Colorado is One of Two States in the Nation to
Expand the Digital Inclusion Program to Low-Income Community
College Students
Colorado Has the Highest Participation Rate in
the Country in Internet Essentials
Colorado Lieutenant Governor and Executive Director of the
Colorado Department of Higher Education Joe Garcia, President of
the Colorado Community College System Nancy McCallin, Ph.D., and
community leaders joined Comcast Corporation Senior Executive Vice
President and Chief Diversity Officer David L. Cohen at the
Community College of Denver today to announce a new pilot program
to extend Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest and most
comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program for low-income
families, to low-income community college students across
Colorado.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics,
community colleges enroll as many as 40 percent of all college
students each year. As low-cost, open-access institutions,
community colleges serve a high percentage of non-traditional
students, including those who are low-income, are financially
independent, have dependents, are first generation, and are
older.
“For millions of Americans, community college is one of the most
accessible paths to a post-secondary education and a brighter
future,” said Cohen. “By offering an affordable Internet connection
and computer, Internet Essentials will enable low-income community
college students to access educational resources not just at school
but also at home. In addition, Internet Essentials will link these
students to crucial digital literacy training programs that will
help them as they complete their studies and continue to have a
positive impact after graduation. Students need support at every
level of their education, and extending Internet Essentials to
community college students highlights our commitment to providing
them the support they need, whether in elementary, middle, or high
school or pursuing post-secondary education.”
According to research, an associate degree increases the chance
of being employed by 12 to 15 percent for men and 20 percent for
women. In addition, according to the Community College Resource
Center, an associate degree increases average earnings compared to
a high school diploma by 13 percent for men and 21 percent for
women. In 2012, the American Association of Community Colleges
estimated community college graduates added $809 billion in income
to the U.S. economy in higher wages, increased productivity, and
multiplier effects. According to the Colorado Community College
System (CCCS), education increases lifetime income. For instance,
the average income at the career midpoint of someone with an
associate’s degree in Colorado is $49,900, which is 35 percent more
than a student with a high school diploma. CCCS also reports that
for every $1 a student invests in a Colorado Community College,
they receive $3.10 more in lifetime earnings.
“Higher education is key to a better life – not just higher
salaries and better job prospects, but more engaged citizens who
will improve our communities,” said Joe Garcia, Colorado’s Lt.
Governor and Executive Director of the Colorado Department of
Higher Education. “I applaud Comcast for partnering with Colorado
to offer one of the first low-cost Internet access programs for
community college students. Because the modern workforce is driven
by technology, Internet access is no longer a luxury but an
essential. This initiative is one more way we can provide
Coloradoans the support, resources and tools that are necessary to
compete and lead in today's economy.”
Since its inception in 2011, Internet Essentials has been
available to eligible Pre-K-12 students and their families. In
Colorado, nearly 24,000 households have been connected to the
Internet, benefitting nearly 100,000 residents. Nationally,
Internet Essentials has connected more than 500,000 households,
giving 2 million low-income Americans access to the power of the
Internet in their homes. Colorado has the highest Internet
Essentials participation rate in the country. Nearly 30 percent of
all eligible families have signed up, which is 10 percentage points
higher than the national average.
The Colorado community college pilot will expand on the work
Comcast and its many community partners have completed in Colorado
to enroll eligible families in the program. In the last four years,
Comcast has partnered with hundreds of school districts and
community partners including Denver Public Schools, Aurora Public
Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, City
Year, the Denver Indian Center, Girls Inc., Mi Casa Resource
Center, and others, in an effort to spread the word to families
with school-aged children that could benefit from the program.
“The Internet and computer literacy are critical to assuring
success in the classroom and in the 21st Century economy. The
Internet is integral in how the Colorado Community College System
delivers coursework and supports and communicates with students,”
said CCCS President Nancy McCallin, Ph.D. “Having technology and
Internet service at home removes barriers to online learning,
giving students greater access to information, the colleges, the
faculty, and a host of additional resources that are crucial for
their success. We are thankful to Comcast for providing this
opportunity to our community college students.”
Comcast also announced a similar community college pilot in the
state of Illinois today. Low-income community college students in
Colorado and Illinois must be recipients of Federal Pell Grants,
the nation’s largest need-based grant program, in order to qualify
for Internet Essentials. According to the most recent data on
community colleges from the Department of Education’s National
Center for Education Statistics (NCES), nearly 40 percent of
students attending two-year community colleges receive Federal Pell
Grants. In Colorado, an estimated 40,000 community college students
attending schools within Comcast’s service area receive Pell Grants
and would be eligible to apply for Internet Essentials.
Last month, Comcast doubled Internet Essentials’ download speeds
to up to 10 Mbps, which is the third time in four years the speed
of Internet Essentials service has been increased at no additional
charge to customers. Comcast also announced that it is offering
program participants free Wi-Fi routers that will allow them to
connect any Internet-enabled device, such as a tablet, laptop or
smartphone, to their home service.
About Internet Essentials
Internet Essentials from Comcast is the nation’s largest and
most comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program. It
provides low-cost high-speed Internet 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. Eligible families must
have at least one child eligible to participate in the National
School Lunch Program, including public, parochial, private,
charter, and homeschooled students. For more information or to
apply for the program, visit www.InternetEssentials.com or call
1-855-846-8376, or for Spanish, call 1-855-765-6995.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and
technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and
NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video,
high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential customers
under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to
businesses. NBCUniversal operates 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.
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ComcastCindy Parsons,
303-888-8550cindy_parsons@cable.comcast.comorCharlie Douglas,
215-264-8020Charlie_douglas@comcast.com
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