Comcast, the country’s largest cable operator, has started a program to provide low-cost Internet to families with children that qualify for the federal free lunch program.The program, called Internet Essentials, is part of the agreement with the Federal Communications Commission, negotiated during the company’s merger with NBC Universal. It will bring 1.5 megabit per second speed Internet to families for $9.95 per month, with a guarantee of no activation fees, equipment rental fees or price increases.”The goal of Internet Essentials is to close the digital divide and offer low-income families all the Internet has to offer,” said Comcast spokesman Marc Goodman. “Clearly the world has gone digital and low-income families that aren’t online are missing out.”The program also offers families a discounted computer, according to Goodman. The program’s website, internetessentials.com, lists a price of $149.99 plus sales tax which is what families who qualify for the program will pay once they get a voucher.Goodman said the program just recently began in Massachusetts, and soon it will be available in the 39 states and the District of Columbia where Comcast does business. That will cover about 4,000 school districts, Goodman said, and includes training in “digital literacy.”
via Comcast offers low-cost service to needy families – Milford, MA – The Milford Daily News.
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About Dr. Bob- Blog Curator
Bob’s has focused his expertise in technology integration in the K-12 community and teacher education. This expertise touches many different aspects of technology and learning. Areas of particular interest include: Learning, Computational Thinking and STEM, Mobile Learning, 1:1 technology initiatives, problem and project- based learning. Bob's experiences have been enhanced through collaborations with Bonnie Bracey-Sutton who formerly worked as President Clinton’s 21 Century Educator and Raymond Rose who formerly was part of the Concord Consortium, a non profit research and development corporation and the lead institution in developing one of the first virtual high schools in the nation. Other important influences include work at Learning Sciences Research Institute as Senior Research Associate at the University of Illinois Chicago where he was involved with studies of best practices of teacher education and technology. Additional experiences include, working with John Bransford at Vanderbilt University’s Learning Technology Center as Project Coordinator for the school’s Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology Grant (PT3). The grant, national in scope, was responsible for disseminating and helping to implement research on learning and technology into grant activities and the activities of grant partners.
Bob now heads up the IRIS Connect project at the University of Mississippi and is part of the Mobile Learning Portal Project at the University of Texas - Austin. The Portal project involves Dr. Paul Resta, who holds the Ruth Knight Millikan Centennial Professorship in Instructional Technology and serves as Director of the Learning Technology Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
I am very excited to hear that Comcast is involved in this initiative, since the connection to the Internet is vital nowadays. Technology is becoming a very strong component in how everyone communicates with each other, so I hope other big name companies jump aboard on this initiative.
I must say – I’m impressed. I am a FORMER comcast subscriber and became that due to their lack of customer service. It impresses me that this company would take an initiative, such as this and now that I’ve read this, I’m wondering why other large ISP’s aren’t doing the same. Not only is this great PR for the company, it ensures a much needed fundamental for our youth.
Everything, in today’s society, takes you back to some sort of basic computer knowledge. It is impossible, today, to even get through elementary school without having to sit at a computer and submit some sort of work. By the time today’s youth has graduated and is seeking a job, computer knowledge and the ability to navigate around a computer will be as essential as readng and writing. It is unfortunate to think that kids will behind the “social times”, if you will, because of their families inability to afford computers or internet service.
I applaud Comcast for doing this and I challenge other ISP’s to jump on board and do the same thing.
- Staci Holland
You will be more likely to see similar programs involving tablets, ipads etc. through providers such as ATT and Verizon. Its a much lower cost and is generally a more personal and mobile solution.
I am excited to inform you that this program has migrated to Mississippi. I am one of the blessed particpiants. I first found about the program from a flyer I received in the mail. The only gimmick to me was you had to have their cable service. I quickly switched my service so I may take advantage of this program. And I also purchased the discounted computer. And guess what? It was a laptop! I am very fourtunate as well as thankful
I’m so happy to hear this and I’ll say its long overdue.
Dr. Bob I enjoyed and reading this blog. It’s nice to know there are companies who not only invest in the community in which they reside but in the future of the country. This program not only provides the less fortunate a chance to expand their mind, it helps to perpare them for what the real world has to offer.
I’d like to see them expand the program into areas of Mississippi where Comcast provides service.
