Comcast tries to bridge digital divide with Internet essentials

An Internet service provider is offering some free service in an effort to help bridge the digital divide. 

Comcast’s Internet Essentials program is helping 16,000 families in the Philadelphia region who cannot afford full-priced service, according to Sharon Powell of Comcast who says the company is expanding that opportunity.

To qualify, families “must be located in the Comcast service area and have one child that is eligible for the national school lunch program,” she said. “They cannot have subscribed to Comcast service in the last 90 days and not have an outstanding Comcast debt that is less than one year.”

Through the end of May, qualified families will be offered six months of free service and discounted service after that.