An Update on Comcast's Internet Essentials Program

*This post was created in collaboration with Comcast New England. Any opinions are my own.

I’ve written about Comcast before. I’m sure you’ve even read a post or two. I have loved working with them and continue to be interested in all the things that they are doing entertainment-wise and also within the company. I’m continually impressed with them and the initiatives that they feel are important. Last week, Comcast made announcements about their Internet Essentials program that will most certainly make a huge difference with low-income students and families, especially headed into this new school year where so much is unknown about how our kids are going to be learning.

As a parent to at least one school aged child, I do not know what we would do without reliable access to the internet. Literally every piece of remote learning is done via an app or through shared drives. Thinking about families struggling to have access to the internet makes me so worried for them. But thanks to programs like Comcast’s Internet Essentials Partnership Program (IEPP), cities, schools and nonprofits can work together to ensure that large numbers of school aged children, grades K-12, are able to access internet service and also be connected to devices like laptops and tablets. When the pandemic hit, Comcast jumped to and they have already signed up more than 70 schools across the country, serving more than 200,000 students. Distance learning may be a reality for a lot of Americans as we head into Fall. Access to essentials should not be an added worry for these families.

“We’ve seen firsthand that low-cost Internet access is an important part of improving digital equity and creating positive opportunities for low-income students and families,” said Dana Strong, President of Xfinity Consumer Services. “Through this new partnership program, we are accelerating the efforts of cities, schools, philanthropies, nonprofits, and private citizens to collaborate and open the doors of Internet access for more families in need.”

 

 

In nearly ten years, Internet Essentials has become the nation’s largest and most successful low-income Internet adoption program and has connected millions of people to the Internet. It offers households low-cost, broadband Internet service for $9.95/month, the option to purchase a heavily subsidized computer, and multiple options for digital literacy training. Comcast continues to offer new Internet Essentials customers two months of free internet access if they sign up before the end of 2020. So here’s where they are making this accessible to so many more people. They are providing a necessary service at an extremely affordable price. The Comcast team is bringing these resources to the communities that need them the most. And I’m here for it.


You can see the cities where Comcast has already secured partnerships here. If you are finding that you think you may need to apply for the Internet Essentials program, you can access that information here. The team over there really does want to expand and provide internet access to as many people as possible and I find that admirable, especially in such an uncertain time when people need to have access to their communities, families, friends and remote education.

 

What's the Latest with Comcast New England?

*This post was created in collaboration with Comcast New England and Xfinity. All opinions are my own and as always, thank you for supporting Prim and Propah and my partners.

Last week, as I could hear my husband struggling to get our kids to bed, I poured myself a glass of wine and hopped on a virtual call with the team from Comcast New England. In the past, I have attended in person events with this team, but obviously due to COVID-19, we had to do the thang over the internets… which I suppose is fitting because Xfinity provides stellar, strong internet services? OK ok, I am getting off track quickly here. We sat down for a call with the team and some other local bloggers to learn about what they’re doing in the face of COVID and Racial Inequality, and let me just say that I was impressed to learn about Comcast’s efforts moving forward.

There were some of my favorite familiar faces on the call, so I pulled out all the stops and brushed my hair because I knew I’d be seeing them! It sort of feels like being with some good friends, even though we are definitely at a blogger event. We started off getting intros out of the way but quickly turned to talking about Comcast’s work, given the current landscape of our world.

I’ll start by sharing Comcast’s Press Release, announcing a $100 million multi year plan to advance social justice and equality. They’re literally putting their money where their mouth is. There will be $75 million in cash and $25 million in media that will be distributed over the next three years, in addition to the existing commitments their company currently makes to thousands of organizations supporting underrepresented communities through the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation and social impact programs. I haven’t researched all of these programs but making this statement and this commitment is a great first step in showing that they are taking this issue seriously. I am asking this of all of the companies that I work closely with to ensure that we are all operating with integrity and the greater good in mind.

We heard from Jackie Gadsden, VP of Diversity & Inclusion and Customer Experience for Comcast’s Greater Boston Region. She was super knowledgeable but also a straight talker. She knows that this more than a moment, it’s a movement. Other Comcast team members were talking about the difference that Jackie has made within the company to not only educate their peers but to actually help them learn too. They were singing her praises in a true and sincere way. You love to see it.

