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Comcast Shores Up $10 Broadband Offer
Bumps Speed to 3 Mbps, Increases Availability by 300,000

To get the NBC acquisition approved, Comcast last year proposed a condition requiring they offer $10, 1.5 Mbps broadband tier (dubbed "Internet Essentials") to low income homes. As we pointed out last summer, however, actually getting the offer wasn't so simple. Program applicants have to qualify for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), can't owe Comcast money or equipment, can't currently have any Comcast broadband service, and can't have had service in the last ninety days.

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As you might expect, most low-income homes live in debt, and much of that debt is for a very common service (TV). A Comcast insider informed us last year that many applicants were getting rejected as a result. Last December, groups representing low-income individuals started noticing that the program seemed designed to minimize the number of people who would actually benefit from it. Many low-income families weren't qualifying, or had no idea the program existed.

Things bubbled over a little further this week with protesters in Philadelphia again accusing Comcast of making Internet Essentials too difficult to actually get. Originally, officials had insisted that the program could bring cheap broadband to 150,000 students in Philadelphia alone. Of the 3.5 million National School Lunch Program (NSLP) families in the districts Comcast worked with, the company says they've connected 41,000 families nationwide so far. That's certainly not nothing, but it's a far cry from the totals predicted at a series of city launches that delivered oodles of positive PR for Comcast.

Responding to criticism, Comcast today announced they are going to shore up some parts of the program. Among the changes, Comcast says they're going to ramp up eligibility to include families that qualify for reduced price school lunches (not just the NSLP), a move Comcast estimates will increase potential homes by 300,000. The company's also going to up the speed of the offering from 1.5 Mbps to 3 Mbps downstream and up to 768 Kbps upstream, more in line with the minimum definition of broadband.

"As gratifying as these early results are to Comcast, we recognize there is still a long road ahead," said Comcast Public Policy VP David Cohen. "We remain firmly committed to the important cause of providing low-income families with an opportunity to connect to affordable broadband service," said Cohen. That commitment, at least as it currently stands, is expected to last for another two years or so, after which qualifying families will revert to less opportunity-creating standard Comcast rates.

On one hand, you don't want to be too critical of Comcast's effort because the fact they're doing anything at all for struggling families is obviously better than nothing. On the other hand, you'd be naive to believe Comcast didn't originally design the program to exclude as many potential families as possible as a hollow NBC merger condition. Still, that the company is willing to move a little on speed and qualification requirements is certainly welcome news to low-income residents.
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Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Joe12345678

Member

comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

1.5 is just slow and is slower then DSL.
jcremin
join:2009-12-22
Siren, WI

1 recommendation

jcremin

Member

Re: comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

said by Joe12345678:

1.5 is just slow and is slower then DSL.

Other than watching Netflix in HD, there's almost nothing that 1.5 megs won't work just fine for. And it could be argued that if this is for low income people, HD video isn't a necessity.

Either way, I agree with the comment above about this just being another welfare program. Those who have to pay full price are simply subsiding the poor.
TheGuvnor9
join:2006-06-23
Beverly Hills, CA

TheGuvnor9

Member

Re: comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

Maybe surfing on wikipedia is better than gangbanging, just saying.

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

fifty nine

Member

Re: comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

said by TheGuvnor9:

Maybe surfing on wikipedia is better than gangbanging, just saying.

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cr ··· tal_meth

Shows you everything you need to know.

baineschile
2600 ways to live
Premium Member
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI

2 recommendations

baineschile to jcremin

Premium Member

to jcremin
said by jcremin:

said by Joe12345678:

1.5 is just slow and is slower then DSL.

Either way, I agree with the comment above about this just being another welfare program. Those who have to pay full price are simply subsiding the poor.

As is the United States. People who want to earn an honest living will pay up the rear, and the lazy people will find a way around/exploit laws. If I am Comcast, I am getting rid of this program altogether the first chance I get.
jcremin
join:2009-12-22
Siren, WI

1 recommendation

jcremin

Member

Re: comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

said by baineschile:

As is the United States. People who want to earn an honest living will pay up the rear, and the lazy people will find a way around/exploit laws. If I am Comcast, I am getting rid of this program altogether the first chance I get.

