Aiming to Get Out of the Internet Dark Ages

There’s no hiding today’s digital divide, or the inequality between those with access to Internet and those without. And even with Comcast’s fight against it for years with its Internet Essentials program, the company admits there’s still a long way to go.

In fact, a Pew Charitable Trusts poll from December said 18 percent of Philadelphians still don’t have a computer at home or an Internet-accessible cell phone.

But, David Cohen, Comcast’s executive vice president, can’t help but give his company a pat on the back for trying. That’s because since its launch three years ago, Internet Essentials has provided affordable broadband service ($9.95 a month plus tax) to more than 1.2 million low-income Americans, or 300,000 families, in 39 states and Washington, D.C. It also has sold more than 23,000 subsidized computers at less than $150 each.

On Tuesday, Cohen announced Comcast’s plan to extend the program indefinitely -- beyond its initial three-year commitment, because it’s “just that important,” he said in a morning conference call. Read more about this story on PBJ.com.

(Comcast is the parent company of NBC Universal and NBC10.)

For more breaking business news go to PBJ.com

Copyright bizjournal
Contact Us