Comcast brings low-income Internet access to 41,000 families in U.S., but only 463 locally

Five months after Comcast was mandated by a federal agency to institute a sweeping program to substantially improve Internet adoption rates for low income families, only 463 Philadelphia families have activated the service in the cable giant’s hometown, where more than 150,000 families are eligible.

A screen capture of the Internet Essentials report showing activations in top regions.

An internal report on Comcast’s Internet Essentials program issued last week shows 41,000 total activations across the U.S. from Aug. 16 to Dec. 22. The program, which launched in September, resulted from a mandate by the Federal Communications Commission as part of the company’s deal to acquire NBC.

Yet in Philadelphia, where 41 percent of citizens do not have access to the Internet at home — according to a 2008 report from the Knight Foundation — advocates are concerned about the program’s progress, and some experts say that a lack of support by the School District of Philadelphia is slowing its potential.

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Action United survey cites barriers to Comcast Internet Essentials digital access program

A Pennsylvania advocacy group that fights for economic justice for low income and working families says that Comcast’s new, federally-mandated digital access program has too many barriers to entry.

Action United, the group which was formed in the state by former members of PA ACORN, cited in an email an informal survey intended to measure the application process of Comcast’s Internet Essentials program:

Applicants found a lengthy application process and disqualification for a number of reasons not clear at the outset. ACTION United’s survey of the program rolled out in Philadelphia in August of this year found either 1 or none of the roughly 150 parents polled have had success in accessing the program, despite initial press by Comcast estimating that 150,000 Philadelphia Children and 2.5 million nationally would be eligible.

Internet Essentials provides Internet access at $9.95 per month to families that qualify for the National School Lunch Program, as part of an agreement with the Federal Communications Commission to provide affordable Internet options, a mandate that resulted from Comcast’s deal to acquire NBC. We covered the launch of that program, which also provides affordable hardware and training opportunities, this September.

According to Action United program coordinator Elly Porter-Webb, of a phone survey of 100 parents in Philadelphia who met basic eligibility for the program, 62 percent had not heard about the program though 73 percent were interested in signing up.

Porter-Webb said that in one example, a parent who was eligible for the program had signed up for Comcast’s Internet service, but didn’t know about Internet Essentials. Porter-Webb suggested that the parent should have been screened by Comcast for the more affordable offering.

“It was an informal survey, but it demonstrates the problem,” Porter-Webb says.

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Comcast in talks with Zee Entertainment to more than triple distribution of Indian programming [Roundup]

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• Zee Holds Talks With Comcast, Time Warner Cable to Triple Presence in U.S. [Bloomberg] — “Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., the Indian media company led by billionaire Subhash Chandra, is in talks with Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable Inc. to expand distribution in the U.S. and plans to more than triple the number of homes it reaches in the country next year.”
• Comcast’s CIO to Exit in 2011 [Light Reading] — “Chief Information Officer Andrew Baer is set to leave the company by the end of the year,”
• Comcast offers Internetservice at reduced cost [Romeo Observer] — Internet Essential rolls out in Michigan
• Comcast: ‘Don’t be a dish head’ [Fierce Cable] – new ad campaign debuting
• One Great Idea: David L. Cohen: Executive vice president, Comcast [Philly.com] — “His One Great Idea: Ensuring that more Philadelphians have access to the Internet regardless of income” Video below

Comcast-Spectacor sale of 76ers makes headlines, includes Will Smith: Roundup [VIDEO]

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• Will Smith now part owner of the 76ers [Marquee: CNN] More on the Comcast-Spectacor sale of the 76ers from the Inquirer here.
• Reducing the Cost of Logging In to Learn [New York times] — On issues of access, mentioning Comcast’s Internet Essential program
• Comcast-Spectacor subsidiary Front Row names president  [Philadelphia Business Journal] — “Chris Lencheski was named president of Front Row Marketing Services, a Comcast-Spectacor subsidiary that negotiates sports sponsorships, naming rights deals and other advertising and vendor rights agreements for professional and college sports teams, public assembly venues and municipalities.”
• “The Comcast Holiday Spectacular 2011″ Featuring Pennsylvania Ballet [Comcast blog] — Video being shot for this year’s Comcast Center video
• Comcast Ventures Appoints Tina Warner to Lead Communications, Marketing and Brand Awareness from New Headquarters in the Bay Area [Business Wire press release]
• United Way Campaign 2011 – We Give Because… [United Way] — See video of Comcast employees talking about donating below.

