Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus, but his name has been changed to “government handouts”. Children who qualify for a free lunch already were insured a free college education even though their grade point average was just above flunking. It had to be a 2.0, which would not give any kid much incentive to study hard because you could get that grade without opening your book and going with a multiple-choice answer. You would have a 50/50 chance of guessing right. That sure would not make you college material. That is not what this article is about.
They get new perks now. They would qualify for Internet Essentials. They would only pay $9.95 for Internet service, and could buy a new computer for $149.99. WOW. That is really a deal and all your have to do to qualify is (I would have to guess here) be on welfare. The state or federal government does not have a money tree. They take it away from the private sector workers, skim off a huge amount for administering these programs to give away all this STUFF. You and I will see our Comcast bills go up. Sometime this mess must stop but the country is broke and still giving things to families who may be drug users, drunks, or whatever and encouraging them to stay dependant on government hand outs. It’s a real vote getter. I am not against a kid getting a free lunch. Don’t want to see anyone hungry, but there has to be an incentive to try to better yourself, not just demand more “services” from the government.
Here is the PDF about the program:
Update: This program is still active through the city or housing authority for those who need it. This is a nationwide program and as of 2019, comcast stated it is being used in about 7 million households. The real question, however, is it really helping or hurting?
Here are more resources if you need help getting online and you’re low income:
Here are some avenues through which low-income residents in Seattle could potentially access discounted internet:
- National Programs:
- Comcast Internet Essentials: Comcast offers Internet Essentials, which is a low-cost home internet service for qualifying households. This program provides affordable internet for eligible low-income households at reduced prices.
- AT&T Access: AT&T also offers a similar low-cost internet service for qualifying low-income households.
- Local Programs and Initiatives:
- The City of Seattle might have specific programs or partnerships with local ISPs to provide discounted internet services for its residents. It’s recommended to check with the city’s official website or the local public library for up-to-date information.
- Non-Profit Organizations:
- Some non-profit organizations might offer programs or grants for low-income individuals or families to get discounted internet services.
- Federal Assistance:
- The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program, which was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income households. While this might be a temporary measure, it’s worthwhile for residents to check if they qualify.
For the most current information and to see if new programs have been introduced after 2022, it’s a good idea for residents to check directly with the City of Seattle’s official resources, local ISPs, and the FCC’s website.
