Comcast has once again proved its commitment to low-income Americans by opening up its Internet Essentials program to ALL low-income Americans, people with disabilities and seniors on Medicaid. They join millions of other low-income Americans who already participate in the Internet Essentials program. More than twice as many people can now get high-speed internet access for just $9.95 per month.
To repeat, just $9.95 per month.
Eligibility for Internet Essentials was once restricted to people who at least one child who qualified for the National School Lunch Program, but that restriction is now a thing of the past and millions more are now eligible including:
- People with disabilities
- Seniors on Medicaid
- All low-income adults (defined as 38% above the poverty line in your area)
If math is not your strong suit and you don’t know which side of the 38% you fall on, you can also qualify if you participate in any of these Federal assistance programs:
- The National School Lunch Program (free and reduced-price school lunch)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/food stamps)
- HUD housing assistance and Section 8
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare)
- Supplemental Security Income (Social Security)
- Head Start or Early Head Start
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Tribal assistance (including TTANF, FDPIR, etc)
- WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
- VA pension (Yea, vets!)
To quote our dear ol’ granny, “Holy freakin’ moly!” This is some great news for everyone who lives in areas where Comcast is available.
There are, however, a couple eligibility restrictions:
First, you can’t owe Comcast money. (Well, in reality, you can owe them money, but the debt must be more than one year old. If the debt is less than a year old, they may still approve your application or they may require you to wait until the debt is one year old.
Second, you cannot have subscribed to any of Comcast’s regularly-priced internet plans within he last 90 days. (This one seems counterproductive to us, because it forces Comcast’s low-income customers into an unwinnable situation in which they must cancel their subscriptions and go without internet service for 90 days, or forces them to enroll with a competitive low-income internet service provider.)
The $10 per month internet plan is available everywhere Comcast, the nation’s largest cable company, is available, and that includes 39 states plus the District of Columbia.
Comcast did put some limitations on the service: The program’s speed will be capped at 15-megabytes and comes with a monthly limit of one terabyte of data usage. The speed limit means you probably won’t be able to stream TV service, but the monthly data limit is so generous that you can probably do just about anything on the internet except heavy gaming. (We’ve argued in the past that the purpose of these low-income plans is to provide basic internet access to low-income Americans, allowing them to search for jobs, make medical appointments, allow kids to do their homework and allow parents to check their kid’s progress at school, not to help them fritter away the day gaming with Albanian computer geeks in their mothers’ basements. In other words, one terabyte per month is a hell of a deal for $10.
Two things that haven’t changed: Comcast continues to offer a $150 laptop and free digital literacy training for all Internet Essentials customers.
Way to go, Comcast. On behalf of all your new potential customers, we’d like to say thank you.
h/t: TechCrunch
De La Paz Ramona says
Right now have no internet only what I get on the phone I retired and only have the Qlink phone and facing several surgeries so I need to get connected to some kind of provider but all I find is those at $50 which I can’t afford right now
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Virtually every internet service provider participates in the ACP program. That will allow you to take $30 off your monthly internet payment.
Jill Rud says
I am a disabled senior, and get no discounts on my cable with Spectrum, Why is that?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
You need to enroll to get the discounts, Jill. Call their customer service team to discuss the issue.
Eva Trombley says
Comcast is horrible
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
How do you really feel, Eva. Don’t sugarcoat it.
Donna Green says
I agree, Comcast’s is horrible.
My cable was cut when nextdoor neighbors changed service LADT YEAR!
Comcast’s still had NOT come back to “bury” the Temporary cable they put for my connection at that time !!!
Henry says
The speed of the Internet Essentials program has been increased to 25 Mbps speed.
“For all new and existing Internet Essentials customers, the speed of the program’s Internet service has increased to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream.”
Russell D Jones says
I am a 68 yr old man and I pay $55 per month out of a $972 soc check and find it hard at times to keep my internet.
Julio says
Hello,
I’m 68 and on SSI ..
I pay $9.95 per month
COMCAST XFINITY !
Make it happen!
Peacefully Julio
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
One of our favorite comments EVER, Julio.
Ron says
Comcast had me sign up thru cox cable then i got a bill that said i didnt qualifi due to no child. And the cix employee said comcast wasnt even around okla.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Don’t know what to tell you, Ron. That’s a very unusual circumstance you describe.
Cliffie Cardwell says
I need cheap internet service for Cromwell KY 42333 area
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Here’s where you can find a list of all the low-income internet plans currently available. We list all the states and cities where each plans is available, but you need to do a little homework yourself to find out which ones are available in your zip code.
