Comcast introduced its Internet Essentials program back in late 2011. It offers high speed internet access to low-income families for only $9.95 per month. Millions of households qualify for the program in the areas served by Comcast and experts expected them to sign up in droves. Much to the surprise of those experts, the program just hasn’t caught on.
2.5 Million Americans Qualify for Internet Essentials
Comcast estimated that more than 2.5 million households would be eligible for Internet Essentials. All that was required was that they must live in a Comcast service area, that they have at least one child enrolled in the National School Lunch Program, that they don’t have an overdue Comcast bill, and that they haven’t been a Comcast customer for at least 90 days.
Seems simple enough.
Yet the sad reality is that a mere 5.8% (150,000) of eligible households have signed up for Comcast’s outstanding offer. We are staggered by that statistic.
Even in Philadelphia, the home of Comcast’s headquarters and the region in which they are strongest, only 3,250 households have enrolled for cheap high speed broadband service. If you think the national 5.8% figure is as bad as it can get, think again. Because Philadelphia’s adoption rate is just 3.3%.
But there are Obstacles
It appears that the problems are built into the program — accidentally, we hope. Consider this, for example: If you’re an existing Comcast customer who signed up for the company’s basic pre-Internet Essentials plan, you find yourself in a quandary. If you want to switch to Internet Essentials, you have to cancel your existing service and wait 90 days before you’re eligible the cheap broadband progam. Perhaps this isn’t the most elegant analogy, but it’s somewhat like telling a heroin addict that he’s eligible for methadone treatment, but he’ll have to go off heroin cold turkey for 90 days before he’s eligible. (On the other hand, if recent studies on the addictive nature of the internet are accurate, the analogy may be perfect.)
We’re glad we won’t be there to witness the inevitable explosions when parents are forced to tell their school children that they won’t be able to use the internet for three months do their homework.
Salon.com’s John Randall said, “Comcast’s approach provides no relief to families on a tight budget that have already purchased a plan.”
There are those like Randall who suggest that the Internet Essentials program is nothing but a customer acquisition program disguised as public service.

We’re more optimistic souls, however, and we see Internet Essentials as an outstanding program plagued with a few glitches. In any program this large and this complex, glitches are to be expected. We’re confident that the company is working hard to solve the problems in the near future.
And we’re equally confident that the number of customers availing themselves of cheap internet will skyrocket as soon as those problems are solved.
One more thing: If you’re a needy American who qualifies for Comcast’s cheap internet service, don’t let these little glitches scare you off. Find out more about the program. It may not be right for other people right now, but it may be exactly what you’re looking for. Don’t let a few negative nabobs scare you off.
Source: Consumerist

Terri says
I don’t see anything offered in NH, which is upsetting to me. Why?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Not every service provider does business in every state, Terri. Here’s an article that tells you about all the low-income Internet plans available around the country. We’re pretty sure at least one of them will be available for you.
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
andrea says
I tried to sign up for it, i am a single mom that gets public assistance, my son is on free lunch, i tried, but neither program covers my area, they both sound great, but that may be the issue…
Cheap Internet Administrator says
Yes, it’s not everywhere. Sorry to hear that. We wish it were.
truman varner says
I would like to find out how to get this
Lawrence Korn says
Essentials is a fine program but what about this person:
My wife and I help a man age 59 who is totally blind and lives alone. He is in a state of poverty receiving food stamps and utilities relief among other social benefits. We gave him a computer and he can use it. He can’t qualify because he has no child receiving lunches. What can you do for him?
Thank you,
L. Korn
Cheap Internet Administrator says
At this point there is nothing for him unless he qualifies under the other rules.