County Executive Steuart Pittman yesterday announced the County has allocated $150,000 of funding to provide internet service to low-income families and students through Comcast’s Internet Essentials Partnership Program (IEPP).
The grant, allocated as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, will provide high-speed internet access to low-income families who qualify for Internet Essentials from Comcast. Anne Arundel County will cover the monthly recurring cost of Internet Essentials service charges for up to 12 months so that residents may stay connected and students can have much needed access to online learning and other resources.
From the press release:
“Internet access has become an essential thread connecting individuals to their communities,” said County Executive Pittman. “This partnership with Comcast brings us closer to our goal of universal access for students and families, regardless of economic status.”
The program will be administered by the Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth and Families through a contract with Comcast. County officials are encouraging families to take advantage of the special offer to ensure their children in grades K-12 have the reliable broadband internet access they need to virtually learn from home.
“We’re proud to partner with Anne Arundel County to help children and families get connected through our Internet Essentials program,” said Misty Allen, Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Comcast’s Beltway Region. “For nearly a decade, Comcast has been dedicated to bridging the digital divide across the nation with our Internet Essentials program – which to date has connected more than 4 million low-income students to the internet.”
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for the latest.
See previous Conduit Street coverage: MACo Announces 2021 Legislative Initiatives
