|
|
|
Editor’s Note: the following is drawn from the press release from Comcast
As the second year of Comcast’s Internet Essentials continues to roll out across the nation and locally, the plan - an ambitious and comprehensive broadband adoption program designed to help close the digital divide among low-income Americans - has received the enthusiastic endorsement of Congressman Edward Markey.
“I applaud the work Comcast has done to bring affordable broadband access to hard working families in Malden,” said Representative Edward J. Markey. “A high-speed Internet connection brings economic opportunity, job creation, and access to educational and health care resources, and I will continue to fight to ensure that everyone in the 7th District has a fast onramp for getting onto the Web.”
In the first full year of availability of Internet Essentials, more than 100,000 families, or 400,000 Americans, gained access to the Internet at home, and Comcast continues to enhance the program with new features and processes designed to accelerate enrollment in the program. Nearly 2,500 families signed on in Massachusetts alone.
“I’d like to congratulate Malden and communities throughout the 7th District of Massachusetts for having made the Internet Essentials program such a resounding success,” said Steve Hackley, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Greater Boston region. “Cities like Malden are helping connect their students and families to a stronger future of opportunities that will help increase success from an academic standpoint and help provide each family with new possibilities.”
Since Internet Essentials launched, Comcast has expanded eligibility criteria to include families with children eligible to receive reduced price school lunches under the National School Lunch Program. This means nearly 300,000 additional households are now eligible for the program, bringing the total to 2.3 million eligible families.
Internet Essentials addresses three primary barriers to broadband adoption that research has identified – a lack of understanding of how the Internet is relevant and useful, the cost of a home computer and the cost of the Internet service. Program participants receive:
· Residential Internet service for $9.95 a month plus applicable taxes;
· No price increases, no activation fees, or equipment rental fees;
· A voucher to purchase a low-cost computer for $149.99 plus tax; and
· Access to free digital literacy training in print, online and in-person.
A household is eligible to participate if it meets all of the following criteria:
· Is located where Comcast offers Internet service;
· Has at least one child who is eligible to receive a free or reduced school lunch under the NSLP;
Editor’s Note: the following is drawn from the press release from Comcast
As the second year of Comcast’s Internet Essentials continues to roll out across the nation and locally, the plan - an ambitious and comprehensive broadband adoption program designed to help close the digital divide among low-income Americans - has received the enthusiastic endorsement of Congressman Edward Markey.
“I applaud the work Comcast has done to bring affordable broadband access to hard working families in Malden,” said Representative Edward J. Markey. “A high-speed Internet connection brings economic opportunity, job creation, and access to educational and health care resources, and I will continue to fight to ensure that everyone in the 7th District has a fast onramp for getting onto the Web.”
In the first full year of availability of Internet Essentials, more than 100,000 families, or 400,000 Americans, gained access to the Internet at home, and Comcast continues to enhance the program with new features and processes designed to accelerate enrollment in the program. Nearly 2,500 families signed on in Massachusetts alone.
“I’d like to congratulate Malden and communities throughout the 7th District of Massachusetts for having made the Internet Essentials program such a resounding success,” said Steve Hackley, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Greater Boston region. “Cities like Malden are helping connect their students and families to a stronger future of opportunities that will help increase success from an academic standpoint and help provide each family with new possibilities.”
Since Internet Essentials launched, Comcast has expanded eligibility criteria to include families with children eligible to receive reduced price school lunches under the National School Lunch Program. This means nearly 300,000 additional households are now eligible for the program, bringing the total to 2.3 million eligible families.
Internet Essentials addresses three primary barriers to broadband adoption that research has identified – a lack of understanding of how the Internet is relevant and useful, the cost of a home computer and the cost of the Internet service. Program participants receive:
· Residential Internet service for $9.95 a month plus applicable taxes;
· No price increases, no activation fees, or equipment rental fees;
· A voucher to purchase a low-cost computer for $149.99 plus tax; and
· Access to free digital literacy training in print, online and in-person.
A household is eligible to participate if it meets all of the following criteria:
· Is located where Comcast offers Internet service;
· Has at least one child who is eligible to receive a free or reduced school lunch under the NSLP;
· Has not subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the last 90 days;
· Does not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment.
Comcast will sign up eligible families in the program for at least three years, through the end of the 2013-2014 school year. Any household that qualifies during this three-year period will remain eligible for Internet Essentials if at least one child eligible for a free or reduced lunch remains living in the household.
In eastern Massachusetts, Comcast is working with a growing network of nearly 200 community-based organizations, school districts, faith-based organizations, elected officials and others to spread the word about Internet Essentials and provide digital literacy training. In addition, since inception, Comcast has sponsored or participated in nearly 100 local events in the Greater Boston area to spread the word to those who could benefit from Internet Essentials.
For general information about Internet Essentials, visit www.internetessentials.com for English, and visit www.internetbasico.com for Spanish. Educators or third-parties interested in helping to spread the word can find more information at www.internetessentials.com/partner. Parents looking to enroll in the program can call 1-855-846-8376 or, for Spanish, 1-855-765-6995.
