As we all know, broadband in the USA is not cheap. While there are some internet plans that have lower prices, those lower prices come with not so fast speed. Unlike many other countries around the world, we have a pretty big digital divide in the United States. This digital divide puts many kids at a disadvantage when it comes to learning, since schools all over this country are requiring more work to be done at home, and that work needs broadband. Wanting to do something about this, Comcast created Internet Essentials.
Consider this sort of a PSA about the new program, which we only heard about after attending the Hechinger Seminar. Internet Essentials by Comcast provides broadband service that normally costs $41 a month for $10 a month to families that have children that are eligible for free school lunch.
The program also has partnerships with Acer, Dell, and Microsoft to offer computers for $150. By providing these tech essentials at a reduced cost, Internet Essentials hopes to help bridge the digital divide.
Does your child qualify for free lunch or do you know a child that does? Have them check out Internet Essentials to learn how to take advantage of this program. As broadband loving folks that want to see more kids experience all of the great stuff the internet has to offer, we hope that word about this program spreads fast.
What do you think about this new program? What can we do as tech loving adults to help bridge the digital divide?
Since saving money is always a good thing, here are some posts from our archives that are all about saving money:
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- Latte Factor: Ways On Saving Money On Your Cup of Coffee
- Save Money on Textbooks with these Internet Solutions
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Comments (5)
the sad part of this is comcast isn't everywhere.. and the more rural area providers do not support this..
as well-intentioned as i think this offer is, i can't see it really helping to bridge the digital divide. the real issue behind digital inequality is class inequality. access to technology isn't entirely what the digital divide is about. it's the way technology is used that really shapes opportunity for children. having the internet is a start, but this program would be best supplemented by some kind of instruction in how best to utilize it.
everyone deserves access to the information highway that is the internet. but giving low-income families a computer doesn't necessarily give them the same quality of use that a middle or upper class family has. like any piece of technology, the computer and especially the internet, are amplifiers of both good and bad habits, as well as knowledge. if all you know the internet for is email, sports scores, facebook, youtube, and shopping, you aren't going to benefit in the same ways as others. learning that the internet can be used to search for jobs, access tutorials or classes, and use all of the amazing tools available (that unplggd regularly feature), you need to have been taught and shown. and it isn't just about knowing what is out there, but having the confidence and ability to use it to your advantage.
okay that was even more of a ramble than i had planned. this is actually one of my favorite research topics and i can't get enough of it!
anyway, i think these programs are a good start, but i also believe there needs to be more done to address the underlying issues.
also, residentgeek, it's not just comcast anymore!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/09/connect-to-compete-fcc-initiative_n_1084136.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
so, that's a start :)
The public library provides free internet services and often classes on how to use it. (And yes, I get that there are barriers to getting to/using the public library, but it's still one of the best deals around.)
As a manager of an Internet Service Provider...these companies have most likely received grants and then were required to provide lower cost/free service. Those grants are made possible by our tax dollars.
As much as I hate to sound "republican" since I am not...I'm also a mother of a 15 year old and a 7 year old and we just don't utilize the Internet for homework. We primarily use it for entertainment Netflix and surfing and it becomes more of an issue of restricting the time it's used by the kids.
Comcast isn't doing this simply out of the goodness of the heart (remember, corporations are people, so they have hearts). This was one of their agreed to conditions for getting their merger with NBC Universal.