Comcast is kicking off the back-to-school season with Internet Essentials and an amnesty program for poor families who qualify.
Comcast announced Monday that it will be offering a six-month complimentary service to new families subscribing to Internet Essentials between Aug. 4 and Sept. 20. As a broadband adoption program, Internet Essentials has connected over 350,000 families or around 1.4 million Americans to the internet in the District of Columbia as well as 39 states. Low-income families who qualify for Internet Essentials but have unsettled bills will also be eligible for an amnesty program given that their outstanding balance is over a year old and they meet other requirements.
"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. 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," said David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President for Comcast, in an announcement event at the Peyton Forrest Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia.
Alongside the Comcast Foundation, Comcast has dedicated over $200 million of in-kind and cash support since 2011 to aid digital readiness initiatives in the country, helping over 1.75 million people through the efforts of non-profit digital literacy partners. Its biggest collaboration was with the Khan Academy in 2013 where online educational content was made available to low-income families.
The company announced in March that Internet Essentials will be continuing indefinitely after its original three-year commitment is accomplished. Since 2011, Comcast has offered Internet Essentials to over 30,000 schools and 4,000 school districts in the country. Aside from engaging parents, teachers, elected officials and non-profit organizations, the company is also planning to air public service announcements to promote its new offerings.
As a means of getting families to subscribe to a broadband program, Internet Essentials offers low-cost broadband service for just $9.95 a month with tax. Internet-ready computers may also be purchased through the program for less than $150 and access to digital literacy training materials are offered free of charge. To qualify for Internet Essentials, a family must have at least one child in a school that is participating in the National School Lunch Program.
