above photo: Rebecca and her kids enjoying last summer
by Rebecca Brown, Director of Community Impact, Oregon/SW Washington
It’s hard to believe that Fall is quickly approaching. Pumpkin Spice Latte is making its annual appearance, and back-to-school season is already upon us. It’s a busy time, but one I always look forward to, in part because it’s when Comcast announces enhancements to our Internet Essentials program; the program we launched nine years ago to help connect the unconnected.
In this time of COVID-19 and social distancing and distance-learning, Internet Essentials is truly living up to its name. I’m so proud of the work this company has done to react to the sudden “new normal” by adapting the program in real time to meet the critical needs of our communities to enable low-income families to connect to the internet.
We have – three times – extended our offer of two months of free access to new Internet Essentials customers. We have increased the speeds to 25/3 mbps. We have enhanced our debt forgiveness program so that more people can apply. We have changed the documentation requirements for applicants to make it easier to apply. And we have developed a robust Internet Essentials Partnership Program whereby community-based organizations and school districts are partnering with us to ensure kids are connected across our region.
We are proud to be working in partnership with some of the state’s largest school districts: Portland, Salem-Keizer, Beaverton and Hillsboro, among others. And Internet Essentials is not just for K-12 kids. We’re also partnering with Portland Community College, and various workforce training non-profits.
It’s a partnership that’s truly making a difference. “Internet Essentials has been crucial for our families and students who rely on us for not only academics but also essential needs and social and emotional supports,” says Karen Werstein of Portland Public Schools, the state’s largest school district. “Our foundation’s partnership with Comcast has enabled students to progress through their school curriculum and stay connected to their teachers and classmates during these uncertain times.”
As a mom with three kids under the age of 11 who will be distance learning from home as this school year begins, I know the criticality of reliable internet access. We continue to solicit feedback and hear from our community about how we can continue to evolve Internet Essentials. As history shows, Comcast is committed to fine-tuning this program to help meet the needs of the low-income families, individuals, veterans, and seniors in our communities.
