Needy Students Get Computer Vouchers

In an effort to help bridge the so-called “digital divide” among low-income students, internet provider Comcast is making some big promises:

• Vouchers for home computers
• Three years of internet service for $9.95 a month

Every student who is eligible for free meals under the National School Lunch Program will qualify.

Brittney Bomnin / Miami Herald

Isaura Konig (right) watches as her children, Paul Mamondes, 9, and Melanie Mamnodes, 6, test out an Acer laptop after Comcast announced the national Internet Essentials initiative at the Phillis Wheatley Elementary School auditorium in historic Overtown Thursday morning Aug. 4, 2011.

And Florida has one of the highest numbers of eligible students in the U.S., behind Texas, California and New Mexico.

In Miami alone, over 200,000 students are eligible.

David Cohen, executive vice president of Comcast Corporation, says Hispanic and African-American communities are expected to benefit most.

“When we look around the country we see the disparities that exist,” Cohen said. “Quite frankly people in lower-income communities, mostly people of color, have such limited access to broadband than people in wealthier communities.”

The program is open to students from K-through-12. But only to those that live in one of the Comcast service areas in 39 states.