Here’s how qualified college students can get cheap internet service | Column

Today, more than one-third of eligible college students nationwide receive a federal Pell Grant to pay for college tuition, according to the Education Data Initiative. This number includes nearly half a million students from Florida. These students can also take advantage of low-cost internet service programs to enhance their studies, support their work experience, and more.

Local college students receiving federal Pell Grants are also eligible to participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program, a program of the Federal Communications Commission. It was created to remove cost as a barrier to broadband adoption and close the digital divide, while providing eligible individuals and households with a monthly credit up to $30 to pay for Internet and/or mobile phone service.

Comcast has been a proud participant in the program since it launched in December 2021, and eligible customers can use the credit toward any level of Xfinity Internet service, including Internet Essentials. Internet Essentials is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program, providing low-cost home Internet service to qualified households.

Internet Essentials also addresses other major barriers to digital adoption with the option to purchase an Internet-ready computer for under $150 before taxes and multiple options to access skills and knowledge training. online digital knowledge. This training helps ensure that, once people are connected, they know how to navigate the internet and use its vast resources to benefit their lives through accessibility better health care, jobs, housing and other needs. Since launching in 2011, Internet Essentials has connected more than 10 million people from low-income families to home Internet.

To qualify for Internet Essentials, a household must receive benefits from one of more than a dozen programs, including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). College students receiving federal Pell grants are also eligible.

The Internet Essentials tier offers 50 Mbps Internet service for $9.95 per month to qualifying households, and the Internet Essentials Plus tier offers 100 Mbps Internet service, twice as fast, for $29.95 per month. month. This means Pell Grant recipients who sign up for Internet Essentials or Internet Essentials Plus can have their entire monthly internet bill covered by ACP credits.

Internet Essentials and Comcast’s participation in ACP is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to closing the digital divide that began more than a decade ago. In 2021, Comcast announced Project UP, a $1 billion, 10-year commitment to reach 50 million people from low-income households and provide tools, resources, skills and training to bridge the digital divide and open up unlimited possibilities.

However, there is still much to be achieved in bridging the digital divide, and that’s why back-to-school season is an important time to start sharing available resources, saving costs, and accessible to students throughout the year.

Spend your days with Hayes

Sign up for our free Stephinitely newsletter

Journalist Stephanie Hayes shares her thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free weekly newsletter in your inbox? Start.

Explore all your options

Michelle Oyola-McGovern is vice president of external affairs, Comcast Florida Region. For more information about Internet Essentials and ACP, visit internetessentials.comor call 1-855-846-8376.