I honestly have nothing against helping people get on their feet. What I hate is the "entitlement" attitude that so many people have adopted now. The "I deserve it" mentality, or the "why work for something when I can get it free or cheaper by being lazy". I can't tell you how many people I know who lost their job and are on unemployment, but they aren't even looking for a new job because they would lose the unemployment if they actually got a job. Makes me sick how much money is being abused by the lazy people who mooch off of those who work hard for what they have.

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

fifty nine to baineschile

Member

to baineschile
said by baineschile:

said by jcremin:

said by Joe12345678:

1.5 is just slow and is slower then DSL.

Either way, I agree with the comment above about this just being another welfare program. Those who have to pay full price are simply subsiding the poor.

As is the United States. People who want to earn an honest living will pay up the rear, and the lazy people will find a way around/exploit laws. If I am Comcast, I am getting rid of this program altogether the first chance I get.

They did this to grease the skids so they could have gotten approval to buy NBC. Otherwise this probably never would have seen the light of day.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned) to jcremin

Member

to jcremin
said by jcremin:

said by Joe12345678:

1.5 is just slow and is slower then DSL.

Other than watching Netflix in HD, there's almost nothing that 1.5 megs won't work just fine for. And it could be argued that if this is for low income people, HD video isn't a necessity.

what is YOUR speed. If it's above 1.5 Mbps then you're a hypocrite.

Either way, I agree with the comment above about this just being another welfare program. Those who have to pay full price are simply subsiding the poor.

Actually they aren't it cost Comcast NOTHING to get these new customers. In fact have MORE customers reduces the price. But let's not let logic get in the way of a useless rant. Like YOU'RE rich or something.
jcremin
join:2009-12-22
Siren, WI

1 recommendation

jcremin

Member

Re: comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

said by 88615298:

what is YOUR speed. If it's above 1.5 Mbps then you're a hypocrite.

My speed at home = 1 meg download, 256k upload. Works just fine for me. I can surf any web site, stream music and videos, and use bittorrent. I just have to settle for SD video, and if I am downloading a large file it takes longer than it would on a faster connection.
said by 88615298:

Actually they aren't it cost Comcast NOTHING to get these new customers. In fact have MORE customers reduces the price. But let's not let logic get in the way of a useless rant. Like YOU'RE rich or something.

Ignorance must be bliss. You have no idea what you are talking about if you say that it costs them nothing to get the customers. There are plenty of costs in addition to providing the internet connection, right down to billing and support, not to mention the time for paperwork, installers, modems, etc. But lets not let common sense get in the way of entitlement.

I will also add that I own and operate an ISP. I bet you don't. Seems that makes me a bit more "in the loop" than you, who probably just read Karl's stories and think that makes you an expert. While Comcast is huge and my costs of operating are much higher than theirs, I do have a bit of knowledge about what it takes to run an ISP and the economics involved.

I don't make a ton of money so I also don't expect to pay economy car prices and get a fancy sports car. I probably make less than you and work more hours. Yet I don't expect things for free, and don't agree with those who do. If you have a problem with that logic and have more money than me, you are welcome to pay my utility bills. At least then it is voluntary.

NickD
Premium Member
join:2000-11-17
Princeton Junction, NJ

NickD

Premium Member

Re: comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

The marginal cost of adding a new subscriber is less than $10 a month. The infrastructure is already there. That subscriber most likely wouldn't subscribe at all.
jcremin
join:2009-12-22
Siren, WI

1 recommendation

jcremin

Member

Re: comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

said by NickD:

The marginal cost of adding a new subscriber is less than $10 a month.

Prove it. For some extremly low usage customers who NEVER require any support, sure, I could believe that they might be at least covering their costs, but even if they are making a few bucks a month, it only takes one service call or or tech support call to lose money on the account, and that's why they don't want to offer it to anyone.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5 to NickD

Premium Member

to NickD
said by NickD:

The marginal cost of adding a new subscriber is less than $10 a month. The infrastructure is already there. That subscriber most likely wouldn't subscribe at all.

Any Internal Comcast accounting info to back up that claim?

