Comcast Announces Largest Ever Expansion Of Its Internet Essentials Program

Mayor Mike Duggan, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and 2018 Olympic Gold Medalists Participate in Internet Essentials Events Held in Detroit

Housing Facility for Former Homeless Veterans and Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Michigan Receive Grants Funding Tech Improvements

Following the expansion of eligibility for Comcast’s Internet Essentials Program earlier this month, the company held events in Detroit at several locations that benefitted formerly homeless veterans and the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan. Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast NBCUniversal David L. Cohen, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, and 2018 Olympic Gold Medalists Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando participated.

David L. Cohen, Mayor Mike Duggan, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando spoke to residents and press at Southwest Solutions’ Piquette Square Facility about the importance of being connected, with a focus on veterans seeking to re-enter the workforce. Announced was an Accelerator Grant to Piquette Square to create a mobile computer lab and upgrade the facility’s WiFi capabilities. At the end of the speaking program, residents were surprised with a free laptop and six months of complimentary service from Internet Essentials. The event concluded with an optional digital literacy skills training class for residents. Southwest Solution’s Piquette Square is a public housing facility that provides formerly homeless veterans with permanent housing, as well as wrap-around services including technology, and health and food services.

David L. Cohen, Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando then addressed an audience of interns and employees (ages 14-24) of the Boys and Girls Club Grow Young Talent Detroit. Cohen highlighted the valuable partnership between the organization and Internet Essentials before announcing an accelerator grant to fund innovation technology at the club with enhancements like a 3-D Printer and video production equipment. Cohen also surprised children from the City Covenant Church in Detroit with a free laptop and six months of complimentary service.

On August 6, Comcast announced the significant expansion of eligibility for Internet Essentials adding three million households. In eight years, the program has now connected more than eight million people from two million households to the internet at home. Comcast’s Internet Essentials is the nation’s largest, most comprehensive, and most successful broadband adoption program in America. The announcement followed 11 prior eligibility expansions, including last year’s expansion of the program to low-income veterans.

“This expansion is the culmination of an audacious goal we set eight years ago, which was to meaningfully and significantly close the digital divide for low-income Americans,” said David L. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast NBCUniversal. “The Internet is arguably the most important technological innovation in history, and it is unacceptable that we live in a country where millions of families and individuals are missing out on this life-changing resource. Whether the Internet is used for students to do their homework, adults to look for and apply for new jobs, seniors to keep in touch with friends and family, or veterans to access their well-deserved benefits or medical assistance, it is absolutely essential to be connected in our modern, digital age.”

To be eligible to apply to the program, low-income applicants simply need to show they are participating in one of more than a dozen different government assistance programs. These include: Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). A full list of these programs can be found at www.internetessentials.com. The Company already accepts applications from households that have a student eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program, live in public housing or receive HUD Housing Assistance, including Section 8 vouchers, or participate in the Veterans Pension Program, as well as low-income seniors and community college students in select pilot markets.

According to U.S. Census data, households living in cities with the highest poverty rates, are up to 10 times more likely than those in higher earning communities not to have fixed broadband at home. For example, in Palo Alto, California, or Bethesda, Maryland – where poverty rates are very low – only about six percent of households do not have a broadband Internet subscription – 94 percent are connected. But in Trenton, New Jersey, and Flint, Michigan – where poverty rates are way above the national average – 60 percent or more of households do not have fixed broadband at home – that is, less than half are connected. That gap of more than 50 points defines the digital divide in this country.

Internet Essentials has an integrated, wrap-around design that addresses each of the three major barriers to broadband adoption that research has identified. These include: a lack of digital literacy skills, lack of awareness of the relevance of the Internet to every day life needs, and fear of the Internet, the lack of a computer, and cost. As a result, the program includes: multiple options to access free digital literacy training in print, online, and in person, the option to purchase an Internet-ready computer for less than $150; and low-cost, high-speed Internet service for $9.95 a month plus tax. The program is structured as a partnership between Comcast and tens of thousands of school districts, libraries, elected officials, and nonprofit community partners.

The most significant barrier to broadband adoption in low-income communities remains a basket of digital literacy deficits, lack of digital awareness, and fear of the Internet. To help address this barrier, since 2011, Comcast has invested more than $650 million to support digital literacy training and awareness, reaching more than 9.5 million low-income Americans. In addition, the company has either sold or donated more than 100,000 discounted and heavily subsidized computers to families and veterans that need one.

–See photos from the Detroit events below–
(Photo Credit: Jessie Walker)

Senior Executive VP and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast NBCUniveral David L. Cohen and Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II take a photo with excited Veterans after presenting them with free laptops and a complimentary 6 months of Internet Essentials service at
Southwest Solutions Piquette Square in Detroit.

Senior Executive VP and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast NBCUniveral David L. Cohen presents a free laptop to a Veteran at Southwest Solution’s Piquette Square in Detroit.

Mayor of Detroit Mike Duggan greets the Veterans at Southwest Solution’s Piquette Square in Detroit.

Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II shakes the hand of a Veteran at Southwest Solution’s Piquette Square in Detroit.

Senior Executive VP and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast NBCUniveral David L. Cohen presents free laptops to children from the City Covenant Church in Detroit.

Children from the City Covenant Church in Detroit learn they will be receiving a free laptop and complimentary service from Comcast’s Internet Essentials program.