We’ve doled out a lot of compliments over the years for Internet Essentials, Comcast’s high-speed internet service for low-income Americans. And now we’re going to do it again, because the Philadelphia-based cable TV giant has made this outstanding program even better by doubling its speed from 5 Megabytes per second to 10 Mbps.
10 Mbps download is fast!
Comcast is also starting a pilot program to determine if and how to extend Internet Essentials to needy senior citizens. Click Here to read more about that program.
Of course, this increase still doesn’t meet the Federal Communications Commission’s definition of “broadband,” which is a preposterously high 25 Mbps, but in the real world in which most of us live, 10 Mbps is crazy fast. Unless you spend the day downloading the latest Hollywood films or playing online video games, its fast enough to handle anything else you may do on the internet.
After all, the name of Comcast’s program is Internet Essentials and 10 Mbps is definitely all you need to handle your online essentials.
For example, here at CheapInternet.com we pay full price for AT&T’s U-Verse service and it delivers 6 Mbps. That’s fast enough for us to send and receive thousands of emails a day and conduct an entire internet-based business. In addition, we suspect that Carl, our latest college intern, spends most of his day downloading YouTube videos instead of completing his actual assignments. And 6 Mbps is fast enough to handle it all.
With that background in mind, you can understand why we think the FCC was completely out of touch with reality when it recently upped its definition of “high-speed” to 25 Mbps.
Even better, current Internet Essentials customers won’t need to jump through any complicated technical hoops to get the fast speed. All you need to do is shut down your current modem and then restart it. Voila! Your speed will have magically doubled.
Now get a free wireless router with your order
But Comcast wasn’t satisfied with merely upping the speed of Internet Essentials. It’s added another very nice touch for which we give them major kudos.
A few months ago we criticized Comcast for developing this terrific program to bring high-speed internet to low-income Americans, but then hobbling them by charging them full price for the piece of equipment necessary to connect to the internet.
The company must have been listening, because in the same announcement that touted the new, higher speed, the company also announced that it will now offer each qualifying household a free wireless router. The wireless router offer is being made to all new customers and is also being made retroactively to all current customers.
Are you eligible for this great Internet Essentials program?
More than 500,000 low-income American households including more than two million residents have already signed up for Comcast’s Internet Essentials program. The eligibility requirements are relatively simple and straight forward, so you may be eligible, too.
To be eligible, a family must have at least one child eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program. And that includes students in all public, parochial and private schools plus homeschool students.
Please note the word eligible in that definition. It means your child doesn’t need to actually participate in the school lunch program. They just need to qualify for the program. It may be a minor point because most children who are eligible for the program do participate in it, but we always feel its worth pointing out this distinction.
In some cases, your child may not even need to be eligible for the school lunch program for you to qualify for Internet Essentials. If 50% of the children enrolled in any school are eligible for the school lunch program, then ALL children in that school are eligible, which means they’re also eligible for Internet Essentials.
Cool, huh?
Finally, it’s also worth noting that Comcast is not increasing the price of Internet Essentials despite the fact that it’s doubling the speed and now offering its customers free modems. It still costs just $9.95 per month, which is a huge savings on regular internet service which often costs $60 or more per month.
To learn how to apply for Internet Essentials, click here.
Michele Lyford says
Do i have to have phone service with comcast in order to get innternet essentials. I am a senior citizen with no children . We live on only social secutity.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
No, the good news is that you do not need to have phone service.
Quinton Levert Sellers says
Hello im 56 yrs old and its hard to pay for the internet today. Do you have any cheaper plans for me ?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
It can’t get much cheaper than $9.95 per month, Quinton. In fact, we think that’s the lowest priced plan available, except for some areas of the country in which AT&T offers plans for just $5 per month.
Lillian p gibsoon says
Please help my a have a handicap grandson thought gr8 has the mentally of a 6 days I’ve been taking care or him for 1yrs I home teah him he love the tv and computer I must get help to turn this back on please help me sncerely Lillian Gibson he will be returning to his mom I 2wks
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
There are a number of low-income internet plans available, Lillian. But you need to check them all out carefully to find the one that fits your needs best. Here’s where you can find info on all of them:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Carol Szamatowicz says
I am over 65 and on SNAP and SCRIE (the NYC rent capping service for low income senior citizens). Does this qualify me for Comcast’s Internet Essential? Does it serve my area code 10014? How do I apply for internet only?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
You can find all the eligibility rules right there in the heart of the article above, Carol.