In addition to learning about what Comcast is doing in the current climate, we also got some cool product updates, most specifically the Peacock TV Xfinity partnership. Peacock (available since April 15th as a preview for Xfinity X1 and Flex customers) will launch nationally across multiple platforms on July 15th. However, advantage Xfinity customers as X1 and Flex customers will continue to get Peacock Premium ($4.99/m value) included at no additional cost! The programming is killer and I personally can’t wait for the Saved by the Bell and Punky Brewster reboots, I know, I’m dating myself haha but as I have gotten older, who cares, I enjoy what I enjoy… which is currently watching The Office for the 5th or 6th time through, I can’t remember. Learn more about all the offerings and content on Peacock here and let me know in the comments what you’re watching right now!

Comcast is continually impressing me with their commitment to providing the best service possible, not by reacting to the needs of the market but looking to the future in anticipation of what their market might need. Between the Internet Essentials program I covered last, to the new commitments made to advance equality, Comcast is not shying away from tough convos and doing the work. Just last week, Comcast announced that they once again extended the 60 day free Internet Essentials offer to any new, eligible customer who qualifies! I’ll be watching Comcast’s moves and helping them amplify voices now and in the future. That’s what teammates do!

Comcast Expands Internet Essentials!

*This post was created in collaboration with Comcast. All opinions are 100% my own.

I hopped on a conference call this week with Comcast NBCUniversal's Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, David L. Cohen. He wanted to let us know that Comcast is taking it's amazing Internet Essentials program and expanding eligibility for it. I hadn't heardabout this program before but am incredibly imporessed with Comcast's committment to finding ways to ensure that those affected by the digital divide in our country, are able to have reliable access to internet services.

So take for instance, households in Palo Alto of Bethesda, these are low poverty areas, and only about 6% of the population do not have access to broadband at home compared to those linging in Trenton NJ or Flint MI, where there are high pverty rates, nearly 60% of the population do not have consistent access to the internet. That gap of more than 50 points defines the digital divide in this country. The more broadband technology advances, the more the gap widens.  Think of all the things you're doing with the internet, reading this blog post, doing school work, filling out work applications, reading educational articles, searching for healthy recipes, etc and so on. These are things that I personally take for granted because I have a laptop and great internet service that I am able to afford.

To date, Comcast has connected more than 8 million low income Americans in their homes, most connected for the first time in their lives. With the support of schools, teachers, libraries, non profits, government officials and more, the Comcast Internet Essentials program is reaching more and more people each day.

The program's eligibility requirements are expanidng to include many new enhancements that offer more and more Americans the opportunities to get internet and at a good speed. On the call, someone asked about a very specific area of the country and David was extremely keyed into the area and committed to following up on areas that may need to be reached with the program. I was, like I said, incredibly impressed and am going to put info below on how you or someone you know can apply to the Internet Essentials program. Eligible participants receive free digital literacy training, Internet service for $9.95/month and the opportunity to buy a laptop for less than $150. To me, this could make all the difference for families and individuals throughout the country!

You can find everything you need to know on the Internet Essentials website or by calling 1-855-8-INTERNET which is their dedicated hotline. Seriously something to consider because they are really making the internet and technology accessible to those that need it the most.

A Marvelous Evening with Xfinity, Sponsored Content

*This post is sponsored by Xfinity by Comcast. All opinions are 100% my own.

You guys know by now that every once in awhile, the team at Xfinity like to invite me to learn about their newest gadgets and offerings but this holiday season, they most definitely upped their game! This year, we were invited to learn about X1 and the Amazon apps by celebrating the Season Two premiere of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel at the Revere Hotel in Boston!

I met up with other local bloggers for drinks, treats of all kinds and a screening of the Season Two Premiere of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The night was super fun, and the team at Xfinity and Amazon just wanted us to have a good time! After such a great evening, I was all on board to learn how Xfinity and Amazon Prime are working together. As avid Prime users ourselves, we know the value of our Prime membership and the Video App (learn about Prime video below). With Xfinity's new offering X1, it's a match made in holiday entertaining Heaven. Xfinity xFi simplifies the home network experience and provides many consumer benefits. Simply put, Xfinity xFi is an app that deserves to be on every phone (and in every home with an Xfinity xFi Gateway). After all, it’s an easy-to-use app that enables customers to see what devices are on their home WiFi networks, troubleshoot issues, and even pause their home WiFi connections during dinnertime.

