Comcast Announces Super Bowl Winning Coach Tony Dungy to Serve as National Spokesman for Internet Es

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Comcast Announces Super Bowl Winning Coach Tony Dungy to Serve as National Spokesman for Internet Essentials - a Program Designed to Help Close the Digital Divide

Dungy to Participate in Events in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Comcast Executive Vice President, David L. Cohen, today announced Tony Dungy has agreed to become a national spokesman for Internet Essentials. Now in its second year, Internet Essentials is an ambitious and comprehensive broadband adoption program designed to help close the digital divide among low-income Americans.


Since retiring as a coach in 2008, Dungy and his wife Lauren have been active in a number of charitable organizations including The Dungy Family Foundation, whose mission involves strengthening, sustaining and empowering communities by providing opportunities to those in need through education as well as emotional and financial support. He is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of two books Quiet Strength and Uncommon and is an analyst for NBC's Football Night in America. Tony Dungy led the Indianapolis Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI.

"Tony Dungy is an incredible role model for athletes and young people," said Cohen. "Through his charitable foundation, he knows firsthand what challenges young people face today and how important it is to get a good education. We're honored that Tony has agreed to be a national spokesman for Internet Essentials and we're confident that his involvement will help us make even more progress to close the digital divide."

In its first full year of availability, Internet Essentials helped more than 100,000 families, or 400,000 Americans, gain access to the Internet at home, and Comcast continues to enhance the program with new features and processes designed to accelerate enrollment in the program.

"It's critical that low-income families take advantage of opportunities like the Internet Essentials program," said Dungy. "The Internet provides access to a world of knowledge and resources that kids and families today simply cannot live without. The world is moving too fast and families who are not online at home are being left behind. It's our responsibility to help level the playing field and get more families connected."

Internet Essentials Program Details:

Internet Essentials addresses three primary barriers to broadband adoption that research has identified - a lack of understanding of how the Internet is relevant and useful, the cost of a home computer and the cost of the Internet service. Program participants receive:

  • Residential Internet service for $9.95 a month plus applicable taxes;

  • No price increases, no activation fees, or equipment rental fees;

  • A voucher to purchase a low-cost computer for $149.99 plus tax; and

  • Access to free digital literacy training in print, online and in-person.

A household is eligible to participate if it meets all of the following criteria:

  • Is located where Comcast offers Internet service;

  • Has at least one child who is eligible to receive a free or reduced school lunch under the NSLP;

  • Has not subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the last 90 days;

  • Does not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment.

Comcast will sign up eligible families in the program for at least three years, through the end of the 2013-2014 school year. Any household that qualifies during this three-year period will remain eligible for Internet Essentials if at least one child eligible for a free or reduced lunch remains living in the household.

For general information about Internet Essentials, please visit www.internetessentials.com for English, and visit www.internetbasico.com for Spanish. Educators or third-parties interested in helping to spread the word can find more information at www.internetessentials.com/partner. Parents looking to enroll in the program can call 1-855-846-8376 or, for Spanish, 1-855-765-6995.

About Comcast Corporation:

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.



Comcast Corporation
Charlie Douglas, 215-286-3353
Cell: 215-264-8020
Charlie_Douglas@comcast.com

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