Comcast has introduced a new plan for low-income families that allows them to pay about $10/month for internet access. The monthly cost is substantially lower than the price of their lowest regular priced plan offered in many regions.
The new plan is $9.95 per month and offers a connection with 1.5 Mbps download speed and 384 Kbps upload speeds. Families are guaranteed that the price will not go up and there are no activation fees or equipment rental fees associated with the plan. What’s more, Comcast even allows families who enroll in the plan to purchase a netbook computer for $149.99, and offers free online or face-to-face internet training.
So how does one go about joining the program? There are certain qualifications that families must meet. First and foremost, they must reside in a location in which Comcast offers service. Families must have at least one child receiving free lunch at school through the National School Lunch Program and they must not have had Comcast internet up to 90 days before they join the program. Families must not owe Comcast any money from an overdue bill or from unreturned Comcast equipment.
The company plans to begin the program around the start of the new school year, and will accept new enrollees for about three years. After this point, it’s assumed that families who are enrolled may remain in the program as long as they meet the requirements.
Families previously unable to afford internet access will now have access to the web and all it has to offer. Families may even access Usenet if they’d like (although a monthly subscription fee is required through most premium services) and explore the many newsgroups available.
