Comcast has announced that it is expanding Internet Essentials, a program meant to help lower income families and households gain internet access, to lower income community college students in Colorado. Comcast already rolled out the program in Illinois on a pilot basis as well. To be eligible, students must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant — the nation’s largest need-based grant program.
More than 130,000 community college students attending schools within Comcast’s service area receive Pell Grants and would, therefore, be eligible to apply for Internet Essentials in this pilot program. According to the NCES, community colleges educate about 40 percent of the nation’s post-secondary education students and serve an even higher proportion of nation’s low-income and non-traditional students.
By offering an affordable Internet connection and computer, Internet Essentials will enable students to access educational resources not just at school but also at home. In addition, Internet Essentials will link students to digital literacy training programs.
Comcast recently rolled out Internet Essentials to seniors, as well. Watch a video about Internet Essentials below:
