 amungusPremium
join:2004-11-26
America | Too many restrictions Why should this only be for families? There just seem to be too many restrictions here. Of course, I'm sure that's how they want it to be. | |
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 |  KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Re: Too many restrictions "Think of the Children" | |
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|  gar187erI do this for a living
join:2006-06-24
Dover, DE
kudos:4 | typical...everyone feels they should be entitled to program, regardless of their situation....
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I'm better than you! | |
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| | TANSTAAFL Here in Michigan, cities like Detroit and Jackson are about to offer free school lunches to ALL students with no means testing. Income doesn't matter. I have yet to find out if this so-called "free" lunch will also qualify all students of those schools for taxpayer and other customer subsidized cable internet. | |
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| | | Re: TANSTAAFL Probably not. Getting free lunches isn't enough; the student has to receive them through the National School Lunch Program, which is income based. The only possible way around that is if these cities have reached some sort of agreement with the NSLP to allow all students to participate.
Also, just for the record, this isn't taxpayer-funded Internet access. This was something that Comcast offered to do in order to get their buyout of NBCU approved. | |
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| | | My New England city does the same...but only during the summer | |
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | So, it's a program to make life easier on those who mooch Period.
You already have to be on/eligible for all kinds of assistance, and now you get another program for not having to pay like the rest of us for the LUXURIES of life.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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| | | Re: So, it's a program to make life easier on those who mooch Yep, I'll be enjoying my luxurious 1.5mbps broadband between nights out at my floor seats at staples center. | |
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| | KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Re: So, it's a program to make life easier on those who mooch There's regular working folks who don't mooch who'd like to get $10 broadband.
Nope. Well at least this will help them afford all the movie channels and full channels on their Cable package.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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| | | | | Re: So, it's a program to make life easier on those who mooch Actually, there are regular working folks who qualify for this. If you're living alone and have one child, your child can get free lunches through NSLP as long as you make less than $19,123/year. For someone working 40 hours a week, that works out to just over $9.13/hour, which is just under $2 over minimum wage. Not a lot, I'll admit, but there are plenty of jobs that pay less than this. | |
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| | | | While there are plenty of people who mooch, there are also plenty who are legitimately stuck below the poverty level, despite their best efforts. Some examples are grandparents who get custody of their grandchildren for one reason or another. These people are often retired and now have to send that kid to school. And yes, there are also the classic unwed mothers who had a kid too soon and are now stuck in a low-paying job. Yes, they made a mistake, but there are many who are trying to scrape by and get out of that trap, and not all of them succeed.
Don't get me wrong, I've encountered plenty of deadbeats, and I have no sympathy for them, but not everyone who is poor falls into that category. | |
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| | | Internet access is far from a luxury. Most minimum wage national employers now require you fill out an employment form online and take an online test. They won't even talk to you in person if you haven't completed this bullshit first.
I'd say the real moochers are the fat cats on Wall Street making millions of dollars a year by shifting around numbers on a computer whilst the factory worker who actually creates something and contributes to the world lives in poverty. | |
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| | | | Re: So, it's a program to make life easier on those who mooch Not to mention that more and more employers are only posting their job openings online. Some still use the classifieds, but that number is rapidly shrinking.
And, as far as education goes, going to college is virtually impossible now if you don't have Internet access. Course materials are often delivered via a course management system, and more and more tests are administered the same way. While schools still have computer labs, even those are shrinking as it has come to be expected that students will supply their own computers. | |
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| | KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Broadband is a luxury.
Smart phones are a luxury.
CableTV is a luxury.
You'd be amazed at how many people think they are entitled to these things--- and that someone else should pay for them.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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| | | | | Re: So, it's a program to make life easier on those who mooch Repeating things doesn't make it true. | |
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| | | Interesting. I would think the only real complaint here would be that all the stipulations on being able to get it make it nigh impossible to obtain it anyways.
Though, I don't see how people are "not having to pay" like the rest of us.
They pay $10/month for HSI... They're paying something, if they can even get the deal that is.
I could see being mad that Comcast picked up NBC, I could even see being mad at all the ISPs out there for not offering a lowest tier offering that is very very cheap. But being mad because a company volunteered to make a cheaper offering that you maybe don't qualify for perhaps? I dunno, can't see why you'd be mad about that.
Perhaps you could educate us all as to why this has you so mad KrK? | |
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| | KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Re: So, it's a program to make life easier on those who mooch Only if you've used up all the social security numbers of your kids already signing up for service you don't pay for, ran up the bills, and got disconnected.
