CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Comcast Corporation Executive Vice President David L. Cohen visited Woodson Library in Washington Heights to announce the launch of Internet Essentials in Chicago. Internet Essentials, a groundbreaking Comcast broadband adoption program, provides low-cost access to the Internet and affordable computers as well as digital literacy training to families with children who receive free lunches under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
Starting in the “Back-to-School” season for the 2011–2012 school year this summer, eligible households in Comcast’s footprint will be able to obtain high-speed access to the Internet through Internet Essentials. Internet Essentials will run for at least three school years, but any household that qualifies during the three-year period will remain eligible for the discounted prices so long as a child in the household continues to receive a free lunch under the NSLP.
“Having access to high-speed Internet service allows children to do schoolwork, adults to find jobs and grow the city's economy, and families to learn and explore together," said Mayor Emanuel. "The Internet Essentials program is a perfect example of the city's government and business community working together to craft innovative, competitive solutions to the important problems facing our citizens.”
“Mayor Emanuel has proposed a very ambitious set of initiatives, all of which are designed to promote economic development and attract new business to Chicago. As a corporate citizen of this great city with more than 1,000 Chicago employees, Comcast is proud to play a role and partner with Chicago in these initiatives. But we’re particularly proud to be a partner in the Mayor’s ambitious broadband agenda, which tracks our own historic commitment to ubiquitous broadband availability and adoption across our footprint,” Cohen said.
“The shared focus of the Mayor and Comcast on broadband adoption is justified by the relationship between broadband adoption and jobs. Based on some national research, every one percentage point increase in broadband adoption in the City of Chicago should translate into 1,000 to 3,000 new jobs,” added Cohen.
When Internet Essentials launches this fall, eligible participants will receive:
- XFINITY Economy Internet Service for $9.95 per month (plus applicable taxes) with no activation or equipment rental charges;
- The opportunity to purchase a computer for $149.99 (plus applicable taxes); and
- Access to online, in print, and in person digital literacy training.
For more information about Internet Essentials, please visit www.comcast.com/opportunity
About Comcast Corporation:
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks. Together with NBC and Telemundo, Comcast employs over 7,000 people in Chicagoland, including more than 1,000 in the City of Chicago. And notwithstanding a tough economy in 2010, and very stable businesses, Comcast added more than 50 employees in 2010, and is projected to add more than 500 employees in 2011.