Comcast named ‘fastest internet provider’ by PC Mag: Roundup [VIDEO]

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates.

• Comcast named as ‘fastest Internet provider’ nationwide [ZDNet]
• ‘Tower Heist’ to hit video-on-demand three weeks after theatrical debut [Company Town: LA Times] — “In an audacious move that could shake up the way Hollywood has done business for decades, (Comcast owned) Universal Pictures plans to make its upcoming Eddie Murphy action comedy film “Tower Heist” available through video-on-demand just three weeks after it debuts in theaters Nov. 4.” For $59.99

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Comcast, Verizon deals ‘imminent’ for Microsoft Xbox Live TV: Roundup

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates

• Rating the Comcast-NBCU Merger: The New Culture Settles In [The Wrap]
• Verizon, Comcast deals imminent for Microsoft Xbox Live TV [RapidTV News] — “Microsoft is eyeing partnerships with Comcast and Verizon to bring live TV to the Xbox 360, according to reports.”
• Comcast’s $9.99 Internet for low-income families goes nationwide [ars technica] — The program recently launched in Philadelphia.
• Regulators praise Comcast’s $9.95 monthly high-speed offering [Fierce Cable] — FCC commissioner Julius Genachowski praises the Internet Essentials program.

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Comcast says Internet Essentials not its first effort to bridge digital divide: Roundup

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates

• Philly Live’s first phase to open in spring, create 500 construction jobs  [Philadelphia Business Journal] — Led by Comcast Spectacor
• Comcast boss Burke flip-flops on retransmission fees [New York Post] — On Steve Burke: “The Comcast executive, after fiercely resisting for 12 years paying broadcasters any retransmission fees, appeared to find religion yesterday, surprising a media conference audience by promising to doggedly pursue “millions of dollars” in — wait for it — retransmission fees for his NBCU unit.”
• Comcast names VP for public policy, adds to growing high-profile D.C. roster [Washington Post: Post Tech] — “Comcast continues its hiring spree of tech policy experts, announcing Monday that investment analyst Rebecca Arbogast will join as vice president of global public policy.”
• FCC’s net neutrality rules to trigger legal, Hill challenge [Washington Post: Post Tech]
• Comcast launching low-cost Internet [Twin Cities Pioneer Press]  — The Internet Essentials program launched here in Philadelphia is spreading, to the Twin Cities of Minnesota and parts of Illinois and then beyond.
• Comcast says it was helping low-income students before NBC deal [Comcast] — The company doesn’t want to be criticized for only launching Internet Essentials after NBC merger approval, as pitched by David L. Cohen.
• Potential Comcast (CMCSK) Trade Has $19.59 Breakeven [Market Intelligence Center]
• Comcast Introduces Its First Multiplatform Hispanic Film Festival [Market Watch press release]

Comcast ads misled consumers, regulators say: Roundup [VIDEO]

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates

• Internet Essentials from Comcast: Mayor Nutter, CEO Brian Roberts unveil low-cost internet option [Technically Philly] Find a Willow Grove Patch school angle here.
• Comcast Ads Misled Customers, Regulator Says [The Wrap] — “The advertising industry’s self-regulating division has said that Comcast should modify or discontinue claims it makes about its Xfinity service, including those that imply inaccurate comparisons between Xfinity and its competitors.”
• Comcast’s NBC Universal Takeover Approved With Continuing Court Oversight [Bloomberg]

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Could 1800 Arch Street become another Comcast tower?: Roundup [VIDEO]

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an email subscription for our weekly Comcast roundup or other news updates

• Another Comcast tower in Center City? [Inquirer: Philly Deals] — New plans for 1800 Arch Street
• Court Rejects Comcast’s Attempt to Throw Out 8-Year-Old Class Action Suit [V2M]  — “A federal appeals court has affirmed a judge’s decision to certify a class-action lawsuit against Comcast in an eight-year-old case over whether the cable TV giant violated antitrust law by engaging in anticompetitive behavior in Chicago and Philadelphia.”

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