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It’s about time: Comcast develops pilot program to bring high-speed internet to low-income seniors

You can count CheapInternet.com among the biggest boosters of Comcast’s Internet Essentials program. Now the company is addressing one of the program’s biggest shortcomings by conducting a pilot program designed to bring Internet Essentials to low-income senior citizens.


Comcast also announced that it is doubling the speed of Internet Essentials and now offering free wireless modems to all new and existing customers. You can read more about that development if you Click Here.


The pilot program will be conducted in West Palm Beach, Florida where CBS12 television reports that, “For $9.95 a month the Internet Essentials Program not only extends to qualified low income senior citizens…” but that “… the first 100 seniors in the Boynton Beach area who sign up for the Internet Essential Program will receive free internet for the next 6 months.”


philly.com reports that “Comcast will begin the project for senior citizens in Palm Beach County, Fla., and expand it to other markets throughout the United States through the fall” and that although specifics are yet to be determined, it is expected that “Senior citizens who earn $35,000 a year or less are likely to qualify for the program.”

Surveys show that seniors use the internet far less than other demographic groups. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, just 47% of those age 65 and over (47%) have broadband at home. The Digital Divide is even more dramatic among low-income seniors.

We certainly urge Comcast to conduct and analyze the pilot program and develop a nationwide senior citizen internet program as quickly as possible, because this would address one of the major criticisms aimed at Internet Essentials.

As consumerist.com said, “The program currently limits eligibility to households with at least one child who can participate in the national school lunch program. Thus, households with pre-school age children, grown children, or no children at all have been omitted. This includes the elderly, many of whom — especially in urban areas — live at or near the poverty line and often have little to no Internet access.”

We doubt that anyone understands the plight of senior citizens better than those of us here at CheapInternet.com, because we received hundreds — maybe thousands — of heartbreaking emails from senior citizens and families of senior citizens on limited incomes who simply cannot afford typical budget-busting monthly internet bills of $60, $70 or more.

So once again, we tip our caps to Comcast and congratulate them for this effort to bring the Internet Essentials program to an expanded audience.

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Comments

  1. Cynthia Burks-Harriel says

    It’s very sad that a Senior Citizen must meet the criteria of receiving public assistance. I only receive Social Security on a monthly basis and it’s not disability. The amount I receive is $1,130.00 and I’m age 67; my daughter has been doing her best to financially supplement my needs.
    How can I receive Low Cost Internet services to be able to communicate with Loved Ones, Friends and on-line banking, bill pay?
    Pleas assist….

    Reply

    • CheapInternet.com Administrator says

      You need to contact Comcast customer service directly, Carol. We are not a service provider.

      Reply

    • CheapInternet.com Administrator says

      We’re not Comcast, Paula. You’ll need to contact that company directly to get your question answered.

      Reply

  5. victor orloff says

    I am somewhat disabled and a vet on s.s. I am 76 but like keeping up on current happenings. and my friends, can’t afford much on my income. this program would help.

    Reply

  6. JENNIFER HUBBLE says

    I am looking to get wifi so I can print stuff from my phone. I am a senior and get very little income a month. I saw you help low income people. I would like to check to see if I quilefy. I live in Dexter , NM.

    Reply

  7. Dorothy f. Whelan says

    Pleased to hear the good news. We low income seniors have waited to have access to the internt. It is tiresome to sit in Wal-Mart once a week just to access email.

    Reply

  8. Clive G. says

    I’m recently retired senior citizen and cannot afford Comcast rates now. They are not interested in helping me. Is there any low cost internet in Northern California for seniors.

    Reply

  10. Bich-Thu Thi Tran says

    Please fix my name & my apartment number as below: BICH – THU THI TRAN PORTLAND OR 97205 Thank you very much.

    Reply

    • CheapInternet.com Administrator says

      We can’t do it, Bich-Thu, because we are not your service provider. Call 6-1-1 on your free government cell phone to speak to your service provider’s customer service team.

      Reply