We won’t say that the debate is boiling, but the water is starting to bubble. There’s no doubt that both sides of the “Are Internet Essentials and Internet Basics government programs” question are firmly entrenched and unwilling to give an inch. We’re talking the kind of dug-in trench warfare not seen since World War I.
On one side we have those who say, “Don’t be silly. These programs were developed by private enterprise — major cable TV and telephone companies — and no one received receive a penny in government subsidies to do it.”
On the other side we have those who say, “Whoa! Not so fast! Both programs were designed and implemented strictly to assuage government bureaucrats. They wanted something from the companies and they got it.”
Perhaps a little background is in order:
Comcast, the nation’s largest cable TV company, created Internet Essentials, a program that offers discounted internet access to low-income American families for just $9.95 per month plus taxes.
CenturyLink, one of the nation’s largest telephone companies, launched Internet Basics, a similar program that also offers high-speed internet service to low-income Americans for just $9.95 per month.
Why did Comcast and CenturyLink get into the cheap internet business?
TheAtlantic.com sums up the position of those who say it’s a government program because the government coerced Comcast into beginning the program:
“It’s easy to chalk this program up to goodwill on the part of Comcast executives, but it’s unclear if they would have done this were they not required to. ‘Comcast acquired NBC Universal earlier this year,’ National Public Radio’s Bill Chappell reminds us. ‘In approving the merger, regulators … required the company to help low-income households get online.’ Chappell also points out that cutting profit margins won’t exactly cripple Comcast, which reported earnings of more than $14 billion this past week, a 51 percent jump.”
In a similar vein, CenturyLink got into the cheap internet business when it agreed to offer the Internet Basic plan so that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would approve its 2011 purchase of Qwest Communications, another telephone company.
After seeing why both companies got into the cheap internet business one can see why some argue that both companies business is, in reality, a government business.
How do low income Americans qualify for the programs?
Let’s look a little deeper into how someone qualifies for either program. Perhaps that will provide greater insight as to whether Internet Basics and Internet Essentials should be viewed as government programs disguised as free enterprise. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how a potential customer qualifies for both programs.
Internet Essentials – To qualify, one of those needy families must live in an area where Comcast offers its services. The family must have at least one child eligible for the National School Lunch Program. They cannot have an overdue bill or any unreturned Comcast equipment from a previous account. And finally, they cannot have been Comcast subscribers within the previous 90 days.
Internet Basics – Since CenturyLink is primarily a telephone company, its Internet Basics program follows rules set up for another quasi-governmental program called Lifeline Assistance (the program that has recently gained notoriety as “The Obama Phone”) which offers discounted landline phone service and free government cell phones to low income Americans. The qualification guidelines for the two programs are identical.
You probably qualify for the Internet Basics program if you participate in another governmental assistance program — such as food stamps (SNAP), public housing assistance, Medicaid, Section 8 housing, Supplemental Security Income, various Home Energy Assistance Programs, National School Lunch and other programs. You can also qualify if your household income is at or below 135% to 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Hmmmm.
Both programs seem to base customer qualifications on government poverty programs. Once again, we can certainly understand the point of view of those who say Internet Basics and Internet Essentials are government programs.
But let’s not draw any rash conclusions, because there may be other mitigating circumstances at work.
What are the companies’ real motivations?
There have been many consumer complaints that neither company has rolled out their cheap internet program quickly enough. We’ve also heard complaints that both companies do everything but hide the programs from consumers.

As we pointed out in an earlier article, Comcast promotes Internet Essentials, but critics say they only do so because they were ordered to by the Federal Communications Commission. In fact, the FCC harshly criticized Comcast recently, saying that the company’s promotional efforts were insufficient and accused them of ignoring the program in direct mail efforts, burying information about the service on its website, and not offering the service at its retail stores.
Critics of Internet Basics have thrown similar accusations at CenturyLink.
Again, those who say both programs are merely government programs masked as private enterprise seem to have a point. If these were programs initiated on their own, it would seem as if the two companies would make greater efforts to promote them. If they are, in fact, barely disguised government programs forced on the two companies by the FCC, the lack of promotional enthusiasm makes complete sense.
Which side of the argument do you take?
To review: It’s easy to believe that Comcast and CenturyLink only agreed to create their cheap internet programs because the FCC demanded it. The qualifications for both programs parallel other government aid programs. And neither company really seems to want to publicize these money-losing progams.
So if you think we come down on the side of those who say Internet Essentials and Internet Basics are government programs, you’d be correct. The evidence seems overwhelming.
Now that we’ve established our position, let us make one more editorial comment:
We’re 100% in favor of those government programs even if they are barely disguised as good deeds by private enterprise.
There truly is a frightening digital divide between the rich and poor in the United States. And it will continue growing as long as the needy cannot get access to high speed internet.
