Mar 6, 2013 3 min read

Comcast officials announced new expansions to a popular program connecting low-income families to high speed Internet that will make as many as 2.6 million Pennsylvania families eligible for the service.

“Almost 30 percent of American households don’t have broadband Internet at home,” said Bob Grove, vice president of public relations for Comcast’s Keystone region. “We at Comcast have a role to play in crossing that digital divide, and we’re very pleased with the program.”

Unveiled in 2011, the Internet Essentials Program has thus far connected more than 150,000 families, or 600,000 individuals, to the World Wide Web. New enhancements for 2013 were released Tuesday, including enhanced Internet speed, a wider range of available hardware and relaxed eligibility requirements.

This year, the program is available to any family that has a student in the federal reduced lunch program. Previously, only those enrolled in the free lunch program were eligible. In addition to the Comcast netbooks offered in prior years, participants have the option of choosing a refurbished laptop or desktop provided by partner Arrow Electronics for $150. Faster broadband service is offered for a reduced price of $9.95. Normal customers would pay $39.95.

This year’s eligibility pool also has expanded to include parochial, private and homeschooled students.

“It’s all about leveling the playing field,” Grove said. “We want children to be able to go home and use material from the Internet to do homework.”

Hopeful applicants should visit www.InternetEssentials.com to enroll. Grove said the application process has been streamlined to make it faster for people who have to travel to local libraries or a friend’s house to access the website. A phone number also is available at 1-855-846-8376.

“We’re trying to get as many people to sign up as we can,” Grove said. “We’re very encouraged by the growth in the numbers.”

In order to increase outreach, Comcast is joining with a number of nonprofit organizations, including the LeMoyne Multicultural Community Center in Washington.

“This is a wonderful opportunity,” said Joyce Ellis, director of the center’s after-school program, which tutors and mentors about 100 students. “We’ve been having real trouble with our students having to do projects because we don’t have enough computers here.”

Ellis said eligibility requirements allow almost all of her students to qualify for new computers and broadband service. Staff members will give information to students and help parents get registered by appointment at their building on Forrest Avenue.

“We only have two computers here and this will help with all the kids we have coming in that don’t have access to computers at home,” she said.