 The features you need are at your fingertips when you rent an Xfinity xFi Gateway and download the app. Can you see how this would make life more streamlined, especially in a tech savvy household?  My kids know how to navigate our Fire TV remote and I feel like they'd be quick to pick up the Xfinity apps whether we are at home or on the go. With complimenting products like Gateways and Xfi Pods, you can set up your home however you'd like, based on your everyday needs. The X1 platform is an Entertainment Operating System that gives Xfinity TV customers an interactive TV experience, which is something I know that my husband appreciates... and as always, Xfinity is super thoughtful of how their mobile devices pair with everything they do in the home. They've got plans that include everything your family might need; they're there to help!

Do you use Xfinity and X1 and if so, are you ensuring that you are making the most out of your system, at home and on the go? Check out all the services and how they work together to make the ultimate in entertainment for you and your family!

Extra! Extra! Read All About it! X1 Customers Will Be Able to Search and Navigate All the Prime Originals Like Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Homecoming,The Man in the High Castle and The Grand Tour Via Xfinity On Demand and Watch Them in the Prime Video App. Prime Video Catalog Will Be Integrated with Live and On Demand Services Throughout the Emmy Award-Winning X1 Interface!

About Prime Video

Prime Video is a premium subscription streaming service that offers customers an unmatched collection of digital videos—all with the ease of finding what they love to watch in one place.

·         Included with Prime: Watch thousands of popular movies and TV shows, including our award-winning Prime Originals such as Emmy-winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Homecoming, The Man in the High Castle, Bosch, Academy Award-winningManchester by the Sea and The Salesman and Academy Award-nominated The Big Sick, exclusives, live sports and licensed and self-published content available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

·         Watch more with Prime Video Channels: Prime members can add 150+ channels like STARZ, Showtime, and more—no extra apps to download, and no cable required. Only pay for the ones you want, and cancel anytime.  View the full list of channels available atamazon.com/channels.

·         Rent or Buy: Enjoy hundreds of thousands of titles, including new-release movies and entire seasons of current TV shows, available for all Amazon customers to rent or buy.

·         Instant access: Watch where and when you want with the Prime Video app on your smart TV, mobile device, Fire TV, Fire tablet, Apple TV, game consoles or from the web. For a complete list of compatible devices, visit amazon.com/howtostream.

·         Enhanced experiences: Make the most of every viewing with 4K Ultra HD- and High Dynamic Range (HDR)-compatible content. Go behind the scenes of your favorite movies and TV shows with exclusive X-Ray access, powered by IMDb. Save it for later with select mobile downloads for offline viewing.

In addition to Prime Video, the Prime membership includes unlimited fast free shipping options across all categories available on Amazon, more than two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, secure photo storage with Prime Photos, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, unlimited access to a digital audiobook catalogue with Audible Channels for Prime, a rotating selection of free digital games and in-game loot with Twitch Prime, early access to select Lightning Deals, exclusive access and discounts to select items, and more. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more visit: amazon.com/prime.

  

Xfinity's Work for Accessibility, Sponsored by Xfinity

*I was invited to an event with Xfinity to celebrate Autism Awareness Month. All opinions are my own.

Last week, I attended an event with my friends at Xfinity, this time for Autism Awareness Month and I gotta say, this wasn't just fun, it was also moving. I am not personally affected by autism but as a mother of two young boys, I know how hard it can be to raise children. It's hard to raise kids, let alone children who have developmental delays, communication challenges and sensory sensitivities. With help, families living with autism can certainly increase the quality of life for everyone- parents, kids and other family members so that everyone is able to live happier lives... so you're probably thinking, what does Xfinity have to do with families living with autism? Well, more than you'd think! Xfinity is working on a lot of great things to help families have access to technology that enriches their lives. Have a look at Anne, an Xfinity Product Market Manager, and her son Jake's story. 

