Comcast is expanding the Internet Essentials program to more households, easing the application process and increasing the speed.
We’d love to say that the Federal Communications Commission’s new cheap internet program is rapidly rolling out across the country, but that would be a bit of an exaggeration. Nevertheless, we’re happy to see baby steps being taken because we know they’ll eventually turn into giant strides.
Comcast, the giant nationwide cable, internet and telephone company, just announced that 41,000 low income American families have already signed up for Internet Essentials, the company’s new program designed to bring affordable internet service to those who have been unable to afford it. Comcast estimates that 160,000 Americans live in those 41,000 homes and can now take advantage of all the benefits that come with high speed internet service.
You may just be asking yourself, “When they say cheap internet service, just exactly how cheap is it?” The answer is just $9.95 per month for high-speed broadband service. And that’s just the beginning of what Internet Essentials offers.
Eligible families can also get laptop computers for under $150. Comcast revealed that it sold 5,500 computers as part of the Internet Essential program.
The program is expanding even more rapidly than we had hoped.
To be eligible, applicants must have at least one child who participates in a free school lunch program. That’s why Comcast advertised Internet Essentials in more than 30,000 schools in 4,000 school districts located in its service areas across the country.
David Cohen, Comcast’s Vice President for public policy, is excited about the future of the program. “We will expand the eligibility criteria,” he said in a blog post. “Previously, Internet Essentials was available to families with children eligible to receive free school lunches as part of the NSLP. In the second quarter, we will extend eligibility to families with children eligible to receive reduced price school lunches as well. We believe this will make nearly 300,000 additional households in our service area eligible for Internet Essentials — bringing the total to 2.3 million eligible families.
Comcast also intends to double the speed of the already blazing fast broadband service and make it easier to apply.
Good things are happening in the cheap internet program. And more good things are coming soon.
And please remember our prediction that the government’s cheap internet service will eventually become free internet service. It’s just a matter of time.
Please view our complete list of low-income internet options.
Source: TheHill.com
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