Comcast’s Internet Essentials is on a roll and that’s good news for America’s neediest citizens. The company just announced that it has begun rolling out its low-income, high-speed Internet Essentials plan to residents of public housing.
This is remarkably good news and will help millions of poor Americans. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Public housing is one of the nation’s three main rental assistance programs, along with “Section 8” vouchers and project-based rental assistance. Public housing developments provide affordable homes to 2.2 million low-income Americans … The nation’s 1.12 million public housing units are located in all 50 states and several territories, nearly one in five of them in rural areas.”
As FierceCable.com reported, “Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) has announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to further extend its low-cost broadband service, Internet Essentials, to public housing in three regions. Under the agreement, eligibility for the subsidized program will be extended to public housing residents in Miami-Dade County, and the cities of Seattle, Philadelphia and Nashville, Tenn.”
Public housing residents in those three areas will be able to get low-cost, high-speed Internet service for just $9.95 per month. But that’s just the beginning.
This major expansion of the Internet Essentials program was revealed at Miami, Florida’s Rainbow Village public housing complex. On hand for the festivities were Comcast’s legal and regulatory affairs chief David L. Cohen, United States Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez and Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado.
We wish we’d been there because it sounds like it was an exciting event — especially for the residents of the Rainbow Village public housing complex. Comcast brought in 150 Comcast technicians to install the necessary equipment for eligible residents.
“Internet access at home is essential to succeed in today’s digital world on all fronts, from employment to education,” Cohen noted in a written statement. “Unfortunately, a cruel irony is at work, as the majority of low-income families, including those in public housing, who truly need the transformative power of the Internet are not connected.”
This is just the latest expansion in Internet Essentials. When the program was rolled out a few years ago, it offered high-speed broadband service for just $9.95 per month. However, that terrific deal was only available to families with children who were receiving National School Lunch Program benefits. Later it was expanded to include students who were “eligible” for the lunch program whether the participated or not. Eligibility requirements were also broadened to included families of students in parochial schools and home schoolers. And Comcast recently announced that it was conducting pilot programs to test the possibility of including senior citizens and college students. In fact, Comcast proudly notes that it has expanded the program eight times since it was introduced five years ago.
Comcast’s expansion of the Internet Essentials program is truly vital to reducing the Digital Divide that separates rich Americans from poor. Recent statistics show that just 48% of American households with annual incomes below $25,000 can afford high-speed home internet.
Now let’s talk a little about Comcast’s expansion plans beyond Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle and Nashville. The company already offer high-speed internet in the following markets and expect the public housing rollout to occur in all these areas as quickly as Comcast and possibly make it happen:
Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Harrisburg, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Miami, Nashville, New Jersey, Oakland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Washington D.C., and Western New England
Cheers to Comcast and even bigger cheers to the underserved public housing residents who are about to receive the low-cost, high-speed Internet service they so desperately need. We sincerely hope it helps you land the jobs you need, communicate with the medical professionals upon whom you depend, and stay in touch with friends and family.
Good work, Comcast. And good luck, public housing residents.
DIANNE TATTA says
centurylink killed the internet program for low income(internet basics) and i had no warning. suddenly the next* bill was over $70.00 and was to go higher the next month! no low income programs now!4/25/19. i terminated my account after—14* years as a loyal customer through thick and thin! i miss my landline* phone as being in florida, the landline was always dependable over mobile in a storm,hurricane! doing without is difficult and very depressing as no one to help! my lifeline was recertified* and ok but also was not* added to the bill i paid*. not nice to treat seniors and low income in such a manner! how many loyal**customers were discarded? a shame! trying***to cope! isolated* without that outside* window to the world! no one at centurylink really************cares!
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
We’ve written extensively about CenturyLink over the years. They never seemed to have any real commitment to this low-income program and we accurately predicted that they would end it as soon as they were legally allowed to end it. Shame on CenturyLink.
Please check to see if any of the other low-income internet plans are available in your state, Dianne. You can check them all out at this link:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/states
Good luck.
