Four Million Low-Income Americans Have Crossed the Digital Divide Through Comcast’s Internet Essentials Program
August 15 2017 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Company Again Increases Program’s Internet
Speed, Offers Free Access to Millions of Xfinity WiFi Hotspots, and
Expands Low-Income Senior Citizen Pilot Program
Comcast Renames Six-Time Olympic Medalist
Jackie Joyner-Kersee as National Spokesperson; Names Telemundo Host
Adamari López as National Hispanic Spokesperson; and Kicks Off
Multi-City Tour
Today, Comcast Corporation announced that its acclaimed Internet
Essentials program, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive
high-speed Internet adoption program, has now connected more than
four million low-income Americans, in one million households, to
high-speed Internet service at home. The State of Florida is second
to California with the most connected households in the country,
having connected more than 120,000 low-income households
benefitting nearly 500,000 Floridians.
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The company also announced three key program enhancements:
- For the fourth time in six years,
Comcast will increase the program’s Internet service speeds, this
time from 10/1 Mbps to up to 15/2 Mbps. More speed was the number
one requested enhancement from Internet Essentials customers, and
this latest increase will improve streaming quality in the home (15
Mbps is three times the speed necessary to view a high-definition
video), especially when multiple devices are connected to the
Internet at the same time.
- To help family members connect to the
Internet on the go and save money on their wireless bills, Internet
Essentials customers will now enjoy 40 hours of free out-of-home
WiFi access per month to the company’s growing network of 18
million Xfinity WiFi hotspots. This WiFi access is being offered in
addition to the free in-home WiFi Internet Essentials customers
currently enjoy.
- Comcast is also expanding its pilot
program for low-income senior citizens from five cities and
metropolitan areas to 12, including today in Miami-Dade
County.
David L. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief
Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation, made the announcements in
Miami with six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who will
serve for the second year as Internet Essentials’ national
spokesperson. Cohen also introduced Adamari López, host of
Telemundo’s Un Nuevo Día, who will become the program’s first ever
national Hispanic spokesperson. The three kicked off a multi-city
tour, which will run through October.
“When we started this program six years ago, we never imagined
four million low-income Americans would benefit from it,” said
Cohen. “We also never would have reached this milestone without our
many dedicated nonprofit partners, elected officials, educators,
employees, and advocates who were all united by the belief that the
Internet is essential, not only to compete in the 21st century
economy, but also to be connected to loved ones and the world.
While this milestone is a wonderful moment to celebrate, it also
inspires all of us to keep going to connect even more families to
all that the Internet has to offer for education, jobs, healthcare,
news, information, and entertainment.”
Joyner-Kersee added, “I remain so honored that Comcast asked me
to serve as the national spokesperson for Internet Essentials. In
my post-Olympic career, I’ve tried to inspire students and athletes
to reach their dreams. They can’t do that, however, if they don’t
work hard or have the tools they need to succeed. The Internet
Essentials program gives every child access to a level playing
field so we don’t leave an entire generation behind.”
López said, “I am thrilled to be joining the Internet Essentials
program as the national Hispanic spokesperson. 55 percent of
Internet Essentials customers are Hispanic, which shows how much
they appreciate the value of the Internet because it is a
connection to their families and their culture. They also value it
because of what it means for education and employment
opportunities. I look forward to helping to connect even more
Spanish-speakers to the amazing resources this program offers.”
Internet Essentials has an integrated, wrap-around
design meant to address each of the three major barriers to
broadband adoption – digital literacy, access to computer
equipment, and affordable Internet service. The program is also
structured as a partnership between Comcast and thousands of school
districts, libraries, elected officials, and nonprofit community
partners.
About Internet Essentials
Internet Essentials from Comcast is the nation’s largest and
most comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program for
low-income Americans. It provides low-cost high-speed Internet
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. For more information, or to apply for the program, visit
www.InternetEssentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376. Spanish-only
speakers should call 1-855-765-6995.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and
technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and
NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video,
high-speed Internet, and phone providers to residential customers
under the XFINITY brand, and also provides these services to
businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation
services to residential customers under the XFINITY brand.
NBCUniversal operates 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.
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Comcast CorporationCharlie Douglas,
215-264-8020charlie_douglas@comcast.com
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