Comcast and FCC partner to provide low-income families access to internet, Nyan Cats

WASHINGTON, Sep 20, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Comcast Corporation Executive Vp David L. Cohen, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, and District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Kaya Henderson today announced the launch of Internet Essentials, a brand new nationwide program which supplies families with children who’re eligible to receive free lunches under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) with low-cost Internet service, affordable computers and digital literacy training. The goal of Internet Essentials is to assist close the digital divide and make sure more Americans get pleasure from the whole Internet has to present.

This system addresses what research has identified as three primary barriers to broadband adoption:

– an absence of understanding of the way the web is relevant and useful;

– The price of a house computer; and

– The price of Internet service.

Per David L. Cohen, Comcast Corporation Executive Vice chairman, “Internet Essentials helps level the playing field for low-income families by connecting students online with their teachers and their schools’ educational resources. This system will enable parents to receive digital literacy training that will do such things as apply for jobs online or use the net to be informed more about healthcare and government services available where they live.”

Today, during a web based Essentials launch event at Ballou Highschool inside the District of Columbia, Mr. Cohen, Chairman Genachowski, and Chancellor Henderson were joined by students, school officials, and national and native community partners.

“This past January, Comcast made a commitment to the FCC and the yankee people to produce discounted broadband service to millions of low-income families. Because of continued follow through, I’m pleased to be here today on the national launch of the hot Comcast Internet Essentials program that aims to supply high-speed Internet to millions of faculty-age children and their families who’ve not adopted broadband. This system will prepare a higher generation, create new opportunities for more jobs and should make a favorable difference inside the lives of many Americans. I challenge other service producers to take concrete steps to assist close the broadband adoption gap,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

“During the Internet, our students and their families can unlock unlimited learning and growth potential,” said DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “Programs like Internet Essentials that supply instant access to information and academic resources ought to be implemented everywhere. We’re so grateful and want to thank Comcast for expanding that access within the District of Columbia and helping to bridge the digital divide for lots of of our underserved DCPS students and families.”

This announcement builds on Comcast’s long standing commitment to produce schools with cutting-edge broadband technology and coaching through programs equivalent to Cable within the Classroom, an instructional training for teachers, parents and administrators at the educational use of Internet resources and High Speed Education Connection, a program to offer free high-speed Internet access to varsities nationwide. In 2002, Comcast rolled out a brand new high-speed Internet service within the District with a press release that Ketcham Elementary School, within the same neighborhood as Ballou Highschool, will be the first to pilot the recent service.

“Broadband is transforming the way in which we educate our youngsters. We have to help more of our students and their families who might not be in a position to afford Internet access. I applaud Comcast for helping to shut the digital divide in the course of the Internet Essentials program so one can bring access to affordable broadband and computers to tens of thousands of families and scholars within the District of Columbia,” said Mayor Vincent C. Gray.

Comcast is operating with a growing network of college districts and community based organizations around the nation to spread the word about Internet Essentials and supply digital literacy training. With a purpose to increase awareness of the recent service, which gives access to low-cost Internet service, training, and technology to low-income communities, already:

– Greater than 1,000 school districts — including nearly 20,000 schools with greater than 4.5 million students who’re eligible to receive free lunches under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) — and almost 1,000 community partners nationally have agreed to take part and share information regarding Internet Essentials;

– Nearly 10 million pieces of bilingual Internet Essentials informational materials were distributed to varsities and grassroots organizations around the country; and

– Greater than 60 In-Person Training sessions was scheduled and confirmed for September and 30 Train-the-Trainer sessions have taken place in August/September.

Service Details:

Internet Essentials participants will receive:

– Residential Internet service for $9.95 a month + applicable taxes;

– No price increases, no activation fees, or equipment space leases;

– A voucher to buy a low-cost computer for $149.99 + tax; and

– Access to free digital literacy training in print, online and in person.

Additional benefits include the Norton(TM) Security Suite ($160 value) for comprehensive online security protection at no additional cost.

Eligibility:

A household is eligible to take part within the Internet Essentials program if it meets each of the following criteria:

– Is found where Comcast offers Internet service;

– Has no less than one child who’s eligible to receive a free school lunch under the NSLP; — (As an instance, in response to the dep. of Agriculture, a household of 3 must make not up to $25,000 a year in income);

– Has not subscribed to Comcast Internet service in the last 90 days;

– Doesn’t have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment.

Comcast will check in eligible families inside the program for no less than three years, throughout the end of the 2013-2014 school year. Any household that qualifies in this three-year period will remain eligible for Internet Essentials provided a kid eligible for a free lunch remains living within the household.