That's how they do it here.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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| | KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Because I work for a living, and our country is going broke. 'Nuff said.
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IGfe2tAUbM
Maybe should do his next Video on his cheap Broadband...
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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 pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD |  Lame
Major, major fail on Comcast.
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"Net Neutrality" zealots - the people you can thank for your capped Internet service. | |
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| | | Re: Lame Probably the same reason why the general public can't get the business triple play. Which is a better deal than the general public triple play (Business triple play+no caps+TV+phone=better deal). However, The low income plan is for a better cause, our children. I'm sure the way this nation is looking, we all be on the low income package soon. | |
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| | Object lesson from Comcast How to turn a govt. requirement for M&A into great PR. (Yep, a real feather in their "cap".) | |
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Flycat
join:2003-05-12
Lawrence, MA | Currently a TV only customer Does anyone know if the "currently have service" disqualifier applies to TV service? | |
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| | Respectfully disagree Karl
You're right about the limits and I am unsatisfied with "back of the bus" slow service. But unlike most of what comes from D.C., there's some substance here.
It's not like the AT&T/BellSouth plan that tried to make sure no one signed up. Comcast is actively promoting the program around the country. Sure that gets them good pr, but when they are doing the right thing I don't begrudge them.
All the "demand side initiatives" funded literally into the billions have produced unbelievably few signups and certainly less than 2M. Nearly everyone in this society knows what the internet and broadband are. They don't need some middle class bureaucrat "teaching" them about the "value of broadband."
70% or so of homes are already signed up. Many of the remaining 30% aren't interested so no program will help them. Many are uninterested for sensible reasons, like having access at work. Something like a quarter of the non-subscribers are functionally illiterate and don't have much use for the net. Many others don't really have much need given where they are in life.
By far the largest group who don't have broadband but would like it are those held back by the cost. The common price of low speed in the U.S. has gone up from $150-200/year in 2007 to $270/year because of a spineless FCC and weak competition. Ordinary service at 3-10 megabits typically is $400-600.
That's a heck of a lot if you're poor, so it's no surprise many people don't have broadband because they can't afford it.
Comcast is perhaps 40% of the U.S.. If other carriers matched this offer, several million more would be reached.
That's actually a significant fraction of those who don't have Internet but want it. It's not enough, but it's a good thing.
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4 edits | Re: Respectfully disagree Get back to us when Comcast simply offers it to people free and clear.
As far as Comcast sees it, why not make a few dollars a month off of people who jump through the hoops to get it, since they would probably otherwise go without.
ATT has been offering the same speed for 14.95 a month for the first year in my area for a while if you have phone service with them ( which many people do ) | |
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| | Re:So, it's a program to make life easier on those who mooch School lunch programs are for students, including those born to your less well off cousins. National broadband is a requirement for a society desiring to compete economically and culturally. My children had one or two computers per classroom, and about two free hours each week to share access among thirty students. We can educate them now or have them climbing in our windows later. You probably don't complain when you make a purchase at a close out sale. | |
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| | They're running ads for it in Philly... I've heard several radio ads for this service, but they claim it's only for households whose kids qualify for free school lunches. | |
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| | Mr K you are WRONG! Broadband is NOT a luxury! Today you need it to apply for jobs, to pay your bills-and kids need it to do their schoolwork.
Why don't YOU try going a month without it?
I'll give odds you are a republican..... | |
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| elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA | Re: Mr K you are WRONG! said by qworster:Broadband is NOT a luxury! Today you need it to apply for jobs, to pay your bills-and kids need it to do their schoolwork.
Why don't YOU try going a month without it?
I'll give odds you are a republican.....
Doubtful. Even republicans are soft these days.
But you might be on to something - there is still a significant element of the population that understands the difference between "want" and "need".
Broadband is a "want".
It is perfectly possible to apply for jobs, pay your bills, or have your kids do their schoolwork without broadband. Although if you're of the belief that you can't achieve these without broadband, I'm not sure why I would hire you. | |
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| | | | Re: Mr K you are WRONG! If you think broadband is not a basic requirement now, try working with dial-up for a month and then come back with an answer. While you're at it, be sure to keep track of the number of times you are dumped from a site because of timeouts. | |
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| | | elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA | Re: Mr K you are WRONG! said by aliveinLA :If you think broadband is not a basic requirement now, try working with dial-up for a month and then come back with an answer. While you're at it, be sure to keep track of the number of times you are dumped from a site because of timeouts.
Been there, done that, it is not a "requirement", nor is dialup.
Water, Food, and shelter from the elements - are necessities for life. Nothing else is.
