Launched in Chicago three years ago by Comcast, Internet Essentials helps close the digital divide by providing eligible families low-cost broadband service at home for about $10 a month. Since its inception in 2011, more Chicago families have enrolled in the program than in any other city. This year, Comcast established a “Gold Medal Recognition Program” to recognize communities like Chicago that have large numbers of families enrolled in the program and announced that the city is among its Gold Medal designees.
As part of its commitment to increasing broadband adoption in Gold Medal and other communities, Comcast announced the creation of an “Internet Essentials Learning Zone” spanning Chicago’s Edgewater, East and West Rogers Park and Uptown neighborhoods.
Within the zone, Comcast will provide:
• Enhanced public Internet access, including indoor WiFi service at several community-based organizations, including Alternatives; Centro Centro Romero; Coalition of African, Arab, Asian and Latino Immigrants of Illinois; Howard Area Community Center; and JVS Chicago.
• Digital literacy training programs in community settings designed to teach parents and children how to use the Internet effectively and safely, and parents how to monitor their children’s online activity and school work; and
• Events designed to inform parents about Internet Essentials and how they can enroll.
For more information about Internet Essentials visit InternetEssentials.com for English and InternetBasico.com for Spanish. Educators or third-parties interested in helping to spread the word can find more information at InternetEssentials.com/partner. Parents looking to enroll in the program can call 1-855-846-8376 or, for Spanish, 1-855-765-6995.
