divide<\/p>\n Skills training, devices and other resources: EveryoneOn<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Topline: More than ever, people need internet access for shopping, engaging with local government and other everyday services.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":184115,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[174,74],"class_list":{"0":"post-184114","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-internet","8":"tag-internet","9":"tag-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=184114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/184115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=184114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=184114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=184114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
East L.A.\/Boyle Heights, visit the website<\/a>.
South L.A., go to this site<\/a>.<\/p>\n