Comcast, the nation’s largest cable TV company, offers high speed internet to needy families for just $9.95 per month. But not many people are taking them up on this outstanding offer. Why?
The program, called Internet Essentials, is supposed to increase broadband internet usage among low-income families. It’s a great deal, because Comcast offers a 79% discount on its regular price to families with children who participate in the national free school lunch program. Mysteriously, though, very few families have signed up for the inexpensive service.
Comcast has a couple theories to explain why so few families are participating, but CheapInternet.com has another possible explanation.
Comcast’s insulting explanation is that few people participate because people in poor neighborhoods don’t understand the Internet.
“They think it may be used for Comcast or the government to spy on them,” said David Cohen, executive vice president at Comcast. The company’s other explanation? Poor Americans don’t apply for the discounted service because they think it’s a scam.
Experts’ best guesses say that 2.3 million families are eligible for Internet Essentials, but so far only 100,000 have signed up with Comcast.
“I love this program,” Cohen added. “I can’t tell you how proud I am that we have signed up 100,000 families to the Internet.”
Don’t be quite so proud, Mr. Cohen. Sure, Comcast is advertising the program, but critics say that’s only because they were ordered to by the Federal Communications Commission in order to win FCC approval of its controversial merger with NBC Universal. More recently, the FCC condemned Comcast for conducting insufficient promotional effort for the cheap internet service, accusing 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.
We give needy Americans a lot more credit. If Comcast really wants to help more of them to sign up for Internet Essentials, we suggest that they give it a prominent spot on Comcast’s homepage instead of hiding it. Fact is, it’s almost impossible to find the program on the Comcast site. In fact, the only way we found it at all was by doing a full site search, which lead us to a link to a completely different website.
Bang the Internet Essential drum louder, Comcast. Help the Americans who really need the help.
Source: Phys.org
Sarah Hall says
I’ve checked into this myself, but the reason I didn’t take advantage of it is because I currently have 100 MBpS on my comcast plan, but these cheap offers only have 10 or 15 MBpS! That’s barely enough to send an email! We have an Xbox One, PlayStation 4, 3 smart phones, 3 fire sticks, & a tablet. Not to mention when my niece comes over, she brings her Xbox & smart phone. There’s no way we could have all those devices on there & not have significant lag. That’s why I can’t take advantage of this cheap internet offer. It sucks, because I’m on: free school lunches, SNAP, TANF (cash assistance), & Medicaid. Which means I am not just broke, but SUPER broke (lol)! It would be great if they offered a couple options w/higher MBpS for just a few more bucks or something.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Maybe you wouldn’t be “super broke” if you didn’t have all those devices.
jennifer says
how to sign up for cheap internet for senior
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Here’s where you can find all the low-income internet plans currently available, Jennifer. There is no internet plan for seniors unless you’re a senior who lives in HUD-assisted housing in certain cities. We’re hoping this program expands rapidly to make it available to more people in your situation.
However, check PCs for People at the link below. We think you’ll be eligible if you live in an area covered by Sprint’s national cell network:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
K.M.G. says
A low cost internet option would be a great relief. I am a “non-traditional” honor student at a local Community College, and living under the poverty line. I try to get my homework done at school, but with work and family (grown) obligations, I often need to work late at night to finish assignments only to be unable to complete an online component because I have an overpriced pay as you go internet provider, and not enough data…ever. I would like to go on to get my Bachelors degree, but the program I am interested in is an online distance program. Pay as you go service just isn’t going to cut it.
Is there anything out there for those between 55 and 65?
Vonda Trucs says
P.S. I realize I don’t qualify for this, and am hoping that I do for Internet Basics. I just submitted the previous post to show that Comcast is NOT giving out any information about this program.
Vonda Trucs says
As it happens, I called Comcast today to find out if -anything- were available to replace the federal land line phone installation. As an almost 60 year old woman who was laid off from my computer job three years ago, I have found that companies may now openly discriminate against both women and older workers. I haven’t been able to find full time work since then, despite being will to accept anything from the lowest level of the professional jobs I used to have, to gas station attendant, to housekeeper. There’s been nothing but the most subsistence level of part time work available.
Unemployment programs offer tuition help for courses and certifications that would help offset the disadvantages of age and sex, but I’ve only recently gotten a roof over my head again after many months of homelessness. Even that would not have been possible without the help of a local charity – there’s no chance at all of affording regularly priced internet at home.
I called everywhere here in North Carolina trying to find Internet I might be able to pay for, even if it meant going without adequate food or heat. I explained to the Comcast representative that I was looking for the least expensive internet possible, because I had been so long without a job. He quoted me a rate of $40/month!
I am so glad to have found this site. Thank you so much.
Kimberlee Ingram says
I had no idea that there were any services out there that assisted with internet help. I a a single mom with three kids who just moved back into my parents house.They died in 2011. It needs a lot of repairs. We did not have a choice though. I lost my job in October, am getting medicaid help and SNAP. I ordered Comcast, explained my situation over the phone, still waited weeks to get my complicated cable wired, and they never once offered me this service. Now, I have a huge bill to pay and have no idea how I am going to make the monthly payments. We have no choice but to have internet access. Two of my children are in online school!
I can definitely see why more people aren’t signing up. I am outraged.!
christine says
I can not belive what I just read,my internet went from 30.00/mnth to 70.00 when the deal was over when I called asking for somthing cheaper they “would get back to me” instead turned me off for late payments thank you Thank youThank you
Cheap Internet Administrator says
That is common on regular accounts, but will not happen on the Internet Essentials plan.
Katherine says
I did get internet essentials. It would have been great for me if I was able to connect it.
I had to return it and cancel service the same day it was delivered. I was told it would connect through my phone as DSL did. It did not. Also, the Xfinity associate that helped me told me to first get internet essentials and then call back to get phone and television. I originally called to bundle the three.
I spent hours on the phone trying to get help with connection. Every associate gave me different information. One associate told me I had to rent an Xfinity cable box to install it, another told me that I did not.
It was by far the worst customer service and experience. What a disappointment.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Sorry to hear about your disappointing experience.