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Wishspell says
I don’t know who to choose in the Horicon WI area because we really don’t know the choices. Yes we have spectrum and AT&T but the cost is so high even with discounts.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Spectrum and AT&T both offer good low-income internet plans. Here’s where you can find them (and all the other low-income plans) described. We also provide contact info for each provider:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
jan lewis says
i am a senior of 77 yrs my husband recently died and i am on a limitedincome with no extra money.i use internet to pay monthly bills as it helps me a lot.i use internet very little otherwise .Ido have internet but can afford it now.i live on 23,000 dollars a year with a house .I would appreciate any suggestions thank you
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Sounds like any of the low-income internet plans would help you out, Jan. It’s just a matter of finding the one that fits your needs best AND is available in your area. Here’s where you can check out all the plans, eligibility requirements, and a rough guide to where each plan is available:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Lynda Faye Phillips says
I AM A SENIOR DISABLED (SSI) RECEPIENT AND HAVE $38 A MO FROM “CAL FRESH” SNAP ETC. WHATEVER; BUT I DON’T THINK COX CABLE AND/OR AT& T WILL ALLOW “COMCAST” INTO OUR AREA TO SERVICE. DO YOU KNOW ? AT&T IS QUITE DIFFICULT TO APPLY WITH ON LINE.Internet Essentials expands again: Now available to all low-income Americans, the disabled, and seniors on MedicaidAugust 22, 2019 Comcast has once again proved its commitment to low-income Americans by opening up its Internet Essentials program to ALL low-income Americans, people with disabilities and seniors on Medicaid. They join millions of other low-income Americans who already participate in the Internet Essentials program. More than twice as many people can now get high-speed internet access for just $9.95 per month.To repeat, just $9.95 per month.Eligibility for Internet Essentials was once restricted to people who at least one child who qualified for the National School Lunch Program, but that restriction is now a thing of the past and millions more are now eligible including:People with disabilitiesSeniors on MedicaidAll low-income adults (defined as 38% above the poverty line in your area)
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
We’re not sure if you’re asking us if AT&T is difficult to apply with online or telling us that they are difficult.
John DeBock says
Is there anything available in East Texas ? Rains County 75440 ? Everything Existing is Satelite. Frontier, Direct, Peoples.
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Check out this link. We list every town where each plan is available. Just click on the name of the service provider and scroll down the page:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
mike sheets says
How do I get this $9,95 a month internet ?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
You enroll using the contact info we provide for each service provider.
Jolie says
Where in the states? In Wisconsin?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
You can check our “States” page to find out where each low-income program is available, but being available in “Wisconsin” does not mean the same as being available in your town. Here’s that link:
https://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
Stanley says
I will keep this in mind because I hear that att $10 internet will end April 2020 in Los Angeles
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Any source for that news, Stanley? Who is going to end it?
paul says
When is SPECTRUM going to step up to the plate and provide service to ALL low income folks?
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Only Spectrum can answer that question, Paul. Comcast has shown far more dedication to low-income internet plans than any other internet service provider.
Terry says
I’m very glad to see this program finally expanding to include people like myself who are disabled and receiving assistance but have no children. Unfortunately, upon checking my zip code I saw that Comcast isn’t available in my area! I’m very upset because it’s so unfair. Spectrum, Frontier and Hughes Net have a monopoly here. How can we get Comcast in my area of Rochester NY so that we can receive Internet Essentials services? Thank you!
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
Municipalities and other government entities generally hand out cable contracts on an exclusive basis. If we were you, we’d start showing up at council meetings to express your dissatisfaction with what is currently available.
gerald johnson says
I am a senior with PCs for people. Don`t think I can get comcast here. I have wi-fi, live close to a tower.Been getting offers from Zito internet and voice 50mbs for $39.95 a month. Kinda of a rural area next to an interstate. Don`t drive anymore so need the internet.
Christine says
I have 3 mbps with Comcast right now (@ $39.95/mo) and that’s plenty speedy for streaming while simultaneously on the computer. 15 mbps would definitely help us poor peeps keep up with the non-poor folks as things get faster…and kids can’t watch lectures without streaming.
alysia says
with one terabyte can I still watch YouTube movies all night? what about my room mate? he watches a lot of movies too on YouTube and different platforms. thank you
CheapInternet.com Administrator says
What you do with your bytes is up to you, Alysia. But the program was not designed to help those whose primary usage is watching movies all night.
Larry says
Thanks for posting this
Would be great if other cable companies would follow Comcast’s lead and match the required qualifications.
Charter Spectrum is my local cable provider but I don’t use them. And I don’t qualify for their current program. However, I would qualify for the Comcast program in more than one way.
I’m currently using PC’s for People service, but would be nice to have a faster, more reliable service with no data caps, because I watch some TV channels such as Locast over the internet.