Three children sit on a stoop as they use a laptop.

Internet Essentials

Connecting 8 Million Low-Income Americans

The Internet is arguably the most important technological innovation in history. Since 2011, Internet Essentials from Comcast has connected more than eight million low-income people to low-cost, high-speed Internet at home so that students, parents, veterans, and now all qualified low-income households can be ready for anything.

The ability to access and navigate the Internet is the most fundamental skill for all people to compete in the 21st century economy.

David L. Cohen

Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer

View Letter from David L. Cohen

our continued commitment

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Featured Videos

Bridging the Digital Divide

Internet Essentials is the nation’s largest, most successful, and most comprehensive broadband adoption program for low-income households.
2019 Program Kickoff and Announcement

NBC 6 Miami Morning Anchor Sheli Muñiz joins Comcast Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer David L. Cohen to unveil the latest expansion of Comcast's Internet Essentials program.
Ummi Is Ready To Change The World

Ummi began community college at age 12 and with Internet Essentials and an at home connection, Ummi is able to take online courses and more right from his bedroom.
Dylan Is Ready To Make His Parents Proud

Meet Dylan and his family. With Internet Essentials, Dylan is able to research and learn about the animals he loves and hopes to have the chance to save one day. All to make his parents proud.
Hallie Is Ready To Become A Future Cyber Vet

With Internet Essentials, Hallie is able to do her homework at home and advance her ambition of building robotics for disabled animals.
Empowering Tomorrow's Generation

A low-cost, high-speed Internet connection at home is helping these kids be ready for anything.

view our progress

Our Progress

Internet Essentials is about far more than bringing high-speed internet into a home; It is about designing and delivering a program that addresses the three main barriers to a high-speed internet service at home in a way that meets people where they are, in their own language, on their own time.

Outline of a radio tower above text that reads '8 million connected'. — Comcast has connected over 8 million low-income Americans to high-speed internet.

Outline of a page of text and a dollar sign over text that reads '$650 million invested'. — Comcast has invested more than $650 million in digital literacy training and awareness, reaching more than 9.5 million people.

Outline of a laptop displaying a heart icon over text that reads '100,000 computers'. — Comcast has provided low-income Americans with 100,000 affordable subsidized computers.

View the Full Progress Report

Our Impact

Three children stand in a street.

with school-age children use their Internet Essentials service to complete schoolwork, 93% have seen a positive impact on their child’s grades.

Ummi uses a laptop on his bunk bed.

feel their service has helped them or someone in the household locate or obtain employment.

A mother and daughter use a laptop on their kitchen counter.

say Internet Essentials helps them or their family compete in the current technology environment.

Broadband adoption across america

Households living in cities like Trenton, NJ and Flint, MI with the highest poverty rates, are up to 10 times more likely than those in higher earning cities like Palo Alto, CA and Bethesda, MD not to have fixed broadband Internet service at home.* This is the stark reality of the digital divide.

*According to Comcast’s analysis of U.S. Census 2017 American Community Survey data.

Outline of two houses next to each other. — Only 6% of households in higher earning cities, where poverty rates are very low, DO NOT have a fixed broadband subscription.

Outline of two houses next to each other. — Up to 60% of households in cities where poverty rates are above the national average, DO NOT have a fixed broadband subscription at home.

internet essentials roadshow

A group of children hold up an Internet Essentials sign.

Roadshow Highlights

A group of children cheer after they receive laptops at an Internet Essentials event.

Miami, FL

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A group of children cheer after they receive laptops at an Internet Essentials event.

Miami, FL

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A group of people sit together at a table and hold an Internet Essentials sign.

Houston, TX

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A teenager receives an Internet Essentials laptop at an event.

Houston, TX

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Children receive Internet Essentials laptops at an event in Chicago.

Chicago, IL

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Children receive Internet Essentials laptops at an event in Chicago.

Chicago, IL

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Veterans receive Internet Essentials laptops at an event in Detroit.

Detroit, MI

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Veterans receive Internet Essentials laptops at an event in Detroit.

Detroit, MI

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Download resources for Internet Essentials

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Internet Essentials - Kids on Stairs

Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials - Kids on Stairs

Internet Essentials - Kids on a Porch

Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials - Kids on a Porch

Internet Essentials - Girl Using Laptop

Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials - Girl Using Laptop

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Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials - Boy Using Laptop

Internet Essentials - Boy Holding Sign

Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials - Boy Holding Sign

Internet Essentials - 2019 Kickoff 1

Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials - 2019 Kickoff 1

Internet Essentials - 2019 Kickoff 2

Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials - 2019 Kickoff 2

Internet Essentials - 2019 Kickoff 3

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Internet Essentials - 2019 Kickoff 3

Internet Essentials - 2019 Kickoff 4

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Internet Essentials - 2019 Kickoff 4

Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials Logo

Internet Essentials - Data Visualization

Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials - Data Visualization

Internet Essentials - Timeline

Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials - Timeline

Internet Essentials 2019 - Fact Sheet

Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials 2019 - Fact Sheet

Internet Essentials - Progress Report 2019

Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials - Progress Report 2019

Get Involved

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Affordable Internet at Home

Learn more about how you can apply to the Internet Essentials program.

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Become a Partner

Together, we strive to bring the Internet home to even more individuals and help transform even more lives.

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