OUR COMPANY OUR GOVERNANCE OUR PEOPLE OUR COMMUNITIES THE ENVIRONMENT THE NUMBERS AND SMALL PRINT Feature Story: Digital Equity 3.2M STUDENTS CONNECTED AND COUNTING Connectivity has become a baseline requirement for accessing the opportunities, resources, and information needed to thrive in our hyper-connected world. And nowhere is this more true than in education―the great social leveler―where students without reliable connectivity are at a clear disadvantage. 2021 CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY REPORT 42 That’s why, in 2020, T-Mobile launched Project 10Million, our $10.7 billion commitment to end the digital divide in education. Project 10Million provides free internet service and free mobile hotspots to under-connected households with school-aged children, aiming to reach up to 10 million eligible households over five years. Individual families with qualifying students can sign up directly online. We also reach students by partnering with schools. The program also offers school districts free and highly subsidized data plans that they can provide to their students for free, as well as access to affordable laptops and tablets. Through our education initiatives, we’ve connected 3.2 million students through the end of 2021—and we’re not stopping there. Working with Schools to Close the Gaps We have worked with thousands of school districts across the country to identify where access to connectivity is needed most to get students enrolled into the program. We couldn’t be prouder of the impact we’ve had! For example, in March 2020, just 12% of the 35,000 students in Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) in Oakland, CA, had adequate connectivity at home. And while an emergency donation enabled many of them to have tablets and laptops, they couldn’t do much without connectivity. Through Project 10Million, T-Mobile quickly provided hotspot connectivity to the district’s students and within a few months, 98% of the school district’s students were connected. In Chicago, T-Mobile partnered with city officials to identify and connect more than 26,000 student households in underserved communities to help get these kids the right tools to compete academically. And in Miami-Dade, FL we continue to partner with educators to understand critical needs and where Project 10Million can have the greatest impact. As part of these efforts, we distributed 5,000 hotspots in one day and are working to connect almost 35,000 students. Leveraging this education expertise to work hand-in-hand with school district leadership teams has allowed us to expand the conversation beyond access and into the core of impactful student learning outcomes as a result of student internet access. These vital industry relationships support greater device adoption, scalable connectivity solutions, and more sustainable implementation of student connectivity programs.” Dr. Kiesha King Sr. National Education Administrator, T-Mobile Collaborating and partnering with educators both outside and within T-Mobile has been an impactful feature of the program. Our in-house staff of education administrators have experience in navigating both the education system and the classroom. While we’ve made huge strides toward bridging the digital divide and advocating for universal connectivity, there’s still more to do to ensure all students have the opportunity―and technology―to thrive. As we look ahead, we’re working to leverage partnerships with school districts, non-profits, and local officials across the country to expand Project 10Million’s reach.