Comcast Plans $10 Internet for Low-Income Families

Plan stems from NBC merger
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 8, 2011 10:06 AM CDT
Low-Income Families to Get $10 Internet Access Via Comcast
OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 03: A sign stands in front of a Comcast customer service center on August 3, 2011 in Oakland, California. Comcast reported a 16 percent increase in second quarter earnings with profits of $1.02 billion, or 37 cents a share, compared to $884 million, or 31 cents a share, one year...   (Getty Images)

Comcast is readying a discount Internet service for families whose kids receive free lunches by way of the National School Lunch program, the company announced on its blog. For $9.95 a month, families who live in one of the 39 states Comcast serves with at least one child participating in school lunch program can take advantage of the "Internet Essentials" service. Comcast will also offer these customers a "netbook-style laptop" running the Windows 7 Starter OS for $149.99, Mashable reports.

The firm will take new Internet Essentials customers for “three full school years,” it says. The initiative wasn't entirely born out of the goodness of Comcast's heart: The plan comes as part of the Comcast-NBC merger, which called on Comcast to “increase broadband deployment in low-income households.” (More Comcast stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X