Sprint's Tech Giveaway: Philanthropy, Smart Marketing or Both?

One million high school students across the U.S. who lack internet access will receive a tablet, laptop or smartphone on loan from Sprint to help them complete homework assignments, the network announced on Tuesday. The devices will serve as part of a pilot program Sprint has created to help close the gap on internet inequality.

The network, along with the Sprint Foundation, has dubbed the initiative the “1Million Project,” and plans to provide students with devices and internet access so that they can keep up with their classmates as education moves to the online sphere. While many Americans have unlimited internet access across a variety of devices, 20 percent of people still don’t have a mobile data plan or broadband internet in their homes.