Anononononon

Anon

Re: comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

Just basic logic and common sense.
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

said by Anononononon :

Just basic logic and common sense.

Now that's the funniest thing I've heard all year...

... throwing a number out with out any supporting anything is no where near "common sense" or "basic logic" as you say.. well, unless you're a politician.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102 to 88615298

Premium Member

to 88615298
said by 88615298:

what is YOUR speed. If it's above 1.5 Mbps then you're a hypocrite.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
jcremin
join:2009-12-22
Siren, WI

1 recommendation

jcremin

Member

Re: comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

said by pnh102:

said by 88615298:

what is YOUR speed. If it's above 1.5 Mbps then you're a hypocrite.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

INCONCEIVABLE!

Eagles1221
join:2009-04-29
Vincentown, NJ

Eagles1221 to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
128K/786K TW RR Lite in some cases. 2 dot Netflix on the Roku. Huluplus sucks - the commercials are a different stream so you lose the buffer.

Netflix is fine on 22 inch 1080P el cheapo LCD with HDMI hookup

baineschile
2600 ways to live
Premium Member
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI

baineschile

Premium Member

Re: comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

ONE WOULD ASSUME...

That if one of the requirements is for kids to be on school lunches, the program is designed for people that NEED the internet for schooling projects; NOT for entertainment value
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: comcast economy internet speed should be 3Mbps

That assumption would be incorrect to make then. They use that program as a qualification because it's a simple clear way to validate their financial situation. Instead of Comcast having to post and disclose their qualification process, they're saying that "we say that if the standards for school lunch programs have been met, then you're good to go with us"... saves them from having to type of the formula themselves.

In other words, they're just leaching off the back of the gubberment's program requirements.
Expand your moderator at work
davidhoffman
Premium Member
join:2009-11-19
Warner Robins, GA

davidhoffman to Joe12345678

Premium Member

to Joe12345678
Regular DSL as ADSL2+ can go as high as 24Mbps download and 3.5Mbps upload if you are close enough to the DSLAM.

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li ··· networks

Most systems do seem to offer an average maximum of 3.0Mbps down and 0.375Mbps to 0.500Mbps upload.

PaulHikeS2
join:2003-03-06
Fitchburg, MA

1 edit

PaulHikeS2

Member

A little fact checking, please

Karl, you are misreporting the eligibility requirements.

You state that applicants cannot have or have had ANY Comcast service in the past 90 days. The restriction is on having INTERNET service only. Applicants can have ANY level of TV service and still fit the requirements.

This information is readily available on Comcast's Internet Essentials FAQ.

Edit: The article has been updated to reflect the correct eligibility.

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

IowaCowboy

Premium Member

Re: A little fact checking, please

said by PaulHikeS2:

Karl, you are misreporting the eligibility requirements.

You state that applicants cannot have or have had ANY Comcast service in the past 90 days. The restriction is on having INTERNET service only. Applicants can have ANY level of TV service and still fit the requirements.

This information is readily available on Comcast's Internet Essentials FAQ.

My mothers cousin (who is special needs) lives in a low income elderly/disabled housing complex and when the broadcast TV stations went from analog to digital, she (along with all the other residents in the building) lost OTA reception on all but two channels. The only channels we could pick up were WGGB and WGBY because their towers are on top of Mt Tom and she is in Northampton (MA). We tried several different (including an amplified) antennas and no luck. The only solution was to get her basic cable (which runs about $8 per month) so she can get the stations that she got before the DTV conversion. She likes just the basics, she has basic phone (refuses to get a cell phone), she won't get a computer either. I told her she could get unlimited long distance through Comcast, but she insists on just basic phone service and prepaid long distance cards. I, myself could not live without unlimited long distance or my iPhone.

blueeyesm
join:2003-09-05
Waterloo, ON

blueeyesm

Member

Just because,...

.. they are required to offer it, doesn't mean they have to actively ensure each person in that demographic knows.

The devil was in the details.
davidhoffman
Premium Member
join:2009-11-19
Warner Robins, GA

davidhoffman

Premium Member

Comcast's $10 Broadband Offer.

