Today’s society is one where you’re able to stay in touch with your grandmother via Facebook; students’ textbooks are now on a computer screen; pounding the pavement for a job is now pounding your fingers across computer keys; and your web address is more important than your home address.
And this can all be done on devices that can connect you to information via the Internet in the blink of an eye.
Today’s society is one where the computer is king.
But while it seems as if everyone is online, there are countless families, many whom are African-American, who don’t have a computer or access to the Internet.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2011 76 percent of white households reported Internet use in the home. This compares to 56 percent of Black households. Experts conclude that understanding the relevance of the Internet and/or the inability to pay for home service are major reasons many families do not have Internet in their homes.
To decrease the “digital divide,” Comcast has created a program called Internet Essentials to address this issue.
“With over 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies only accepting job applications online, we’ve passed the stage where Internet is a luxury. With the Internet, kids have access to educational opportunities. (Internet in homes) levels the playing field,” said David Cohen, executive vice president of the Comcast Corp.
“The cruel irony of America is that there’s a potentially transformative technology which is disproportionally not available in lower income communities.”
They’ve also enlisted former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy to help spread the word about how the Internet Essentials program opens the door of opportunity.
“I’ve coached most of my life and my wife was a school teacher so she did homework with the kids. So now that I’m home more she said ‘you’re going to help with the homework.’ The first night I’m there, I tell my son ‘let’s go, get your book out.’ He looked at me like I was from another planet. He goes to the computer and gets everything he needs right there. I quickly learned this is how kids are studying,” said Dungy. “My kids have access to the Internet, but what about (other) kids? This program is very important.”
Through the Internet Essentials program, low-income families can connect to the Internet for only $10 per month. Those that don’t have a computer can purchase one through the program for about $150.
“We have not made any money on this program. This is a community investment we’re making in young people and our community,” said Cohen. “We are the largest Internet service provider in the country. If we don’t demonstrate some leadership, then who is?”
Not only will kids be able to easily do homework assignments and parents can search for jobs in the comfort of their own home, but they can do it on Internet that’s so fast, Cohen said it’s arguably better than service their traditional customers have, not to mention cheaper than their traditional service.
For individuals who want to learn how to use the Internet or take full advantage of what it has to offer, Internet Essentials also has training guides to help users better navigate the web.
To be eligible for this program, at least one student in the home must be eligible for the National School Lunch Program. One must also be located where Comcast offers Internet service. Other qualifications include not having an overdue Comcast bill or not having subscribed to Comcast Internet service for the past 90 days.
While the usage of smartphones is significant for many low-income families, Cohen maintains that having a home computer with adequate Internet service is crucial.
“You can’t write a five-page term paper on a smart phone,” he said.
During a special town hall meeting discussing the disparities that exist among families without Internet access, U.S. Rep. André Carson, D-Ind., said the Internet Essentials program means so much to the Black community.
“As we talk about closing the achievement gap, technology is going to be a huge apparatus in helping us do so. We’re talking about schoolwork being improved, communication with educators being improved. You can even connect with a classroom in China. As the world gets smaller, we have to be technology ready, especially in the inner city, in order to have our rightful place,” Carson said.
For more information call (855) 8-INTERNET, visit Internetessentials.com; or visit a local Boys and Girls Club.
