Comcast announced Wednesday that it is extending its less expensive internet program to senior citizens and will pilot in San Francisco and Palm Beach, Fla. This is part of the company's Internet Essentials service, which is a low-cost internet plan offered to low-income families since 2011.
In the new scheme, seniors from the previously mentioned cities will enjoy a 10 Mbps connectivity for only $10.
The Internet Essentials service is initially a temporary offering that came as an acquisition condition set by NBCUniversal upon its purchase of the company. It was, however, continued indefinitely due to its success. The company has reportedly connected more than 500,000 low-income families through the Internet Essential service, according to CBS. Comcast has identified families who are eligible to avail of the cheap service. These are those with children in the school lunch program. The requirements for senior folks, however, are yet to be revealed, although this could be what the company is trying to figure out through the pilot launch, according to The Verge.
Comcast states that the new cheap service for seniors forms part of the company's goal of bridging the digital literacy divide. David Cohen, senior executive vice-president of the Comcast Corporation, said that despite is success in this area, "only 20 percent of families eligible for the low-cost Internet through Comcast have participated in the program," CBS reported.
Comcast sees senior citizens as another important segment that needs to be connected. The company cites a recent Pew research, which "found that less than half of seniors (aged 65 and older) have high-speed Internet at home," Engadget reported.
Aside from the cheap service offerings to low-income families and seniors, Comcast is also behind several Internet Essentials Learning Zones where children can access the Internet at school, libraries and other areas they frequent.
