Comcast Gives 6 Months Free Internet To Poor and Unpaid Bill Amnesty

[DEAD7]

After complaints about a program that offers cheap Internet service to poor people, Comcast today announced it will provide "up to six months" of free Internet to new subscribers and an "amnesty" program for families with unpaid bills. Comcast'sInternet Essentials, mandated by the federal government when Comcast acquired NBCUniversal, gives $10-per-month Internet service to low-income households with schoolchildren. Critics have argued that the program is too hard to sign up for, that eligibility criteria should be less strict, and that further requirements should be implemented if Comcast is allowed to buy Time Warner Cable.

 

[88m3]

 

[gho3st]

 

[wheywhey]

In addition to the $10 plan, Comcast also sells a $150 computer.

Comcast has implemented several roadblocks to prevent low-income customers from getting service. Most cable companies hate their full-paying customers, so you can imagine what they feel about the ones paying $10 a month. Someone in the comments section made a good point that poor customers should just be subsidized directly.
http://arstechnica.com/business/201...e-poor-too-hard-to-sign-up-for-advocates-say/

Libraries are starting to lend Wi-Fi hotspots to low-income families which seems far more feasible than expecting Comcast to do the right thing. I would like to see this in every library.
http://www.thecoli.com/threads/the-...rt-on-books-long-on-tech.229599/#post-9381076

 

[88m3]

the government should control telecom

 

[DEAD7]

the government should control telecom

 

[88m3]

Yup.

They really should.


Use eminent domain and tell them to kick rocks.