Comcast Expanding Low Cost Internet Program To Pell Grant Recipients In Everett

September 23, 2021

Everett Economy

Good news for a few thousand students attending colleges in Everett.

Click to learn about Internet Essentials from Comcast.

Comcast today announced new steps to help advance digital equity for even more people in Snohomish County. Internet Essentials – the nation’s largest, most successful, and most comprehensive broadband adoption program for low-income individuals – will now expand eligibility to nearly 3,000 Federal Pell Grant recipients throughout Snohomish County. These students, enrolled at the following five institutions, are now eligible to take advantage of Internet Essentials, which offers low-cost, high-speed Internet service for $9.95 a month (plus tax), the option to purchase a heavily subsidized, low-cost Internet-ready computer, and access to free digital literacy training:

 

·         Edmonds College ·         Everett Community College ·         Evergreen Beauty & Barber College-Everett ·         Highlights Beauty Schools ·         Paroba College of Cosmetology

Since 2011, the company, working in collaboration with its network of nonprofit partners, has connected a cumulative total of more than 56,000 low-income residents in Snohomish County to broadband Internet at home, the overwhelming majority of whom were not connected prior to signing up. In addition to the total number of connections Internet Essentials has provided, Comcast’s Lift Zones program aims to connect 12 community centers in Snohomish County with free WiFi by the end of 2021.

In addition, Comcast pledged to donate 500 laptops to low-income students, seniors, veterans, and adults in Washington state over the next several months. The announcement is part of Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities; and comes while Comcast marks the 10th anniversary of its Internet Essentials program, which has connected a cumulative total of more than 10 million people to the Internet at home – most for the very first time.

These additional initiatives arrive as the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated far-reaching effects that disproportionately impact those who have traditionally lacked access to the tools, resources, and skills needed to get online. Compounding this reality is research showing low-income students and their families face numerous broadband adoption challenges, like housing insecurity, literacy challenges, language barriers, and broadband relevancy issues. As a result, Comcast’s digital equity efforts have been designed to address as many of these challenges as possible, including offering low-cost broadband Internet at home; the option to purchase a heavily subsidized, affordable computer; access to free WiFi in community centers nationwide; and numerous options to acquire the digital skills necessary to navigate distance learning and use the Internet.

“Digital equity is key to success in education and economic mobility, now and into the future” said Broderick Johnson, Executive Vice President, Public Policy and Executive Vice President, Digital Equity. “As our economic, medical, and educational systems become increasingly digital, it’s more important than ever that every American gets online. For those young people pursuing higher education, the expansion of IE eligibility to Pell Grant recipients is a real boost.  Through the announcements we are making today, we will help support the development of a workforce that has the digital skills necessary to adapt to rapid shifts in a fast-evolving economy.”



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