Why Comcast’s $10 Internet Essential Plan Matters [Infographic]

How much do you pay each month to get online? Odds are you’re paying upwards of $100 for cable phone and Internet service. Even if you break it out by service, getting online with a high-speed connection is expensive.

This monthly expense puts the cost of a basic internet connection out of the price range for many low-income families. While there are cheap dial-up solutions, slow speeds restrict the ability to really use the Internet like you can on a fast connection, ultimately impacting the usefulness of the service.

Comcast, knows exactly how much it costs to get online, and is doing what it can to help low-income families get online at affordable rates. Families that live in a Comcast service area and qualify for free lunch programs at school are likely able to qualify for the new $9.95 a month Internet access plan.

$10 Internet Service for Low Income Families

To qualify for the new Internet Essentials plan (Spanish), which Comcast hopes will help correct broadband disparity rates that hit African American and Hispanic families hardest, families need to have a student in grades K-12. Other qualifications include;

• Student eligible to receive free school lunch under NSLP
• No Comcast Internet Service in last 90 days
• No overdue Comcast bills or unreturned equipment

Comcast also includes a the ability to purchase a new computer for $150 and a computer literacy program available online, in print and in person.

Why is Internet Access So Important?

In addition to keeping up with school work, having high speed internet access is a big deal that adds up to big savings every year. The Internet Innovation Alliance found that the being online adds up to about $8,000 a year in online savings. Don’t believe it? Check out the infographic below, that outlines where the savings occur.

Could you imagine getting school work and online shopping done on a dial-up connection these days? I’m not sure what the $150 computer looks like, but it’s probably much nicer than what you would buy for $150 outside of the program.

How much do you pay in monthly service fees to get connected? Would a program that provides a low-cost smartphone be as good as low-cost Internet access?