Comcast is not really worried about these costs and if the program did not exist, your Comcast internet service bill would not be going down in price. This whole program is being written off as charity/marketing/lobbying expenses.
So Comcast will not spend as much on other charity/marketing/lobbying expenses. It would have been far better for the merger not to occur, but since it did, some short term public good will come out of it. With Comcast theoretically capable of bonding 8 channels using DOCSIS 3.0 and getting 304Mbps download, a 3.0Mbps program is not going to tax their network nor have enough GB per month to harm them.

djrobx
Premium Member
join:2000-05-31
Reno, NV

1 recommendation

djrobx

Premium Member

Re: Comcast's $10 Broadband Offer.

At 360KB/sec, you can download around 1.2GB per hour.

In around 208 hours (8.6 days), one can reach Comcast's 250GB cap that even the highest tier customers are supposed to adhere to.
voipnpots
join:2011-10-13
USA

1 edit

1 recommendation

voipnpots

Member

Re: Comcast's $10 Broadband Offer.

I lol'd at your signature. Also, my average monthly usage is about 30GB, and I would say I go on the internet more than most people. I would have to guess that the people who are near the cap mainly do heavy downloads. Just surfing websites all day and watching YouTube videos will not get you anywhere near the cap.
davidhoffman
Premium Member
join:2009-11-19
Warner Robins, GA

davidhoffman to djrobx

Premium Member

to djrobx
But with the network improvements that Comcast has probably done to support DOCSIS 3.0, HDTV VOD, and things like ESPN3 the real maximum capacity is probably closer to 2.5 TB or more per customer. The 250GB cap was instituted when they were panicking about P2P and the Exaflood of Data. Better traffic congestion handling procedures were developed and network upgrades done, so the 250 cap is really out of date, but they are not going to change it soon because now they have an even bigger video rent seeking business to protect. Few people leave their computer running downloads continuously 24/7, so for these low cost plans they should be mostly OK.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5 to davidhoffman

Premium Member

to davidhoffman
said by davidhoffman:

Comcast is not really worried about these costs and if the program did not exist, your Comcast internet service bill would not be going down in price.

But it does exist and may cause internet prices to go up.

Snakeoil
Ignore Button. The coward's feature.
Premium Member
join:2000-08-05
united state

Snakeoil

Premium Member

Dang, what a great deal.

10 bucks for 3mbps internet?

I currently pay 50 bucks for a 2mbps service from time warner.

And they say being "disadvantaged" doesn't get you anything.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Dang, what a great deal.

said by Snakeoil:

10 bucks for 3mbps internet?

I currently pay 50 bucks for a 2mbps service from time warner.

And they say being "disadvantaged" doesn't get you anything.

Yes, the last place to be in the US is in the middle class. You pay the full amount for everything; don't get free handouts; and aren't rich enough to not care.
sludgehound
join:2007-03-12
New York, NY

1 recommendation

sludgehound

Member

Crud I'm charged $40 by RR for that!

That's about the speed TW's RR is putting out. Matches their
upload & download real time is about that tho claim is 10K.
And that's for far west side Manhattan.
At least FIOS is laying cable all over the place. Just to rent a SRO
through local City rehab program requires a single person to have income range $20K - $29K a year. So families have to be over a Comcast cap if there was a Comcast competition.
Get real with this welfare crap. Or Occupy Time Warner....

ctceo
Premium Member
join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN

ctceo

Premium Member

Numbers

With a little over 307 million in the US, NOT including illegals, 300,000 seems a waste to me. Comcrap at it again. Trying to put some Salt & Pepper on a turd. You want to impress me, offer this service throttled to those who are under debt and offer them a 1 month probationary period, give them the opportunity to keep the service afterwards as long as they promise to pay the $10 towards their old debt.

These are the big corporate monopolies that are bankrupting us and they need give a little bit with no strings attached, greedy bastards!

•••

lolEngadGet
@comcastbusiness.net

lolEngadGet

Anon

Look at Engadget's coverage of the same news piece

Corporate cheerleading is an understatement. Tongue is firmly in Comcast's a$$hole:

»www.engadget.com/2012/02 ··· l-liter/