Comcast, the nation’s largest cable company, wants to merge with Time-Warner, the nation’s second largest cable company. The combined company will control 19 of the nation’s top 20 markets and garner a 30% market share of cable and a 40% share of broadband.
That’s why the merger is opposed by powerful factions on both the left side of the political spectrum and the right.
For example, New York Times’ media critic David Carr recently penned an article “Questions for Comcast as It Looks to Grow”. In that article, Carr, a clear Comcast fan, challenges the merger with six questions, the first of which is “Is the merger good for the American consumer?” He points to a recent Reuters/Ipsos online poll that shows 52% of respondents say the deal will result in less competition, the implication being that less competition will result in higher prices.
A recent article in TheHill.com was headlined “Franken calls merger between Comcast-Time Warner a ‘disaster'”. When asked if there is any upside in the deal for consumers, the Minnesota Democrat said, “I can’t see one. I mean, I really can’t.”
The critics are wrong
We believe Carr, Franken and others opposed to the merger are being terribly shortsighted and have not considered the considerable benefits that the merger will bring to America’s neediest citizens.
David Cohen, an Executive Vice President at Comcast and the man who will become the public face of the merged entity, is also the most powerful voice inside Comcast in support of Internet Essentials, a little known Comcast program that brings low-cost, high-speed internet service, low-cost computers and computer training to America’s most financially-distressed citizens. The company reports that Internet Essentials has already been rolled out to more than one million needy families. Unfortunately, that makes only the smallest of dents in the number of Americans who would qualify for the program if it were offered in their areas.
What is Internet Essentials?
Back in 20XX, Comcast proposed a merger with NBC Universal. In an effort to win government approval of the controversial merger, Comcast proposed a program they called Internet Essentials that would bring high-speed internet access to low-income Americans living within Comcast service areas for just $9.95 per month.
Under the reasonable belief that internet access is worthless without internet-ready computers, the program also offered internet-ready computers for just $150. Finally, Internet Essentials also offered a wide range of computer training and literacy programs.

The Federal Communications approved the Comcast-NBC Universal merger under the condition that Internet Essentials be rolled out throughout the Comcast system as quickly as possible.
A growing need for Internet Essentials
CNSnews.com recently reported that more Americans than ever are suffering from the financial downturn. Consider these depressing numbers:
In the last quarter of 2011, according to the Census Bureau, approximately 82,457,000 people lived in households where one or more people were on Medicaid. 49,073,000 lived in households were someone got food stamps. 23,228,000 lived in households where one or more got WIC. 20,223,000 lived in households where one or more got SSI. 13,433,000 lived in public or government-subsidized housing.
Of course, it stands to reason that some people lived in households that received more than one welfare benefit at a time. To account for this, the Census Bureau published a neat composite statistic: There were 108,592,000 people in the fourth quarter of 2011 who lived in a household that included people on “one or more means-tested program.”
Comcast initiated its Internet Essentials program to eliminate what it calls “the Digital Divide”, the gap between the rate of internet usage between America’s wealthiest citizens and its poorest.
In short, the theory behind the program is that access to high-speed internet is critical in today’s world and that reducing the Digital Divide will help improve educational opportunities and help decrease poverty.
In conclusion
If, as he says, Senator Franken wants to see a clear benefit from the proposed merger between Comcast and Time-Warner, we suggest he take a close look at how many more low-income Americans could gain access to Comcast’s outstanding Internet Essentials program.
And if the New York Times’ David Carr is still in the mood to ask questions about the proposed merger, we suggest that he ask this one:
“If the two companies are allowed to merge, will Time-Warner commit to offering Comcast’s Internet Essentials program in the markets it serves?”
Because if there’s one thing America’s neediest really need, it’s Internet Essentials.

Laurine Eberhardt says
I’m 73 and I get SS I and live in $790.00 a month.I live inFlorida. I do not get food stamps and live very frugally!I pay 52.00 for internet fromATT,Do I qualify foe internet essentials? I live at home,morbid houseing.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
You do not qualify for the Internet Essentials program because it requires a child who qualifies for the national school lunch program must live in your home. But there may be other low-income internet programs for which you qualify. Check them all out at this link:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Steve says
Spectrum aka Timewarner aka Charter Communications aka any other name they are using to cause confusion and hide their greed and corruption is outrageously expensive. I currently have Spectrum Internet ONLY at $65.99/month, this is insanely expensive!, They just recently increased the price $1.00, no cable or phone, internet access ONLY.
Comcast does not cover Grafton County NH they only cover the southern half of NH, Spectrum aka Timewarner covers the northern half of the state.
Consolidated Communications now controls the telephone and dsl in NH and they are no better than Spectrum.
There is no low cost internet in NH. I am seriously concidering cutting the wire and go old shool no internet, phone or cable tv period.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Before you do that, Steve, check out PCs for People at this link:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
It’s a great option if it’s available in your area.
Ian costello says
Why are disabled people on SSDI precluded from the cheap internet programs and people on food programs or seniors who get ssi do get it. What the hell! Isn’t being disabled enough. This must be some way for these companies to say they help people when they really help a select few for PR purposes! I am a disabled person on SSDI and I think it is despicable.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
We cannot disagree, Ian.
Eve Whitaker says
Is there a possibility that Honea Path , SC or Anderson county will ever get the option to get the option to choose comcast-time warner anytime in the near future? For so long Bell South-AT&T monopolized our market and then came the choice of either AT&T or Charter. I think I probably speak for ever Andersonian when I say we are tired of these few choices and having to pay the high cost because of this. If you look on the list of 13 states you can note also that South carolina is definitely one of them not listed because it is always the last state for anything new , better and cheaper. if my family wasn’t here i definitely would not stay in this state or this county!!!