Comcast Expands Internet Essentials Program to Support Distance Learning

In the past, I have called attention several times to the importance of Comcast's Internet Essentials program in expanding high-speed Internet access to low-income persons, veterans, seniors, and others. As I said in an August 6, 2019, blog titled, "Comcast Significantly Expands Its Internet Essentials Program," "there is widespread agreement among policymakers and politicians regarding the manifest importance of access to the Internet and use of the Internet as we go about our daily lives." At the time, when Comcast announced an expansion of its existing program to connect more eligible low-income persons than previously, I said: the broadband provider "is once again enhancing the Internet Essentials program, and in a significant way."

 

Today, in a particularly timely action, Comcast has announced a further expansion of its Internet Essentials program – this time focusing on supporting low-income students, schools, community organizations, and others as the new (and unprecedented!) school year begins. Comcast is implementing measures that will help ensure reliable Internet access is available to those who must prepare, at least for the next several months, to make distance learning a success.

 

For example, Internet Essentials will add the free xFi platform for parents to connect, protect, and monitor children’s devices and online activities. And Comcast will continue to offer 60 days of free Internet service for new Internet Essentials customers.

 

Comcast is certainly not alone among our nation's broadband providers in taking constructive measures to help close remaining digital divides. And the efforts in this regard by many private sector service providers during the epidemic have been especially noteworthy.With its announcement today regarding another significant expansion of its Internet Essentials program – this time to support the all-important distance learning effort – it is right and proper to take note of Comcast's ongoing positive contribution.

Chairman Pai Appoints Members to Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment

On September 8, 2017, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai appointed thirty-one members to serve on the Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE).  The ACDDE will hold its first meeting on September 25 when it will provide recommendations to the FCC on how "to empower disadvantaged communities and accelerate the entry of small businesses, including those owned by women and minorities," and how "to ensure that disadvantaged communities are not denied the wide range of opportunities made possible by next-generation networks."

FCC Commissioner Pai Introduces Plan to Close the Digital Divide

Today, FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai introduced his “Digital Empowerment Agenda,” which would increase the availability and affordability of broadband and close the digital divide. Commissioner Pai’s plan would establish gigabit opportunity zones to bring broadband to the nation’s most economically challenged areas, extend mobile broadband to rural areas with high costs and low population density, remove regulatory barriers to allow for more private investment and deployment of next-generation broadband networks, and promote entrepreneurial activity by eliminating old rules that create barriers to new technologies and competitors.  

Commissioner Pai’s agenda is a tremendous initiative to eliminate the digital divide and provide benefits to consumers throughout the U.S. economy.