In its ongoing effort to close the digital divide, Comcast is expanding its discounted broadband service to include all households with disabled persons.
The expansion is the biggest of 11 program expansions announced in the 8-year history of the program, which Comcast launched in 2011 to help win approval of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission of its merger with NBC Universal.
Comcast's Internet Essentials provides internet service to qualified households for only $9.95 a month, plus the option of buying an Internet-ready computer for less than $150.
The program is already the largest broadband adoption program of its kind in the United States with connections to 8 million low-income Americans, including 27,000 persons in the Chattanooga area. The company estimates that more than 3 million additional low-income households, including households with people with disabilities, are now eligible to apply with the latest program addition.
"This expansion is the culmination of an audacious goal we set eight years ago, which was to meaningfully and significantly close the digital divide for low-income Americans," said David L. Cohen, senior executive vice president and chief diversity officer of Comcast NBCUniversal. "The Internet is arguably the most important technological innovation in history, and it is unacceptable that we live in a country where millions of families and individuals are missing out on this life-changing resource."
According to U.S. Census data, households living in cities with the highest poverty rates are up to 10 times more likely than those in higher earning communities not to have fixed broadband at home.
Cohen said the most significant barrier to broadband adoption in low-income communities remains a basket of digital literacy deficits, lack of digital awareness, and fear of the Internet. As a result, since 2011, Comcast has invested more than $650 million to support digital literacy training and awareness programs, including its support for Tech Goes Home in Chattanooga.
Comcast said it has either sold or donated more than 100,000 discounted and heavily subsidized computers to families and veterans that need one.
"Whether the Internet is used for students to do their homework, adults to look for and apply for new jobs, seniors to keep in touch with friends and family, or veterans to access their well-deserved benefits or medical assistance, it is absolutely essential to be connected in our modern, digital age," Cohen said.
"This is another important step that Comcast is making to help bridge the digital divide in Tennessee," said Sara Jo Walker, director of public relations for Comcast. "We are proud of the thousands of Chattanooga residents that have already taken advantage of the program and we look forward to connecting more families to the power of the internet."
To be eligible to apply to the program, low-income applicants simply need to show they are participating in one of more of a dozen different federal assistance programs. Those eligible for the discounted internet service include anyone on Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the National School Lunch Program, or those who live in public housing or receive HUD Housing Assistance, including Section 8 vouchers, or participate in the Veterans Pension Program.
Comcast already accepts applications from households that have a student eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program, live in public housing or receive HUD Housing Assistance, including Section 8 vouchers, or participate in the Veterans Pension Program, as well as low-income seniors and community college students in select pilot markets.
For more information, or to apply for the program in seven different languages, please visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376. Spanish-only speakers can also call 1-855-765-6995.
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 757-6340.