From Joe Higgins, Sr. Director, External Affairs, Comcast Greater Chicago Region
Despite our best efforts to advocate for its continuation, earlier this year, the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has sadly come to an end. The ACP was established by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has helped 23 million households pay for internet service, including more than 700,000 right here in Illinois. While the loss of ACP is an unfortunate development for families who have not had to worry about the cost of their internet bill, there are affordable alternatives.
As summer is quickly coming to a close, and school children and their families are prepping for a new school year, along with notebooks and pencils, parents understand that internet access is key to ensuring their child’s success. From online classes to research and submitting that final paper, having always-on access to the internet is vital in ensuring students succeed academically. The good news is that Comcast offers low-cost options to meet families’ online needs for the start of the school year.
Affordable Home Internet
We want families across the state to know that we are listening. We’ve heard your frustrations and challenges with getting home internet that is safe, reliable and with simple pricing. More than 1.4 million Illinois households do not subscribe to a wireline high-speed internet service per the 2021 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity report. Let me break down your best options to get online at home and in time for the next school year.
- Recently receiving “Best” ratings by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s Honor Roll of Low-Cost Plans, for families who need a no-frills low-cost option, Comcast’s Internet Essentials program offers home internet service starting at just $9.95/month. This includes speeds up to 50 Mbps, free equipment, no credit check and no term contract. Residents can also receive speeds up to 100 Mbps with Internet Essentials Plus for $29.95/month. A recent CNN Underscored article outlined how various plans can successfully support a family during the school year with online classes, web browsing, sending emails and streaming.
- Earlier this year, we announced our NOW lines of service, where we offer all-in pricing without contracts or credit checks for both home Internet and mobile plans. Offering higher speed tiers without eligibility requirements, NOW Internet costs just $30/month (for 100 Mbps) and $45/month (for 200 Mbps), which can easily be combined with NOW Mobile for as low as $55/month total.
Online Community Centers
If home internet is not an option, Comcast has created more than 80 “Lift Zones” at community centers throughout Illinois to offer free WiFi access. With more than 1,250 Lift Zone locations nationwide, these active online learning hubs not only offer free internet access but often classes and other learning opportunities with a Digital Navigator to gain an understanding of online resources. Who are Digital Navigators? Trusted experts affiliated with local nonprofits, educational institutions or governmental organizations who are trained to help people learn how to get online, use devices and acquire digital skills.
“Here at the Y, we don’t turn anybody away for financial reasons, so the Lift Zone was a perfect fit for us to help lower-income families and people who don’t have access to computers at home. It’s made life easier for them,” said Kishwaukee Family YMCA CEO Brian Bickner. “The biggest impact we’ve seen is for the kids during the summer months. I know that these kids have computers at school, but it helps them keep and advance their skills with year-round access to the Internet and computers all summer long.”
Lift Zones are a critical connection point for those who do not have access to the Internet elsewhere. In fact, four out of 10 Lift Zone users report they would not have Internet access without it, and 56% say that Lift Zones are critical to their success at school, work or managing tasks online.
Here are just a few of our Lift Zone partner organizations that offer digital learning. Click here to find a Lift Zone near you.
- Boys & Girls Club of Central Illinois (300 S 15th Street, Springfield IL)
- Quad County Urban League (1685 N Farnsworth Ave., Aurora IL)
- YMCA of Metro Chicago (1030 W. Van Buren Street, Chicago IL)
Having an internet connection is vital in today’s digital age. Between applying for jobs to working remotely to communicating with your doctor–everything happens online. We are committed to bridging the digital divide and fostering a future of unlimited possibilities.
To read more about our local digital divide initiatives, click on Lift Zone Lookback: Kishwaukee Family YMCA or Lift Zone Lookback: Boys and Girls Club of Rockford.
