Imagine a child getting home after a long day at school, there is homework to be done, but the resources to complete them are out of reach. This is the unfortunate reality for a number of low-income households in the United States. Through an initiative of Comcast, this figure is being reduced one family at a time. A venture referred to as Internet Essentials.
A Brief History
Comcast’s Internet Essentials initiative was launched in 2011, during a period where remedying the digital divide and facilitating online education were among the hottest talking points in relation to academics across the country. Admittedly, while it is certainly applicable in many areas, providing kids with the means to access information and develop academically is arguably one of the most common reasons that households seek to acquire an Internet service.
The broadband adoption program was designed to allow low-income families to be able to access the contents of the World Wide Web within the confines of their home, but at a cost that was more manageable. Additionally, being a customer of the service would allow for the purchase of a desktop or laptop for the household at a reduced cost. Having access to the service without the technology to use it would be a waste, wouldn’t it?
Though it started out as conditionality for Comcast’s merger with NBC Universal, the value of the program and its subsequent impact have seen the telecommunications company extend the project beyond its initial three-year stint. Since its inception, the program has grown to span an impressive 39 states (the District of Columbia as well), connecting with over 350,000 families, which translate to an approximate figure of 1.5 million Americans.
Latest Program Updates
As a result of the eligibility requirements, there were a few of households that were (unfortunately) unable to acquire Internet Essentials, but Comcast has paved the way for a lot of them to do so. Through its recently announced amnesty program, customers whose bills have been outstanding for over a year will now be able to have the Internet in their homes again, provided of course that they meet to other requirements as stipulated by the program.
Notably, there was also incentive for new customers revealed in relation to the program. Prospective households that have met the requirements, applied and been successful in their quest to attain Internet Essentials will be able to privy to a six-month complimentary use of the service.
Speaking on the initiative, Charisse Lillie, Vice President of Community Investment for Comcast and President of the Comcast Foundation expressed, “The big concern that we have is because of this digital divide, when our children are going to school, they are starting out behind if they don’t have access to that information at home and it’s hard for them to catch up.” She went on to add, “this is a problem because schools more and more are getting into digital education and kids need to have access to the Internet at home in order to do their homework, to be connected to school and to be connected to research. It is just a huge issue particularly within the African-American community.”
Granting low-income families the opportunity to access a fast Internet connection is a commendable feat, but the full extent of the Internet Essentials program makes it clear that Comcast is interested in providing more than just the service. For those who aren’t so familiar with the use of the Internet, there is also training that can be achieved via multiple channels – in print, in person, or online.
The material can help an individual to access a number of key resources such as how to look for a job, how to locate various healthcare professionals and even how they can familiarize themselves with the various social media platforms. The online portion even has interactive tutorials that provide insight on topics such as data backup, identity theft, cyber bullying and phishing.
The Total Package
For just about any family – from high to low income, having access to the Internet is a desire that cannot be overstated. In understanding that not all families have the means, however, to acquire the service at the usual rates, Comcast has implemented a service that is more affordable, ensuring that the members of the household (school kids in particular) are not at a disadvantage.
Their decision to extend the program – which was to come to an end in June of this year – is evidence that Comcast recognizes the importance of every family having access to the Internet. The fact that there is also a complimentary six-month use of it for new customers is also an incentive, especially when considering that it often takes a while for some to recover from the back to school expenses. Through all the implementations over the past three years, one thing is clear – the Internet is essential, and Comcast knows it.
The Internet is Essential, and Comcast Knows It
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