Comcast (News 
- Alert) followed through on its earlier pledge to increase broadband deployment in low-income households by launching Internet Initiatives, a new program aimed at bringing Web access to those who can't afford the company's lowest tiered plan.
The program, set to launch this fall, was actually born from the Comcast-NBC merger, which was only approved on the condition that the company would roll out initiatives that target underserved areas. Still, the program will be highly beneficial for households that otherwise can't afford basic Web services.
Families that qualify for Internet Initiatives can sign up for a residential services plan that costs only $9.95 per month plus applicable taxes. In addition, participants will receive a voucher to purchase a low-cost computer for $149.99, as well as free digital literacy training and anti-virus software.
Best of all, families won't need to worry about activation fees or price increases. The cost of the service will remain static for the full life of the program.
To become eligible to participate in the program, a family must have at least one child receiving free school lunches via the National School Lunch Program. Furthermore, households must not have subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the last 90 days and cannot have an outstanding bill with the company.
Comcast EVP David Cohen said that the program is aimed at bridging the educational gap that can exist between children from low-income families and those that have access to additional resources.
“Access to the Internet has the potential to be a great equalizer and a life-changing technology,” he said. “Access to broadband in students’ homes will help them connect with their teachers and their school’s educational resources as well as enabling parents to do things like apply for jobs online or use the Internet to learn more about healthcare and government services available where they live.”
Comcast will continue to accept families into the program through the 2013-2014 school year. Households will remain eligible for Internet Initiatives as long as they have at least one child living in their home who takes part in the National School Lunch Program.
Affording to fund the initiative shouldn't be a problem for Comcast, which recently announced that its revenue for the second quarter was up 6 percent over last year's 2Q numbers.
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Beecher Tuttle is a TMCnet contributor. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Jennifer Russell
