New Connect2Compete public service announcement: We review it.

We’ve eagerly awaited the day that Connect2Compete (pronounced Connect to Compete) and the AdCouncil break their long-promised campaign to promote nationwide cheap internet for America’s needy.

Our wait is over because today is the day the national roll-out begins.

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C2C’s new 30 second public service announcement is a noble effort. The actors (if they are, indeed, actors) seem very realistic and very natural. Shooting the commercial with the computer’s built-in webcam gives it a cinéma vérité feel and adds to the authenticity of the commercial.

We do, however, have one problem with the public service commercial.

In the real world, Reginald, the main character in the commercial, would qualify for the program due to his precarious financial condition, the fact that his children qualify for the free school lunch program or that he lives in a low income zip code.

Yet instead of learning to use a computer to look for a job or to help his kids with their homework, Reginald hops online for the first time to make airline reservations to surprise his wife. (We suspect that her surprise may revolve around the fact that he’s wasting their limited income on airline tickets and vacations.)

But that minor flaw doesn’t dampen our enthusiasm for this initial AdCouncil effort in the least.

Bravo, AdCouncil. Bravo, Connect2Compete.

We can’t wait to see more. We can’t wait to see millions of needy Americans take advantage of your services.

NOTE: Connect2Compete has just introduced new regulations that allow more needy Americans to qualify for cheap internet. The new regulations say:

“There are three ways to qualify. First – if your family is on the free or reduced school lunch program. Second – if you belong to a non-profit organization that has been approved as an ‘EveryoneOn’ partner. Third – If you live in one of 14,000 zip codes across the country as defined by having the median income of the county being under $35,000.”

These new regulations seem a bit vague to us, so check back here at CheapInternet.com soon and we’ll update the information as soon as we get clarification.