Exciting news from Mark Racine, BPS’ Chief Technology Officer. His memo, sent today, about Comcast’s Internet Essentials Program is below:
Greetings,
I’m very excited to announce that Comcast’s low-cost internet program, Internet Essentials, is now available to all Boston Public School families! This program gives families the ability to purchase home internet service at a rate of $9.95 a month for as long as they have a student in the BPS. Families can also purchase a netbook computer for $150 when they sign up.
The district’s move to being 100% free lunch this year has allowed Comcast to open up the program to all BPS families. Opening the program has cut down on the paperwork for parents during the sign-up process and we’re also partnering with Northeastern to bring in additional training opportunities to help with installation, cyber safety lessons, and basic computing skills. Our families in the Technology Goes Home program have had access to these resources for a few years but I’m very excited that this program is now available to all families!
We’re going to be communicating through social media and other outlets but I wanted you to be aware in case you receive questions. You can find more information using the links below but feel free to contact me if you have questions.
Overview of the program
http://www.internetessentials.com/sites/internetessentials.com/files/reports/ie-fcc_trifold-2013_fall_fnl.pdf
How it works
http://www.internetessentials.com/how-it-works
To Sign Up
Families can call 1-855-8-INTERNET or visit www.internetessentials.com
Mark Racine
Chief Information Officer
Boston Public Schools
4 comments
Ryan Mears says:
November 21, 2013 at 11:05 am (UTC 0)
Hello,
Thank you for sending this notice. Our daughter is a kindergartener at Curley.
I have a question whether current Comcast internet customers are eligible for the program.
The following eligibility requirement from the Comcast website is unclear to me: “Have not subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the last 90 days”.
We have been on a monthly plan for more than one year, but we do not have an annual agreement.
We do meet the other 3 requirements. Will we be eligible?
Thanks!
-Ryan
Heshan Berents-Weeramuni says:
November 21, 2013 at 11:33 am (UTC 0)
Hi Ryan,
Very good question – I was wondering this myself. To me, it looks like you would have to give up Comcast service for 91 days to qualify. Still, rather better than the $45+ you might be paying currently. If another provider is able to provide you bridging service (Verizon Fios for example, or Sprint Mifi, a no contract T-Mobile wifi device, or if you have a smartphone, can it act as a personal hotspot for 3 months?), then perhaps it might be worth looking at.
I would nonetheless call and ask. Also, I would ask them if the download and upload speeds are comparable to what you have now, since this isn’t clear in their documentation.
The Curley Tech Committee is also looking at another similar program, and I believe it will publicize this soon. Always great to have options.
Please feel free to repost here and let us know what you found out!
Ryan Mears says:
November 25, 2013 at 10:29 am (UTC 0)
I spoke with an authorized Comcast representative.
Current Comcast internet subscribers are not eligible.
Heshan Berents-Weeramuni says:
November 25, 2013 at 12:40 pm (UTC 0)
Thanks for checking and letting us know Rick. Looks like you’d have to cancel service for 90 days then…