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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. I’m a 60 yrs old , living on SSI in Wichita Falls TX. I need a cheaper internet ! Pretty much home bound & enjoy getting on the internet all day ….it is my life in these walls of senior housing .
    Please help me find a service in my area !

    Reply

  2. I can’t see where this helps senior citizen’s. Most if not all of us don’t have school age children. Were just broke with low incomes and simply can’t afford high cost internet. It would be manageable at under $10.00 a month. When a person makes less than 16,000 a year and is senior citizen and disabled too. Internet is essential to survive. Its sad how we are treated. Like no one cares.

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  3. I’m a low income senior with an assurance phone, my income is $15,000 a year, I hope I can qualify for the low income internet, it would help me greatly. thank you.

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  4. I’m a senior, Disabled Senior, but I live in Kerrville, Tx. Can I get the internet for seniors now? How much does it cost a month?

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  6. I am a 63 year old widow who has been with cable since it came to Louisville, ky many years ago. I am on a fixed income. I am raising my granddaughter and need the internet. Time Warner goes up every year. How low of an income do you need to get a fast internet speed. I read where you have to go 3 months without internet. That’s impossible. School is beginning soon. I am ready to let go of my tv and stick with Netflix and get rid of my home phone because I have a very inexpensive android I can use. There are a lot of people that I talk to that have the same problem. Bill too high and goes up every year. Yet, if you are new, you get an inexpensive bundled program for a year, then it starts going up. Seniors and low income need help. Especially since so many of us are raising our grandchildren. Just needed to vent. Thanks

    Reply

  7. Yes. Thank You Comcast! I was a customer for many years when I lived in PA. Now here in GA. for over 2 years. I am 80 and I just today canceled my cable TV because I can not even afford their basic plan and went to antenna for the local stations. I pray that this venture with the internet service works in Florida and that we get it here in GA. very soon. And maybe in the future we will be able to also get cable TV that we seniors on social security could afford. The Golden Years are not so Golden for us these days.
    THANK YOU COMCAST FOR CARING!!!!

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  8. God Bless everyone who will help!!
    I’m 64 3/4 years old and looking at trying to live on 454.00 a month ! I have COPD and cannot seem to quality for SSI. ??? Why is it that Seniors have to go without their meds and access to TV and the internet in order to eat??

    Reply

  9. I’m a 66 year old disability person with RA has been for 12 years. I have Medicare & Medical. I have a lot of reports & forms to fell out with them. I as have to keep my records up with Social Security which is helping me to get my very expensive meds($4,700.00) a month just for my 2 shots a month plus other meds at other expenses. I’ve been doing it over my 5″ screen on my phone but this year I have gotten so crippled in my hands & my eyes have gotten so bad. Please try to see if I could just get some for my 10″ RCA tablet. I only make $1,185.00 a month but well try my best to pay at less around $10.00 a month to get internet. Thanks for trying to do something for me. My M&M isn’t liking all my mistakes on my phone. My Drs. & prescriptions places are getting a little up set with me. Patsy Selph

    Reply

    • Here’s what you need to do, Patsy. Go to EveryoneOn.org to see a selection of services and tablets available in your area. It’s easy. All you need to do is plug in your zip code and the services will pop up.

      We’re not sure from your comment whether or not you have a low-income internet plan. Here’s where you can check out all those plans. Pay particular attention to PCs for People and 4GCommunity. Here’s a link:

      https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet

      Reply

  10. I’m one of the seniors on a fixed income and had comcast it started at 49.00 but kept going up I’m on a fixed income so has to let it go. can I qualify for this program if I work out payments?

    Reply

    • Perhaps, but you’ll need a discussion with Comcast customer service. If that doesn’t work out for you, there are other plans you should look into. Specifically, AT&T, PCs for People and 4GCommunity. Here’s where you can check them all out:

      https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet

      Good luck, Theresa. We’re hopeful that one of them will work out for you.

      Reply

  12. As a senior who would be lost without the internet (I am 70 and conduct most of my business on the internet – from banking to shopping to bill paying to face book. However, as social security is my source of income, the internet is not affordable. We need a good program for seniors. Face it, nothing can get done without the internet.

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  14. Please let me know if your low income Senior Internet program applies to me. I have a total income of $755.00 a month (SSI and SSA combined.) I live in Senior HUD housing if that helps. Please advise. I now have Century Link Internet for which I pay $67.00 a month. I HAVE to find an alternative since I cannot afford this service. Please adv

    Reply

  15. I have an adult student that is low income and cares for her disabled adult son. She doesn’t have SNAP. Is there a program that she qualifies for?

    Reply

    • We hear you, Dr. O. A lot of seniors would be helped if this program expanded to other companies and other states.

      Reply

  17. I live 2 blocks from Palm Beach County. I am in Broward County. I believe you can understand my frustration living so close yet so far away.! My community has free wi-fi on the premises for which I am grateful, nonetheless there is no place like home. I just gave up Comcast when they raised me once again.
    I called Internet Essentials and was told if they receive many requests (in my case Broward County), that that may put a firecracker into the decision making to make it available.
    I am an activist (without in-home internet access) which means I will work to have Comcast Senior Essentials come to Broward.
    Tell me if you can, how long does a “pilot program” run before they assess the program. Seems this one may be going on for two years. Seems they should know by now. Any help to the end of nationwide Senior Assistance would be appreciated. Let’s get AARP involved!

    Reply

  18. This would be so awsume grandfathered in onto Verizon unlimitedl Myfy wireless internet ! I have been very sick and hard for me to pay the $65.00 fee out of my $750.00 a month disability income ! There is not a lot to do as it is ! And it is so good to keep up with all the one I love I truly hope there is something out there that can and will help us that can keep our minds working ! If there is any way to help us PLEASE DO WE R NOT YOUNG PEOPLE BUT WE R HERE FOR THE ONE ! GOD BLESS US , YOU AND ALL OTHERS AMEN

    Reply

    • Unfortunately, Valerie, there is no widely-available program for seniors yet. The program described in this article is only available as a pilot program in several markets. But come back to CheapInternet.com frequently, because we’ll let you know as soon as there’s news for seniors.

      Reply