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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

(Newser) – 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.”

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...
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...   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
MDD
Aug 10, 2011 3:41 AM CDT
Time to cancel Comcast. Hello Verrzion...
JBecket1
Aug 9, 2011 12:41 PM CDT
Comcast is a great company, but like many nationwide businesses it can have some weak spots. I was surfing the internet and I found this site where people can vent about poor customer service or products they received... it can get really funny. I would recommend you to check it out here: http://ventme.com/companies/view/103
Ultraworld
Aug 8, 2011 2:04 PM CDT
It's good business for Comcast. They aren't losing money on basic cable for $10 a month. They are creating future Comcast customers & getting a ton of good press.

 
Comcast • Internet access • low-income families • Comcast-NBC merger

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