Flaca Blanco says
I think its a great start. I hate when people complain about government assistance. There the reason why its so hard for a single mother of 3 to get the help she needs for the mean time. Also people abusing the programs offered . shoot I would be damn great’full of this program was offered in PHX AZ. I cant wait till I get to get my career going to not depend the system especially for my children’s future.
PS. I don’t hear/see any one complaining about all the problems OBAMA created for the middle class. Smh with his damn Obama care crap.
LeeahLynne says
Amen 💯 That’s the truth 💯💯❤
larry wallace says
if u read this article sound like they r doing wonders for people in hud housing they do nothing won’t evn return bldg management call abt setting up bulk services here but they talk a good story wonder if they know trump big boys rich club don’t really care much abt the little guys wish one of them would change places w me and try to see how they would manage living on 766.00 a month hey david cohen give me a call why don’t u —or the ceo of comcast those guys won’t be reading this there looking at the wall st journal seeing how there stocks in the copany are goin up probably underpay there operators to i’m sure i’ll write some more david cohen ralph murray hope to hear from u soon [yeah right].
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Well, neither of those Comcast execs are going to call you as a result of leaving a comment here at CheapInternet.com, Larry. This website is NOT affiliated with any of the low-income internet companies. So you may have gotten it off your chest, but you won’t hear from Cohen or Murray.
larry wallace says
just got off the phone with some guy name joe did’nt do me much good not very interested in what i had to say “like just give us the money” no wonder why they have such a bad rep feel like i have a gun up against myhead so much for helping seniors and disabled folk i believe they can also tell what u r doing in your home such as they know when u r using your phone or using the internet congress should investigat the cable industry cause they have there own little monopolies such as in this town highlands nj also joe says there is no one over him that i can speak to gave me ralph murrays name though but he has no phone number guess he just don’t want to be bothered with the little people bad bussines all around “give me the money comcast” mr murray if u exist give me a call hope disability does’nt come your way…..
Anonymous Woman says
F…… Comcast. They are nothing but a GD RIPOFF. I am a senior on section 8 housing who is unemployed and they wont let me on their low income program whatsoever unless I cut off my internet service for 3 months (which is absurd)and then I can get on it. That rule makes absolutely no f….. sense. How am I going to get on the internet if i have to cut if off for 3 months in order to get on their low income program? I have to have the internet to look for ways to make money and stay in touch with my family. They charge me over 100.00 a month for basic limited cable and basic internet and that is bs. what is it ? laced in gold? I have to do things I am not even going to mention to be able to pay my bill every month and I get cut off every other month because it takes me forever to be able to pay their outrageous bs bill. They dont give a damn about anyone except their greedy selfish self. And I am in the Seattle WA area.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
We hear you, Anon. But don’t heap too much abuse on Comcast, because all the low-income plans have the same three month rule.
Shaza says
I live in Georgia I am low income social disbilty can I get Internet and TV for low as 10 per month
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
It all depends on whether the right program is available in your area, Shaza. Well, let’s us correct that statement: You cannot get TV as part of this program, but internet service depends on whether the right program is available in your area. Here’s where you can find all the low-income internet programs. Check them all out to find out if you’re eligible and whether they’re available in your area:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Tonya says
I live in carthage new york and i am on ssi and have very low income, is there a free or low cost intenet program in my cit/state that could help me? Thank you
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
We can’t track the availability of the various plans down to the local level, Tonya. But we’re willing to bet one of them is available in your area. We’re putting a link to our low-income Internet page and you can contact the companies by phone or, in some cases, their websites allow you to plug in your zip code to determine availability. Good luck.
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Berry Rose Andrew says
Can you outreach to Austin, Tx??
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
As far as we can tell, Comcast is not available in Austin, Texas. But that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s no low-income Internet plan available there. Check out all the other companies and plans here:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
jackie says
i live in NH and have had Comcast Essential for 2 yrs.great service but you have to also have basic cable to get it,at least you did when I first signed up.Anyway I love the service and we have 3 devices in our home connected.The speed is adequate for Skype,Youtube and Netflix.I love it .Very dependable esp since I bought my own modem.I highly recomend this service to any of the poor or working poor.Thank you for your site.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
And thank you for being a reader, Jackie.
