[1st-mile-nm] Fwd: [NDIA Listserv] Comcast IE Sponsored Service

[Richard Lowenberg]

If not already acted upon, this service may be of interest to cities
or school districts or the State, or ?

What and where are needs?

What other ISPs are offering digital divide bridging services in NM
during this troubling and uncertain time?   Let us know.

Be well,
RL

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [NDIA Listserv] Fwd: Comcast IE Sponsored Service
Date: 2020-04-13 11:21
 From: Angela Siefer <angela at digitalinclusion.org>
To: NDIA Affiliates and Friends Listserv <listserv at digitalinclusion.org>

For those who are looking at bulk purchasing Comcast Internet
Essentials. Big thanks to Rebecca Gibbons at City of Portland for
passing this along.

> COMCAST INTERNET ESSENTIALS SPONSORED SERVICE
> (Become a Partner Community to access the service:
> https://partner.internetessentials.com/)
> 
> A sponsor can set up a bulk pay account with a minimum of 25 new
> customers for 12 months (or longer) of service. (COVID - minimum is
> still 25 new customers but Comcast is allowing a 6 month service
> contract)
> 
> The monthly bill goes to the sponsor to pay but the each customer has
> an account with Comcast
> 
> Comcast gives the sponsor unique one time use codes for each of the
> customers. The sponsor shares the use codes with each customer
> 
> Customers still have to go online and apply – during the application
> process there is a place to enter the use code –  which then pushes
> the application through an expedited review process. Expedited
> review/no income verification for:  any school that is title 1 or 40%
> or more qualify for national school lunch; HUD housing  (COVID -
> Because the April 30 deadline is fast approached, Comcast is allow
> customers to go online and apply without the use code and will add the
> use code on the back end once they get a list of families from PPS.)
> 
> Eligibility - still must not be a subscriber in last 90 days and meet
> the low-income requirement
> 
> If the customers are able to sign up before April 30 they are honoring
> the 2 months free (so sponsor only pays for 4 months under the 6 month
> contract)
> 
> Contract terms: in our case Portland Public Schools is contracting to
> pay for 1000 families. If only 800 families end up signing
> up/qualifying, Comcast does not charge for 1000, only 800
> 
> 30 days prior to the contract term, customers will receive notice from
> Comcast that the free service is ending and they will automatically be
> enrolled into IE for $10/month.
> 
> Length on contract can be extended by sponsor. Comcast asks that
> sponsor give them 45 days notice to extend.
> 
> Contract can be amended to include more customers.

Angela Siefer
Executive Director
National Digital Inclusion Alliance
angela at digitalinclusion.org
614-537-3057



---------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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