Janice C Herring says
I am a as Nike interested in Cheapinternet & also cheapest cable deal
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
There are no low-income TV deals that we’re aware of, Janice. However, there are a number of low-income internet plans that you can check out at the following link:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
We’re confident that you’ll be eligible for a number of them that will be available where you live.
Liem-Nguyen says
I was get comcast internet about two maonths ago.in for low income,that the fist time Internet is very goog when I look information on Saigon TV 57.7.com for every day.So some days near the Internet Comcast were very weak some time its stop no more working. when I looking information om TV.How I can fix it or show for me what can I do it???I wait you explan to me know.Thank you very much.God Bless all you.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
It’s impossible for us to troubleshoot your internet service because we’re not Comcast, Liem. You need to contact the company’s customer service or tech support team. Good luck.
Moni says
I am a low income sineor, how I can get internet for low income seniors?
Thanks
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
You might take a look at a couple of different plans that are currently available to low-income seniors — PCs for People and 4GCommunity. You can check them both out at this link:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Neither program is available everywhere, but if you’re lucky they’ll be available where you live.
kitty says
How much data I can use with that Comcast Essential program?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Good question, Kitty. We have scoured the internet looking for the answer to that question in the past and there is virtually nothing on the internet about it. The little info we did find was a bit contradictory. The simplest way to answer that question — as we understand it — is that data is unlimited, but at some point they throttle down the speed considerably. This is the company’s way to keep customers from eating up bandwidth by downloading everything Netflix (for example) has to offer. From the company’s point of view, this program is intended as a basic internet plan intended to help adults get jobs and help kids do their homework, and was never intended as a way for people to sit around all day playing online games and watching movies.
Mary Wilfer says
I had Comcast in California. Was very ill and was put in a nursing home.
My bill was paid. And my equipment was returned to the office in Modesto.CA.
But they wanted me to personally return it. That was impossible.
My daughter in Louisiana moved me to be living with her.
We don’t have cable and I miss my programs.
I will be 86 Friday and am looking for TV and Internet that is a low rate for very low income seniors.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Although Comcast offers service in several Louisiana cities, Mary, it appears that you will not be able to get an Internet Essentials account because, from what you said, you have broken several of their rules. In order to qualify for Internet Essentials:
• You cannot have been a Comcast internet subscriber in the last 90 days. If you want to get Internet Essentials, you are going to need to cancel (if you contract allows) your service and call Internet Essentials to sign up after three months.
• You cannot have a Comcast bills that is over 12 months past due. However, if you have an overdue bill from just within the last 12 months, Comcast has recently changed the rules and will accept you as an Internet Essentials customer, provided you agree to the payment plan they work up to pay off the late bills.
• You cannot have any unreturned equipment.
But above and beyond that, you don’t qualify for Internet Essentials because the primary way to qualify is to have a child who qualifies for the National School Lunch Program. We’re pretty sure we’d have read about you in the newspaper if, at age 86, you have a child that young.
Maybe you can start by clicking on the “States” link at the top of this page. It will show you a list of all the low-income, cheap, free, and municipal Internet plans available in your state.
Click on each of those programs to find a deal for which you qualify and fits your needs.
Good luck.
Boutaina says
I would like to have information about this plan. I live in Hillsborough county. specially in Tampa. and I have my son is at school and most of time, need internet to get his homework and project. Is there any contract and how much it gonna be monthly including taxes. My Zip Code is 33610
Please call me at 813-770-****
Thank you in advance
Mother
Vicki Chvatal says
What about low income seniors? Is there a program for low income seniors?
Judith Mucci says
Since living in Georgia now 9 years, I have NEVER been so abused as a “low income seniors!
What I read above, does NOT exist in Atlanta, Georgia!
I’ve been charged for services I didn’t have,several times when I moved into HUD HOUSING!!! Their average for a low income senior is well OVER A hundred dollars for BASIC LIMITED SERVICES OF INTERNET AND BASIC, BASIC CABLE AT LOW speeds.Right now, I just sent back their package to me which on the bill, they charged me $120.00!!! For services I never got as promised. I have found them outrageous in charges NEVER discussed with out agreed on with me.
When I submitted my question for low-income seniors internet, I COULD NOT BELIEVE YOU WERE COMPLIMENTING COMCAST.
Shirley says
No comment, just need information for internet for senior citizens
Jocelyne D. Smith says
I would like to have information about your senior plan. I live in Queens, NY my zip code is 11412. Any suggestions will be appreciated!
Nathalia Brown says
I am senior asking for discount. Why would I have child in home.
Julio Espinoza Montes says
I would like to know if I could qualify for the Internet Essentials program. I am 61 years old, single person and I am attending Montgomery College. I need low cost access to the internet.