Pilot Program Will Help more than 90,000
Illinois Community College Students Cross the Digital Divide
Chicago Still #1 in the Country in Internet
Essentials Enrollment, Connecting Nearly 120,000 Low-Income
Residents to High-Speed Internet Service at Home
Comcast Corporation announced a pilot program today that will
extend Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest and most
comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program for low-income
families, to more than 90,000 low-income community college students
who are Federal Pell Grant recipients in Illinois.
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Comcast Corporation announced a pilot
program today that will extend Internet Essentials, the nation’s
largest and most comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program
for low-income families, to more than 90,000 low-income community
college students who are Federal Pell Grant recipients in Illinois.
(Photo: Business Wire)
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 David L. Cohen, Comcast Corporation Senior Executive
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. “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. Additionally, according to an Illinois
Community College Board report, completing a community college
program increases lifetime earnings by 44%, or over $570,000,
compared to those who do not complete a program.
“In Chicago, we are closing the digital divide to open more
doors of opportunity for our students to get an education and for
our residents to get a good paying job. Internet Essentials is an
important part of that effort,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I
want to thank Comcast for extending Internet Essentials to ensure
that more of our community college students have high speed
Internet access. By putting 21st century technology in hands
of more City College students, we will help them succeed in their
careers and keep Chicago’s economy growing.”
Since its inception in 2011, Internet Essentials has been
available to eligible primary and secondary school students and
their families. In Chicago, more than 30,000 households have been
connected to the Internet, benefitting 120,000 residents, which is
more than in any other city in the country. More than 55,000
families in the Chicago metro area and 65,000 families across the
state of Illinois have been connected. 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.
The Illinois community college pilot will expand on the work
Comcast has done in Chicago and Illinois to enroll eligible
families in the program. Since its inception in 2011, Comcast has
worked with more than 2,000 school districts and community- and
faith-based organizations, ranging from Chicago Public Schools, Big
Brother Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, Centro Romero, to the
Chicago Urban League and the United Way, all in an effort to spread
the word to families with school-aged children that could benefit
from the program.
"The Internet helps Illinois community colleges deliver
coursework and support and communicate with students," said Dr.
Karen Hunter Anderson, executive director of the Illinois Community
College Board. "Having technology on-site and Internet service at
home removes barriers to online learning, giving students greater
access to the schools, the faculty, and a host of additional
resources that are crucial for their success."
Comcast also announced a similar community college pilot in the
state of Colorado today. Low-income community college students in
Illinois and Colorado 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—the nation’s largest need-based grant program. In Illinois,
an estimated 90,000 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 speed
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.
With nearly 7,000 local employees, Comcast’s Greater Chicago
Region (www.comcastgcr.com) serves customers in central and
northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, northwest Indiana
and southwest Michigan. “Like” Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region on
Facebook by visiting Comcast of Illinois, NW Indiana and SW
Michigan. “Follow” Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region on Twitter
at @ComcastIllinois.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150916006230/en/
ComcastJack Segal,
773-304-8243jack_segal@cable.comcast.comorAmanda Vallejo,
309-236-4898Amanda_vallejo@cable.comcast.com
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