Complete Story
08/15/2017
Comcast’s ‘Internet Essentials’ Connects 1M Low-Income Households
In an annual update typically timed with the back-to-school season, Comcast said Internet Essentials, the operator’s service for low-income families, has connected more than 4 million Americans, and about 1 million homes.
Internet Essentials, originally a voluntary commitment stemmed to Comcast's acquisition of NBCUniversal and now entering its seventh year, provides high-speed Internet service to those who qualify for $9.95 per month, plus subsidized computer equipment (less than $150 each) and free Internet training.
That’s up from 750,000 families or 3 million homes from last year’s update on the program.
Comcast also unveiled a set of enhancements for Internet Essentials, starting with a speed boost of up to 15 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream, up from previous speeds of 10 Mbps/1 Mbps. Comcast said it marked the fourth time in six years it has increased speeds for the program, and that the latest increase will help to support video streaming applications and provide enough headroom for multiple devices connected in the home.
Among other additions, Internet Essential customers will get 40 hours of free out-of-home WiFi access per month to Comcast’s footprint of 17 million hotspots. It’s also expanding its pilot program for low-income senior citizens – from five cities and metro areas, to 12.
