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Comcast to expand broadband access for low-income consumers

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February 02, 2012|By Chris Reidy

Comcast Corp. said that it is expanding a program called “Internet Essentials” that offers offer broadband access to low-income consumers.

Since “Internet Essentials” launched in September, it has attracted 41,000 customers nationwide, including about 1,000 in Massachusetts, Comcast said.

In an effort to narrow the so-called “digital divide” between poor and more affluent consumers, the program offers broadband service for $9.95 a month. Consumers who enroll in “Internet Essentials” program can take advantage of digital literacy training programs, and they can also buy an “Internet ready computer” for less than $150, Comcast said.

Initially, the program was available to families with children eligible to receive free school lunches under the National School Lunch Program.

Over the next few months, Comcast said it plans to extend eligibility for the program to families with children receiving reduced price school lunches under the National School Lunch Program.

“We believe this will make nearly 300,000 additional households in our service area eligible for Internet Essentials — bringing the total to 2.3 million eligible families,” Philadelphia-based Comcast said in a statement.

The program was established to meet one of the conditions set by the Federal Communications Commission before it would approve last year’s merger between Comcast and NBC Universal.