Topic: Digital Divide

Connecting America's Students

The fall semester for schools across the country is at its peak, and this year, unlike the last couple, looks a lot like pre-pandemic times. But in many ways, student learning has completely transformed over the past 2.5 years, with online learning becoming an important component in education. Why It Matters: With more students now connected to the internet at home, high-speed broadband is powering online instruction and virtual experiences that were far less prevalent prior to COVID. How It Happened: This is thanks to the strong partnerships forged between cable providers and school districts

Broadband Stats: Why Isn't Everyone Online?

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) last week shared results from its biennial Internet Use Survey data. The survey shows how households across the country engage with the internet, and why those who are still offline have yet to be connected. The topline data shows that 82% of U.S. households now use the internet at home, a slight improvement from 2019.

Two Years Later, Comcast and Chicago Connected Continue to Impact Families

As students head back to school this fall, it is worth thinking back to March 2020, when COVID caused worldwide shutdowns and school closures. In Chicago, the public school district recognized that partnering with the private and nonprofit sectors was key to facilitating the transition to an unprecedented need for remote learning. An estimated 100,000 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students were without an internet option that could support the applications required for distance learning. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Comcast, CPS, numerous community-based and

Comcast's Internet Essentials Shows the Impact of Broadband Adoption on Families

Currently, more than 14 million people have been connected through the cable industry's low-cost broadband adoption programs. And over the past two years throughout the COVID pandemic, cable internet service providers (ISPs) have doubled down on their efforts to expand eligibility, forge public-private partnerships to connect as many households as possible, offer connected devices for use in the home, provide digital training classes, and spread the news about the benefits of their broadband adoption programs to those unaware that they even qualify. Comcast's Internet Essentials is one of

Broadband Highlighted as Household Product Not Hit By Inflation

Americans have been hit with rising inflation rates, the likes of which haven’t been seen in decades. Due to large disruptions in supply chains and labor markets, the price for some essential goods and services have skyrocketed. While the price of many vital goods have increased, in some cases by massive amounts, the price of broadband internet has remained stable and affordable, delivering a great value to American consumers. Recently, Yahoo published a list highlighting “10 Surprising Household Products Not Hit by Inflation” and pointed to broadband service as a key example. Other examples

Cable Providers Are Leaders in Closing the Digital Divide

At today's White House event on closing the digital divide, President Biden applauded cable internet service providers (ISPs) for their broadband adoption efforts, including offering plans that enable low-income families to subscribe to 100 Mbps internet service for free when taking advantage of a $30 federal subsidy. With the recent implementation of the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), ISPs including Comcast, Charter, Cox and Mediacom, have rolled out new internet plans throughout their service areas, allowing qualifying ACP households to obtain robust internet service for free

Teacher Appreciation Week and Cable's Commitment to America's Students

Teacher Appreciation Week comes to an end today, but the hard work of teachers and the efforts of schools across the country to keep kids learning and engaged continues throughout the year. Cable providers know this more than anyone, especially after witnessing firsthand for more than two years the challenges that many school districts have faced from school-wide closures and lengthy student absences related to the COVID pandemic. When the pandemic first caused school shutdowns nationwide in spring of 2020, cable providers set out to partner with school districts within their footprints to

Broadband Stats: Building on Industry Success to Get All Americans Connected

With the federal government distributing an unprecedented amount of funding for internet infrastructure and adoption, the United States has a historic opportunity to accomplish universal broadband connectivity. Cable internet service providers have been committed to this goal for years, whether by developing innovative solutions that connect remote communities to next generation networks or offering low-cost services. Now is the time to build on the success of America’s broadband industry to get all Americans connected, regardless of where they live.