Comcast is Closing the Digital Divide

This story was announced towards the end of September but I think it’s worthy of revisit, especially as we begin to celebrate the holiday season and enter the new year. Comcast is currently offering qualified Baltimore families high-speed internet for $9.95/month (with no hidden fees or hikes), a voucher for a computer for $150, and access to free digital literacy training all through their Internet Essentials program.
The goal of Internet Essentials is to help close the digital divide and ensure more Americans benefit from all the Internet has to offer. The program addresses what research has identified as the three primary barriers to broadband adoption:

1. A lack of understanding of how the Internet is relevant and useful;
2. The cost of a home computer; and
3. The cost of Internet service.

David L. Cohen, Comcast Corporation’s Executive Vice President had this to say,

“Internet Essentials helps level the playing field for low-income families by connecting students online with their teachers and their schools’ educational resources. The program will also enable parents to receive digital literacy training so they can do things like apply for jobs online or use the Internet to learn more about healthcare and government services available where they live.
Computer skills are becoming a necessity for Americans at a very early age, and children who are not connected at home are falling further behind their peers not only in grade school, but as they enter college and a high-tech working world,” said Congressman Cummings. “With this program, Comcast is setting an important precedent, and sharing in our responsibility as a nation to find ways to close the digital divide.”

A household is eligible to participate in the Internet Essentials program if it meets all of the following criteria:

• Is located where Comcast offers Internet service;
• Has at least one child who is eligible to receive a free school lunch.
• Has not subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the last 90 days;
• Does not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment.

Comcast supports various programs in the Baltimore area that promote digital literacy, including the Comcast Digital Connectors program in partnership with One Economy, which provides young people with an opportunity to learn about broadband technologies and how to put that knowledge to work in a wide range of career development and community service activities.
On a related note, there’s a new nonprofit taking shape in DC called CodeNow who will be working with underrepresented youth to develop the next pioneers in technology by teaching foundational skills in computer science and programming. I can see something similar being launched in Baltimore in 2012 and think a “code school” + this Internet Essentials program will do wonders for transforming some of Baltimore’s own.