Comcast releases the numbers on Internet Essentials program

Comcast offered details on its Internet Essentials program this week as the lower-cost broadband service reached its sixth year.
Data provided by the comms giant indicates 108,000 Maryland residents use the service, which is $10 a month.
In Baltimore, the program is used by 8,500 families, or 34,000 residents. Internet Essentials expanded in Baltimore in recent years. In 2015, Comcast made the service available to any family with a student in Baltimore city schools. Last year, the program was opened up to anyone receiving federal housing assistance.
According to our sister site Technical.ly Philly, the Comcast EVP David L. Cohen said during a call this week that the program now reaches four million people.
“The secret sauce of the program is its wraparound design to address three barriers: digital literacy, access to equipment and affordable service,” said Cohen, according to Technical.ly Philly. “Since this launched in 2011 we’ve spent $350 million towards digital literacy initiatives and we’ve sold 65,000 subsidized computers.”
Internet speeds for the program were also increased from from 10/1 Mbps to up to 15/2 Mbps. Additionally, subscribers now get 40 hours of free out-of-home WiFi access via the company’s hotspots.