Comcast just announced two major enhancements to its Internet Essentials program.
First, any eligible family who is approved for Internet Essentials between August 4 and September 20, 2013 will get up to six months of free service.
Second, the company eliminated the rule that prohibited accounts for anyone with a past due Comcast balance. Now Comcast will waive that rule if the outstanding bill is more than a year old. If a family meets all the other eligibility requirements, Comcast will forgive that debt and accept the family’s Internet Essentials application.
To review: Internet Essentials offers broadband service for $9.95 a month. It also provides an option to buy an internet-ready computer for tad less than $150. And finally, it offers a wide range of free digital literacy training.
Who’s eligible? Any family with at least one child who’s eligible for the National School Lunch Program.
These two enhancements should go a long way toward soothing the nerves of consumer activists, who often complain that Comcast just hasn’t done enough for those Americans who are teetering on the edge of a financial abyss. However, as consumerist.com reports, they still have issues:
Back in March, outreach workers who specialize in helping low-income families access services told Consumerist that the two biggest challenges for getting families enrolled are actually other requirements. The first big block is that new subscribers to Internet Essentials must not have had any Comcast package in the past 90 days. Because there are basically never different, competing cable services to call, that means a family wishing to enroll in Internet Essentials must first spend at least three months without any service at home at all.
The second challenge is getting connected. Internet Essentials has a different phone number and website from Comcast’s regular customer service. When consumers who hear about “the cheap internet” call Comcast’s regular customer service line, they usually get sold a low-level “standard” package instead of getting redirected to call the other number. And having been sold that package, even if they cancel it a few days later, resets that 90-day no-service window.
David L. Cohen is a Comcast Executive Vice President and the biggest cheerleader for Internet Essentials.
“Internet Essentials is about transforming lives and inspiring a new generation of leaders to be digitally ready to access the information and tools all students need to succeed in the 21st century,” he said. “By offering six months of free Internet Essentials service, along with an amnesty program, we hope to convince even more families that there is no better school supply than having broadband Internet at home. With it, kids can do their homework and parents can be more connected to their children’s teachers and schools.”
Cohen travels the country promoting Internet Essentials to school districts and community service organizations and it appears that his tireless efforts are paying off. Handsomely.
According to PCMag.com, “… more than 350,000 families, or about 1.4 million low-income Americans, have taken advantage of the Internet Essentials program. The program is available in 39 states, and the District of Columbia.”
And now Comcast is offering even more to all those people in all those places.
To learn how to sign up, go to our Internet Essentials page.
JAMES REID SR. says
I’ve had internet essentual for approx. i month. I’ve had to spend hours on the phone trying to resolve am issue w/improper speed on my firestick tv. the first time I called comcast, they resolved the matter. Since then, it’s been a pain to me. I can’t get around like I use to. Sometimes, they hang-up on me. It took over 1 hr, to find out, I had to dis-connect the tv stick to restart my firestick. Is there something I CAN DO TO PREVENT ALL THIS? How much will it cost me.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
We can’t answer those questions, James, because we are not affiliated with Comcast and we do not have access to your account information. We hate to say this, but you need to contact Comcast customer service.
Judie says
I am so frustrated with Comcast rt now, they called me today about a past due bill, at first they said I owed 226.66 then they said I made a payment of 105.54 on august 5, 2014???? I know I paid it through the collection agency they hired but said they had no record of it, to figure!! They gave me the account number, but that was it, they said my account was closed, n could give me no other info reguarding my account, like the last 4 digits of the credit card I used, or they could not give me the collection agency they used!!! They call me n change my amount from one to another, then they tell me they can’t give me no info on my account because it was closed!!! I paid this balance,n I think it’s absolutely insane for them to call me n pay again!! I’m not doing it, I told them to find out what collection agency they used n I wanted a full investigation on my account!!! I have that right!! Again this was from august 5 2014!!! How is this at all legal, I am disabled, n I told them that, but yet they want to hound me about a bill I already paired with there collection agency!!! If anyone can help me, it would be so greatly appreciated my name is judie D number is 443-597-****! Please help me!!! Anyone!!!
Vickibykerk says
Thank you for making Legal Talk into a language I can understand
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
The party of the first part thanks the party of the second part.
Melissa says
How do i apply?
Yassi Kamfar says
I live in West Los angeles,Ca, am on low income and just need cheap home WiFi, am single, no kids
Kameel says
How do I sign up pls?
Roxanne Lucero says
Wanted to know who I can apply for the six months free. Times are hard but internet very helpful
patricia says
I am a 60 year old lady on disability ssi. I live in low income housing and only receive only $721 a month. Do I qualify for Comcast’s Essential Internet services?
Cheap Internet Administrator says
Unfortunately, Internet Essentials requires that you have a household family member in the National School Lunch program.
Geneean Dennnis says
I just want to how much is this Internet a month
Cheap Internet Administrator says
$9.95
Ann says
Do seniors only on Soc. Sec. qualify for this program? For many that is only $720/mo. The webpage reads like a person has to have a kid in the house. If this is only for kids, then is there a differently named program for seniors?
Ashok says
looks like Comcast is cheating the people ..i inquired today about basic high speed inter net the customer service & one supervisor & one manager said we do not care whether you are on SSD or SSI…so surprise…AS
Cheap Internet Administrator says
Did you call Comcast, or Comcast’s Internet Essential’s line? If you called Comcast’s regular internet sales number, they probably won’t tell you about Internet Essentials.
dee says
There’s an ever growing problem that’s being totally missed regarding who needs help with such things as internet. I don’t qualify for food stamps or other government assistance. I happen to get $50 more than is considered needy. But I do have bills and a home that needs repair. I’m certainly not going to sell my house to get internet. I started with internet lite from Time Warner at $28. Very reasonable. 3 yrs later the same service is $55. Ridiculous! Up $9 per year! I don’t expect something for nothing, but I do expect a reasonable Bill for what is fast becoming a necessity. So far all I find are bundles that I don’t need and government handouts. Why can’t they come up with something for regular low income people???
mohammed younus says
looking for cheap internet
Cheap Internet Administrator says
You came to the right place.