We believe the country will be strengthened by programs that bring the Information Age into the homes of all Americans — rich and poor, black and white, young and old.
That’s why we urge the Federal Communications Commission to continue its crusade to “entice” more companies into offering cheap internet to everyone.
Mark says
Is essentials a lifeline on MD?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
We think you’re asking if Internet ESsentials is part of the Lifeline free government cell phone program. If so, the answer is no. You can have both.
Constance Whitley says
I qualify for Xfinity’s Internet Essentials program but can’t get it because I already have service with them. There is no other internet provider in my area. Nobody. Just them. To me, making new-customers-only a stipulation means that this is just a glorified way to drum up new customers they can then hopefully load up with other services such as TV. I have filed a complaint with the FCC at the suggestion of an Xfinity employee & subsequently received a call that lasted half an hour & was nothing but the most confusing mishmash of double talk I have ever heard in my life. Finally, with my blood pressure soaring, I was able to pin the guy down & ascertain that all he was offering me was $5 less a month on my existing service. Wow.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Are you sure none of the other low-income plans are available in your area? Have you tried PCs for People? They often provide service where people think none exists. Here’s where you can find ALL the low-income programs and a pretty good indicator of where they’re available:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Desiree Daughtry says
AT&T access is full of crap I have been applying for 10 months just to find out they have sent me in circles and circles I got my dress validated, new equipment equipment was turned off because they connected to my parents internet big big nightmare even though I reapplied again they told me they do not have service in my area. Ain’t that some bull crap because my mama has it right behind me my friends right down the street have it on both sides of me but I cannot get internet and they did validate that my address is different. AT&T access is full of crap.
Ellen Nichols says
I am low income and live in a housing authority apartment complex in parkesburg Pa.
Not sure if I qualify for your internet service.
I had comcas t in the past and the prices were to high for me to pay.
I am not allowed to get satellite and the cable is set up only for comcas t but my internet i can choose whomever i want.
Have no landline either so know !y options are few.
Please let me know if I qualify for basic internet services at a reasonable rate.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
We don’t know enough about you to determine if you qualify for any of the programs, Ellen. But we make it easy for you to check out all those low-income internet programs to find the one that fits your needs best. You can check them all out here:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Jeanne bobbitt says
My current Verizon bill is $184 month. I am a senior & interested in a internet plan. Right now I’m locked in 2yr contract ending January 2019. I’m on lifeline program. Can I apply for cheap internet while locked in with Verizon
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
There is nothing stopping you from applying for one of the low-income programs while you’re with Verizon, Jeanne, but you would end up paying for both programs and we don’t think that’s what you want to do.
Ben Rubin says
Big whoop. I can’t speak for the Company program, but I was in Century Link’s Basics. And I can tell you 1st hand, dealing with their Customer Service & Billing department was a nightmare!
I was accepted I to the program. Had to sign a 2 Year commitment to stay in the program before even knowing how well their speeds even worked.
The 1st bill arrived and instead of billing at $9.95 it came in at $49/m. So for the first 3 months I had to call into customer service and spend an hour plus on the phone to get it straightened out. I finally experienced a normal billing cycle of $11.99/m including the taxes. The next month the raised it by $2.00/m. When I called to ask why, no one could tell me!
So I paid my monthly $11.99 and omitted the $2.00. This went on for 2 billing cycles and then they slapped me with $7.00 late fees. After calling C.S. and spending over 2 hours on the phone (transferred to 3 differs parties), it was finally explained that the reason for the $2.00/m uncharged was due to the “cost recovery fee” had gone up. I explained that I had signed a 2 Year commitment at $9.95 and I felt they needed to honor that. I was told, no way. That changes in the ” recovery fee” apply to every account! (Even those who can least afford it).
They did however agree to issue a $30 credit on my account toward the late fees…. which did not show up on the next billing cycle as promised & now they were threatening to shut off my account. And they did.
Another 2 hour call to C.S. who them switched me over to a nasty lady in Billing who insisted that they never agreed to the $30 credit ( which C.S. two had just confirmed that he saw in the notes). When I confronted her with that fact, she got royally nasty and hung up on me!
Yet another call to C.S., another 2 hours on the phone only to find that Ms Nasty had deleted several notes in my file & there wasn’t any record of having talked to her.
What kind of Company sets up systems that allow a “base employee” delete transcript notes?!
The CEO needs to be called on the carpet for their lack of system tampering & the bully tactics of their employees.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Interesting to hear your experiences, Ben. Internet Basics is not one of our favorite plans. It’s always seemed to us that the company really isn’t very committed to it.
dorothy baber says
i am on food stamp amd ssi and disable cant pay for inneter
Hiroe Keeler says
I am on Section 8 program, a senior citizen living on under $1,296 income. Which service do you have for the bundle, TV and high speed internet, for how much?
Thank you.