Comcast released a five-year progress report on Wednesday that says its Internet Essentials plan has helped connect 750,000 families, or 3 million low-income Americans, to low-cost, high-speed internet service at home.
David L. Cohen, senior executive VP and chief diversity officer at Comcast made the announcement with six-time Olympic Medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who was recently named the national spokesperson for Internet Essentials. The two kicked off a multi-city tour that will stop in Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia where the company will announce more than $2 million in grants to community-based organizations that provide digital literacy training and internet access.
“In the last five years, we’ve learned that no single company or government program is ever going to fix the digital divide and that solving a big, difficult societal issue like this takes nothing short of a movement,” Cohen says. “We are so proud that thousands of community partners around the country have helped us make a meaningful dent in the digital divide. With the recent announcement of our expansion to HUD-assisted homes, we look forward to bringing this essential connection to even more families over the next five years. There is still more good work to do.”
Joyner-Kersee says she’s seen how the lack of internet service at home can have a huge impact on children’s education, and that’s why she’s involved.
“At my foundation’s community center in East St. Louis, I’ve seen first-hand the kids who grow up without internet service at home and the impact it has on their futures. I’m proud to represent Internet Essentials and help close the digital divide, so every child can have the chance to develop to their fullest potential and reach their dreams,” she says.
Comcast recently expanded the program’s eligibility to households receiving HUD-housing assistance, including public housing, housing choice voucher and multifamily programs. More on that is available here.
In total, there are up to 2 million HUD-assisted homes in Comcast’s service area across the country, which, according to HUD, account for approximately 40 percent of all its households. The announcement means more individuals, including seniors, veterans and adults without children are eligible to apply to the program.
The Internet Essentials five-year progress report is available here.