The potential of this program is huge. If you Google a broadband map of the United States, you will note that states like Mississippi are lacking for Broadband access. This in effect limits the use of technology in the classroom. In fact, the state doesn’t even require teachers to use technology in their classrooms or preservice teachers to learn technology in their teacher education program. This is a step in the right direction. Let’s hope Comcast brings the program to Mississippi.
My name is Constance Pruitt. I am grateful for this program as it has migrated to Mississippi. I myself am a strugglling single mother of two children whom which partake in school computer courses and come home to be neglected of that privalege. The cost of not only a computer but for internet access just didn’t seem to fit within my budget. I first heard of this excellent program from a mail flyer and I called filled with excitement to see if I qualified. Sure enough I did! The only gimmic to me was that you had to be an existing Comcast customer or adopt their services. No problem! I quickly signed up for the service (they’ve got me as a cable customer now also) because of the low internet access monthly fee, especially if they were going to let me get an awesome discounted laptop. Yes! I was sent a laptop for $149.99! They weren’t just thinking of us low-income families, they really helped us pep up our step with new privaledged technology. Now my kids can come to the house and enjoy all that internet has to offer. That is’nt the only reason I did it, they can also complete school projects at home without me haveing to make frequent library runs. To mention another reason, I can apply for jobs online, complete and research my homework via the internet takeing advantage of online resources. This has enabled me to stay home with my kids more instead of paying a babysitter because I am at school. I think this ideal will boost their sales tremendously. Just as quickly as I swicted my cable service because of their requirement, others will also who see a benefit in Internet Essentials and repeat the process. As you can probally see, I am extremely excited about this because it has helped me and so many ways that I could go on forever.
I enjoyed and was impressed by this blog. It’s nice to know there are companies out there who give back to their community. Because of Comcast students can explore and expand there minds reach through the web. In doing this Comcast is not only investing in a community but in the future of this country. Thank you again.
I think this is a great offering by Comcast, however, I do believe that it is a band-aid to an even bigger problem. Our country is worried more about giving people items to help them become equal than we are about fixing the issues. All we are doing is hindering their growth. I honestly believe Comcast should team up with the federal government or some other entity to offer these computers but also make it mandatory for the parent(s) to attend school or some type of trade program to upgrade their skills. This could include some type of work-study program to help them find a job afterwards.The program could also contain clauses, benchmarks, and incentives for reaching milestones and completing the project, as well as some type of discipline for dropping out or failing. We have to get people out of the “welfare” or “give me something material” mentality, and move towards helping people help themselves. The more we get, the more we want. That applies to everyone, not just the low income families. Instead, maybe we should teach the principles of giving and earning. At the very least, we could offer them something else besides just monetary gifts. Its just a thought. Agree or disagree?
I must say – I’m impressed. I am a FORMER comcast subscriber and became that due to their lack of customer service. It impresses me that this company would take an initiative, such as this and now that I’ve read this, I’m wondering why other large ISP’s aren’t doing the same. Not only is this great PR for the company, it ensures a much needed fundamental for our youth.
Everything, in today’s society, takes you back to some sort of basic computer knowledge. It is impossible, today, to even get through elementary school without having to sit at a computer and submit some sort of work. By the time today’s youth has graduated and is seeking a job, computer knowledge and the ability to navigate around a computer will be as essential as readng and writing. It is unfortunate to think that kids will behind the “social times”, if you will, because of their families inability to afford computers or internet service.
I applaud Comcast for doing this and I challenge other ISP’s to jump on board and do the same thing.
- Staci Holland
Dr. Bob,
I found your post about the good that Comast is doing for low income families very intersting and enlighting. I am currently working on a paper about Comact for one of my business classes and have found nothing but negative commets on most blogs. Thanks for helping me find the good in Comcast. I think that this program is great for families and it will help out a lot of children with there studies in school. The computer programs in the school systems are a great ideal but what good can a computer do without the internet to help.
Thanks,
Stephanie
http://www.scbbaxter@gmail.com
Hopefully we will see other high speed internet providers follow suite with this. Public libraries do offer free access to the internet but are not always readily accessible. It would be great to see high speed internet service along with a reliable computer in every home in America. Pretty amazing!