Regular readers of this column already know that, earlier this year, Comcast Corp. created a Joint Diversity Council after it merged and took control of NBC/Universal, creating one of the largest entertainment companies in the nation.
The council was charged with guaranteeing multicultural diversity throughout the company. For me, that means dealing with LGBT issues, but on occasion those issues merge with others.
One thing the company wanted to do was reach those left behind by the Internet explosion. For many that is an issue of affordability. To that end, the council has created something called Internet Essentials. Here’s how the company explains the program:
To help close the “digital divide” and to ensure that more Americans benefit from all that the Internet has to offer, Comcast created this program for eligible low-income families, offering the following benefits:
— Residential Internet service for $9.95 per month, plus taxes, with no installation or modem rental charges;
— A voucher to purchase a low-cost computer ($149.99 plus applicable taxes); and
— Access to in-person, print and web-based digital-literacy training programs.
Internet Essentials will be offered to low-income families with children who are eligible to receive a free lunch as part of their enrollment in the National School Lunch Program. We estimate the program will reach more than 4,000 school districts in the Comcast service area (39 states and the District of Columbia), with as many as 2-3 million potentially eligible households.
From a diversity perspective, we certainly recognize that not all low-income families come from diverse communities. However, we do expect this program to have a strong impact on diverse communities in urban areas where Comcast offers Internet service. We also expect the program to help the elderly who may be far from family and have limited opportunity to communicate with loved ones.
So how does it apply to the LGBT community? If you thought that everyone in our community was affluent, you’ve been reading too many press releases. To me, this program speaks loudly to LGBT seniors and those LGBT families who are making it day to day. The program began rolling on Aug. 1 in Wilmington, Del., and will make its way to Philadelphia on Sept. 6. Hopefully Family Pride, the William Way LGBT Community Center and other organizations can help those in need get connected.
Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. He can be reached at [email protected].