WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast was presented with the “Bridging the Gap” Award last evening during The Foundation for Florida Virtual School’s 2nd annual Opening Doors to the World Awards Celebration in Orlando.
The “Bridging the Gap” Award was in recognition of Comcast’s Internet Essentials Program that connects low-income families to the internet. The Foundation for Florida Virtual School presents this award to an organization that demonstrates a resourceful approach to education by connecting communities through innovation and technology.
Internet Essentials from Comcast is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program. Comcast recently announced that, in about 22 months, more than 220,000 families, benefitting an estimated 900,000 low-income Americans nationwide, now have a broadband connection at home. This includes nearly 30,000 families in the state of Florida.
“We know that the importance of being online for students grows almost daily and that’s why access for students and families is becoming more of a necessity than ever before,” said Star Kraschinsky, president of The Foundation for Florida Virtual School. “We applaud Comcast and its Internet Essentials program for having a major impact on the lives of families in Florida.”
“This is a true team effort and we share this award with the many community leaders, community organizations and schools throughout the state of Florida that have joined together to help bridge the digital divide,” said Comcast Florida’s Regional Vice President of Government Affairs and Community Investment, Derek Cooper. “It is through the commitment and participation from our partners in the community that have helped make Internet Essentials available to more than 100,000 low-income Floridians who now have the opportunity to use the power of the Internet in their homes.”
About Internet Essentials
Internet Essentials provides low-cost broadband service for $9.95 a month plus tax; the option to purchase an Internet-ready computer for under $150; and multiple options to access free digital literacy training in print, online, and in-person. A household is eligible to participate if it has at least one child eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
For more information about Internet Essentials visit InternetEssentials.com for English and InternetBasico.com for Spanish. Educators or third-parties interested in helping to spread the word can find more information at InternetEssentials.com/partner. Parents looking to enroll in the program can call 1-855-846-8376 or, for Spanish, 1-855-765-6995.
About Comcast Corporation:
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) (Nasdaq: CMCSK) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. NBCUniversal operates 30 news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