You are continuing to confuse wants with needs. | |
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| | | | My wife applied for a job at CHoP in Philadelphia. The ONLY way to apply there is to do so online. You can not bring your resume to them, nor can you mail or FAX it. You MUST apply online. How is that a want? She NEEDS a job!!! | |
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| | | elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA | Re: Mr K you are WRONG! said by qworster:My wife applied for a job at CHoP in Philadelphia. The ONLY way to apply there is to do so online. You can not bring your resume to them, nor can you mail or FAX it. You MUST apply online. How is that a want? She NEEDS a job!!!
No, she WANTS a job. Glad to hear it. There are far too many in this country who believe otherwise.
I'm inferring that she's credentialed/licensed for the position - as many hospital jobs so require. Do you think that her potential employer, hearing that she was unable to find a way to submit her application online, because "she didn't have broadband", would want to grant an interview?
There are plenty of avenues to submit an online application without having broadband service. If the CHoP HR office doesn't have a public terminal, the libraries in the surrounding area as well as the CareerLink offices do. | |
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johnfc
join:2002-11-23
Gaithersburg, MD Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| Nice Idea Comcast is doing something very nice for a demographic group that needs it the most. I should point out that the speed tier for the offering is not too bad at all..about where we were when CC got into the internet business several years ago. Not really fast by today's standard, but it seems to be targeted more to the kids and families for light duty use with school, browsing, email etc. You do not really need 50/10 for those activities. For these families removing the cost barrier to the internet is a great help. CC should get some credit for their efforts. Access to the internet will make a major contribution to helping this group advance economically over time which will benefit society at large. | |
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elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA | Extorted Socialism A tax by any other name; other Comcast subscribers are "spreading the wealth around", so a particular political party can have cover while they approve an otherwise anti-competitive mega-merger to reward Wall Street for their contributions to the 2008 campaign.
We'll see the same take place with AT&T-T-Mobile. | |
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| | 24000 cool I make less than 24000 a year! | |
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| | Good for you Comcast! Awesome, it is great to see this sort of thing happening in this day and age when having internet service is becoming more and more a part of everyday life. I would like to see it taken one step farther and have this offered to those who are on fixed incomes from disability and social security. Nice to see Comcast taking on the digital divide and helping kids get an education.
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Capturing the images of Colorado
»jdebordphoto.com | |
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| | Comcast$10 BB=Sprint 3G BB levels and I pay Sprint 59. a month for 1.5 level 33kps up service. I am in between Fredericksburg & Richmond and most of my neighbors are on well water. But who can survive on 24K in the city.. Hope you have 3 roommates!
Did Comcast inform you in addition to the 10 charge for internet there are $10 charge for local taxes & fees on every bill? My elderly father lives in DC and I pay his Comcast bill... the taxes are horrendous up there.. | |
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Reviews:
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Splintered society The USA is a country that has been so splintered that I don't think there is a chance to come back to reality. Special parking for different classes, free lunch for different classes, LIHEAP for special classes, broadband for special classes.....
On and on and on it goes. Breaking up the people into special classes which is a sure way to break up the support for one nation for all. It is now a nation splintered into special classes which in the end pit us against each other. »i.dslr.net/v2/lite/grey/sad.gif | |
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djcrazy
join:2009-08-05
Minneapolis, MN Reviews:
 ·T-Mobile US
·Comcast
| LOL, where's my bailout? Four ways Internet Essentials gets you connected — for less.
While participating in Internet Essentials:
* You get fast home Internet service for only $9.95 a month, plus tax
* You never have any price increases or pay any activation or equipment rental fees
* You can buy a computer at initial enrollment for the low price of just $149.99 + tax
* You can get free Internet training — online, in print and in person
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More socialism. Although I support the base idea of providing children with this as a tool to better their future. One must consider the parents who put them into this predicament in the first place. While I DO have sympathy for the families who have through no fault of their own lost the good paying jobs they had to support themselves and/or who had medical issues which have either bankrupted them or caused other problems, I also know there are many others who chose to have kids even though they did not have the means to support them nor were they even trying.
I see the line about "no price increases" and wonder why my total cable bill went up about $12 a month last year. Because I work for a living, I get stuck with this increase as well as my taxes having to pay for people who choose not to be responsible and milk the system. I don't get free medical care. I, as well as my employer have to share the cost of insurance and would also have to pay a certain amount to any medical bills I would incur. I also have increased food, shelter and gas/transportation costs that I have to pay for all by myself.
This current climate is unsustainable and I see a very dim future for this country moving forward. | |
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