SAN FRANCISCO, Ca. – We rely on the internet for so much these days, from applying for jobs or establishing a home office to doing schoolwork and banking or paying bills. Many would argue that having a high-speed internet connection at home has become indispensable. However, according to the Pew Research Center, 33 percent of U.S. households currently lack this essential tool.
Since home internet is so fundamental to functioning in today’s world, we need to let those who can’t afford a standard monthly service plan know they still have options for access. This is why Comcast and Consumer Action have partnered to create a free multilingual educational guide, “Getting up to speed: Broadband internet for low-income households.”
The new publication lays out the many benefits of broadband internet and gives an overview of available low-income broadband adoption programs that can help consumers in many parts of the country get online for $10 or less a month. Consumer Action will post the guide (in mobile-friendly and printer-ready PDF formats) in Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese, and promote its availability to our national network of nearly 7,000 community-based organizations.
The partners also created a free packet of companion flyers, in English, with detailed descriptions of specific programs, such as Internet Essentials from Comcast, that offer low-income households affordable access to the internet.
“Having access to high-speed internet at home opens up many possibilities and opportunities for individuals and families,” said Ken McEldowney, executive director of Consumer Action. “We’re pleased to have this chance to spread the word that U.S. households do not have to forgo broadband service, and all the advantages that come with it, due to affordability anymore. Comcast has been a strong leader in helping to bridge the digital divide through Internet Essentials and we are excited to work with them in helping to get everyone connected.”
”When households lack access to the internet, they are prevented from participating fully in the 21st century digital community and economy,” said Karima Zedan, senior director of the Internet Essentials program at Comcast. “We are proud to partner with Consumer Action, a leading national organization advocating for consumers of all backgrounds, to release these multilingual materials and help educate consumers about programs like Internet Essentials. Since launching in 2011, Internet Essentials has helped connect 750,000 families, or three million low-income Americans, to low-cost, high-speed internet service at home.”