Ali says
Hi,
I just moved into low-income housing in Santa Rosa, CA, and also am on Sec. 8 and receive SNAP. A government cell phone program company came to my door 2 weeks ago, offering a free cell phone, low-cost service, and cheap internet – I think $10/ month for each. I don’t recall the company name and can’t find their flier with the rep’s # on it now. He said they were out of Sacramento. I was going to sign up right then, but he wanted to swipe my Medi-Cal card into a reader on his tablet. Not knowing the company, I was concerned about the security of my medical records and other info. I want to call him/them to see if they’ll take my SNAP card instead. Are these companies able to access our private financial data or medical records or Social Security number?
Any idea which company this is, please? I’d like the free phone and cheap cell and internet service. Thanks.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
There is no way for us to know which company it was nor if it was legitimate, Ali. But check out all the low-income programs to find out what’s available in Santa Rosa (beautiful town, by the way). Here’s a link to a complete list just to make it a little easier for you:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Gale M Glaser says
I read back several years ago that the Lifeline provider contract with the federal government already stipulated internet service coverage to be in included at I think 250 units/mb…none were doing this till this year my provider & some others started giving 100mb…
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
The Lifeline Assistance program is getting ready for some big changes toward the end of this year. Plans will begin offering the kind of data plan you’re talking about. We’re preparing an article that will explain it all, so keep coming back to look for that article.
Until then, check out all these low-income Internet plans:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Pat says
When will Free Internet be available for Hillsdale,Mi 49242? Please Reply,Thankyou
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
No timetable has been established, Pat. It all depends on the results of the pilot program that’s currently in progress. Is Hillsdale a town currently served by Comcast?
Judy sparkman says
when will free lifeline internet be available?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
This question really requires an entire article, Judy, but here’s the short version.
The FCC recently approved a plan to reduce the money available for free government cell phones and wants to use the savings to fund discounted high-speed Internet service. However, it has not yet been determined if the companies that enter the proposed Internet service will be able to provide free service or if they’ll only provide discounted Internet service.
Unfortunately, it’s far more expensive for service providers to offer Internet than cell phone service. So maybe some of them will figure out a way to offer Internet service for free, but at this point “cheap” Internet service is the best you can get.
Keep your eye on CheapInternet.com for the latest information. Or even better, sign up for our newsletter by submitting your email address to the “Subscribe To Our Mailing List” box at the top right hand corner of this page.
Frank says
Why the hefty praise for Comcast? Internet service is very expensive for the average family and Comcast has to be easily one of the most resented-by-consumers cable providers in the country. Full service should not cost anyone anywhere near two hundred dollars per month. Also the links here send the reader on a circular journey of sorts that is confusing and never delivers complete information.
To come my particular problem: What do senior people who have a gross fixed income of less than $21,000 a year do? We deserve accommodation of a reduced rate that is in accord with our income. Lest we forget, it was the US taxpayers who paid for research and development of the internet.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
We’ve given Comcast (and other service providers) plenty of criticism here, Frank. In fact, one very large provider will no longer cooperate with us because of our prior criticism. On the other hand, we also give credit where credit is due.
If you’re not happy with the information you find here at CheapInternet.com, feel free to visit some other site that you think does a better job.
wan ying ng says
Hi service:
Please help. I need cheap internet service. i’ m very low income. i couldn’t affordable for now too high to payment.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Wan, we answered your question on our FreedomPop page.
mary says
great, should be of needed help
Lise says
Hi, do you know if the expansion of Internet Essentials with HUD is wireless or wired? Thanks.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Wireless. Hope that helps.
Shelley ihde says
My daughter receives public assistance and is on low income housing in Omaha Nebraska what low income internet program does she qualify for. How much is it. And how can she get.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
If she qualifies, you can click on the “States” link at the top of this page. You will be taken to a page that tells you about every program available in the area. It’s up to you to check them all out to find the plan that works best in her situation and location.