Did that give you the feels? It gave me the feels. At the end of the day, I just want to see everyone living happy and fulfilled lives, not matter what they're doing. Anne, along with the Xfinity team, as well as representatives from the New England Center for Children were on hand to show us in person, the great new technologies and features that Xfinity has created to help their customers. Using the Xfinity Home Camera and her cell phone+Ipad, Anne was able to have more freedom while also giving Jake more independence... and those aren't the only things that Xfinity has to offer those looking for more accessibility in their home. Looking for more security? Xfinity's Home security system will keep you connected and protected. Their completely customizable smart home devices are a game changer for parents looking for security and peace of mind... and speaking as a parent, those things are of the utmost importance.

You know Xfinity's trusted X1Voice remote? It's been a game changer for those living with disabilities and illnesses. I didn't know that and it's something that I take for granted but to think that something as simple as a remote, is giving someone more accessible entertainment, well, it's pretty amazing. In April, simply say “Autism” in your X1Voice Remote and select Autism Awareness Month to see a variety of curated content specifically for this event. They're really offering customers the robust experience that is not just about our entertainment but also about adding value to our homes in ways that we need, curated to our needs.

You can learn more about what Xfinity is doing for home entertainment as well as mobile, home security and more on their website. They really do such a great job marrying all of their different technologies so that you're able to be connected to your home through your phone and tablets, even while on the go. Be sure to keep updated on their new offerings to ensure that you're learning about exciting new features that can make your life easier! Thanks again to the folks at Xfinity for hosting me, and teaching me all about the awesome things you're doing!

PS. Right now is #Watchathon (Xfinity's annual weeklong bingefest). Xfinity customers can enjoy access to the top shows from Netflix, HBO, STARZ, NBC and more — for free with Xfinity On Demand on Xfinity TV or the Xfinity Stream app through April 22nd... looks like we have some TV to catch up, am I right?

A Night Out with #XfinityMoms

*This post was sponsored by Xfinity though all thoughts are my own.

Last week while my parents were up visiting, the man and I decided to combine some blogger business with a date night. We headed up to the Xfinity store at 3rd Ave in Burlington to have some tasty holiday inspired sips and snacks while learning all about what the team at Xfinity are working on this holiday season. I know it seems silly to take my husband with me, but listen, he likes gadgets and so it wasn't too much of a stretch to take him with me to play with some of the new grown up toys at the Xfinity stores. We joined some other local Moms to listen and learn.

I think it's hard for this non techy Mama to get into all the business that goes into your wifi, internet, mobile, cable and so on and so forth. I usually leave this all the my husband but when Xfinity put it into terms that I could understand, it became a whole lot more interesting. From the super high tech voice controlled remotes, you can not only search for your favorite movie, there's less to fuss about with your fingers. Add in the "Kids Zone" and parental controls, you can actually leave the room without your kids turning on some too too adult programming (because you know mine would!). They've got some really fun things on demand as well, like the Santa Tracker this holiday season, if that's your family's kind of thing!

If you're looking to control your "home" and such on the go, Xfinity mobile makes it really easy to carry it with you on your mobile device whether it's your phone or tablet. You can stream something like 200 TV channels and 40K online movies to your devices so on the go entertainment is covered, not to worry. They've also got some pretty amazing apps to check in on your home's security and energy management while you're out if you're signed up for Xfinity mobile service. As a busy mom who often forgets things, this is one less thing to worry about since you can do it on the go. Forgot to turn the thermostat down? No problem with the Xfinity suite of apps. You can get started with Xfinity mobile for as low as $12 a month as long as you have Xfinity internet. They offer an unlimited plan for $45 which totally makes sense if you have a big data lovin' family!

I think of all the things I learned about last week, my absolute favorite was the xFi pods. There's a spot in our bedroom that absolutely is too far from our router. I can't surf the nets while laying in bed, which is sometimes a bummer. With the xFi pods, you can boost your signal and get internet to all corners of your home, which to me, is clutch when I just want to relax with a Netflix show before bed. These are most definitely on my list of things to snag! I know for a fact that if you visit a store, they would be happy to answer all your questions and find a solution that fits your needs. It's nice to be able to work with people to create the right amount of "tech" needed for your home and family!

You can find your local Xfinity Store here and check out all their offerings on their site. Thanks for having us Xfinity, Happy Holidays!