Philadelphia, PA - September 20,
2012
Comcast Executive Vice President, David L. Cohen, today
announced Tony Dungy has agreed to become a national
spokesman for Internet Essentials. Now in its second year,
Internet Essentials is an ambitious and comprehensive
broadband adoption program designed to help close the
digital divide among low-income Americans.
Since retiring as a coach in 2008, Dungy and his wife
Lauren have been active in a number of charitable
organizations including The Dungy Family Foundation, whose
mission involves strengthening, sustaining and empowering
communities by providing opportunities to those in need
through education as well as emotional and financial
support. He is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of
two books Quiet Strength and Uncommon and is an analyst for
NBC's Football Night in America. Tony Dungy led the
Indianapolis Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI.
"Tony Dungy is an incredible role model for athletes and
young people," said Cohen. "Through his charitable
foundation, he knows firsthand what challenges young people
face today and how important it is to get a good education.
We're honored that Tony has agreed to be a national
spokesman for Internet Essentials and we're confident that
his involvement will help us make even more progress to
close the digital divide."
In its first full year of availability, Internet Essentials
helped more than 100,000 families, or 400,000 Americans,
gain access to the Internet at home, and Comcast continues
to enhance the program with new features and processes
designed to accelerate enrollment in the program.
"It's critical that low-income families take advantage of
opportunities like the Internet Essentials program," said
Dungy. "The Internet provides access to a world of
knowledge and resources that kids and families today simply
cannot live without. The world is moving too fast and
families who are not online at home are being left behind.
It's our responsibility to help level the playing field and
get more families connected."
Internet Essentials Program Details:
Internet Essentials addresses three primary barriers to
broadband adoption that research has identified - a lack of
understanding of how the Internet is relevant and useful,
the cost of a home computer and the cost of the Internet
service. Program participants receive:
-
Residential Internet service for $9.95 a month plus
applicable taxes;
-
No price increases, no activation fees, or equipment
rental fees;
-
A voucher to purchase a low-cost computer for $149.99
plus tax; and
-
Access to free digital literacy training in print, online
and in-person.
A household is eligible to participate if it meets all of
the following criteria:
-
Is located where Comcast offers Internet service;
-
Has at least one child who is eligible to receive a free
or reduced school lunch under the NSLP;
-
Has not subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the
last 90 days;
-
Does not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned
equipment.
Comcast will sign up eligible families in the program for
at least three years, through the end of the 2013-2014
school year. Any household that qualifies during this
three-year period will remain eligible for Internet
Essentials if at least one child eligible for a free or
reduced lunch remains living in the household.
For general information about Internet Essentials, please
visit www.internetessentials.com
for English, and visit www.internetbasico.com
for Spanish. Educators or third-parties interested in
helping to spread the word can find more information at www.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, 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.
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