BALTIMORE, Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast today
hosted a special event at Digital Harbor Foundation (DHF) in
Baltimore to help raise awareness
about the importance of closing the digital divide and kick off the
fourth year of Internet Essentials, the company's innovative
broadband adoption program. Also announced at the event was the
extension of the Internet Essentials promotion offering six months
of complimentary service to eligible families who apply before
Sept. 30.
Since 2011, Internet Essentials has connected more than 350,000
families, or about 1.4 million low-income Americans, to the power
of the Internet, including more than 7,400 families, or about
29,700 low-income residents in Maryland. The program is available in 39
states and the District of
Columbia.
Comcast Executive Vice President David
L. Cohen and Regional Senior Vice President Thomas Coughlin were joined at the event by
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley;
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake; Maryland State Senator Bill Ferguson;
representatives from the US Department of Education and other local
officials and civic and community leaders to announce the latest
Internet Essentials milestones and program enhancements as well as
award 55 computers and six months of complimentary Internet
Essentials service to students attending the event from Digital
Harbor High School and Liberty Elementary School.
"Internet Essentials is about transforming lives and inspiring a
new generation of leaders to be digitally ready to access the
information and tools all students need to succeed in the 21st
century," said Cohen. "There is no better school supply than having
broadband Internet at home. With it, kids can do their homework and
parents can be more connected to their children's teachers and
schools."
"I'm pleased to join Comcast today in this ongoing effort to
overcome barriers to broadband adoption in Maryland and throughout the country," said
Governor O'Malley. "Support of our youth's pursuit of STEM careers
is vital to maintaining and increasing our state's position as a
leader in innovation and entrepreneurship."
"By connecting the city's low-income residents to the Internet
at home, Comcast is providing families with a tool crucial for
success in the modern workforce," added Mayor Rawlings-Blake. "As
seen here today, providing students with access to digital tools
and technology education can lead to incredible innovation and
promote career growth in Baltimore's technology sector."
Students attending the event heard from industry and community
leaders, including Executive Director of DHF Andrew Coy, Principal of Digital Harbor High
School Brian Eyer, and CEO and
co-founder of local technology incubator Betamore Mike Brenner,
about the opportunity to expand their educational and learning
experiences by getting online at home. They also explored projects
from DHF "maker" programs focused on deepening students' interest
in technology.
"To overcome the digital divide, youth need access to both
technology and tech education," Coy commented of the partnership
with the company. "I'm grateful to Comcast for their
commitment today to directly support the Digital Harbor
Foundation's mission of fostering innovation, tech advancement and
entrepreneurship in youth. This work is incredibly important to the
economic vitality of Baltimore and
Maryland. The digital skills gained through our maker activities,
tech workforce readiness and Internet access in the home will
prepare youth for success in their education now and in their
future careers."
Throughout the back to school season, Comcast will actively
engage with parents, teachers, non-profit partners and elected
officials to help spread the word to low-income families about the
program. Comcast will also continue to offer families the option to
purchase a computer at less than $150, as well as provide access to free digital
literacy training online, in print and in person.
Additionally, Comcast recently announced an amnesty program for
certain low-income families who could qualify for Internet
Essentials, but have a past due balance. Customers who have an
outstanding bill that is more than one year old are now eligible
for the program. Comcast will offer amnesty for that debt for the
purpose of connecting to Internet Essentials, so long as the
customer meets all the other eligibility criteria.
Since 2011, Comcast and the Comcast Foundation have dedicated
more than $200 million in cash and
in-kind support to fund digital readiness initiatives nationwide,
reaching more than 1.75 million people through non-profit, digital
literacy partners. In 2013, Comcast announced its largest
non-profit collaboration to date with Khan Academy to bring free,
world-class online educational content to more low-income families.
Khan Academy offers a personalized online learning experience to
students, in subjects from basic math to physics, biology,
economics, art history, computer science, health and
medicine and more. Khan Academy has provided 400 million
lessons and learners have completed over 2 billion exercise
problems. Comcast has committed to airing hundreds of thousands of
PSAs for and providing significant digital promotion, in both
English and Spanish, of Khan Academy and its educational
resources.
In March, Comcast announced the indefinite continuation of
Internet Essentials, well beyond its original three-year
commitment. The program's impact continues to grow as the company
works to expand its national and local efforts to address the
digital divide for eligible students and families. Since its launch
in 2011 to the end of June 2014,
Comcast has:
- Sold nearly 30,000 subsidized computers at less than
$150 each.
- Distributed nearly 37 million Internet Essentials brochures at
no cost.
- Broadcast more than 4 million public service announcements,
valued at nearly $51 million.
- Welcomed nearly 2.2 million visitors to the Internet Essentials
websites in English and Spanish and the Online Learning
Center.
- Fielded more than 2.3 million phone calls to our Internet
Essentials call center.
- Offered Internet Essentials in more than 30,000 schools and
4,000 school districts, in 39 states and the District of Columbia.
- Partnered with thousands of community-based organizations,
government agencies, and federal, state, and local elected
officials to spread the word.
- Dedicated $1 million in grants to
create Internet Essentials Learning Zones, where networks of
non-profit partners are working together to enhance public Internet
access and increase family-focused digital literacy training in
Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Fresno, Miami and Seattle, among others.
Based on customer surveys, we have also learned a lot about what
customers think about having Internet Essentials.
- 98% said they would recommend the program to friends and
families.
- 97% said they use the service so their kids can do
homework.
- 90% said they were satisfied with the program.
- 82% said they use the service every day or almost every
day.
In the Baltimore area, Comcast
is working with a growing network of community-based organizations,
including Associated Black Charities, Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Greater Chesapeake, Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan
Baltimore, Enoch Pratt Public Library, Family League of
Baltimore City, Greater Baltimore
Urban League, Living Classrooms, My Brother's Keeper, Park Heights
Renaissance, United Way of Central
Maryland and more to spread the word about Internet
Essentials and provide digital literacy training. More than 50
community based organizations across the state of Maryland have
partnered with Comcast on this initiative.
About Internet Essentials
Internet Essentials from
Comcast is the nation's largest and most comprehensive broadband
adoption program. It provides low-cost broadband service for
$9.95 a month plus tax; the option to
purchase an Internet-ready computer for under $150 and multiple options to access free digital
literacy training in print, online and in-person. Eligible families
must have at least one child eligible to participate in the
National School Lunch Program, including public, parochial, private
and homeschooled students.
For more information or to apply for the program, visit
www.InternetEssentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376, or, for Spanish,
visit www.InternetBasico.com or call 1-855-765-6995.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast
Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and
technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and
NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is the nation's largest video,
high-speed Internet and phone provider to residential customers
under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to
businesses. NBCUniversal operates 30 news, entertainment and sports
cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks,
television production operations, television station groups,
Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit
www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
SOURCE Comcast Cable