The Portland Community College Foundation has entered into a six-month partnership with Comcast’s Oregon/SW Washington region to purchase internet access for 300 of its students. The arrangement takes advantage of Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, designed for low-income families and individuals to acquire access to the internet.
PCC has moved classes and business operations online while closing its physical campuses and centers. The impact of this has created significant disruption for large portions of the college’s most-vulnerable students. As a result, the Foundation’s board recently approved $750,000 to meet students’ most basic needs through emergency grants, grocery store vouchers, computers and internet service through Comcast.
“As our classes have moved online for the term, we know how critical it is right now to get students connected,” said Ann Prater, PCC Foundation Executive Director. “PCC has already given out 400 laptops, with more being ordered. We are in the process of getting 300 students connected to Comcast’s Internet Essentials.”
Since its inception in 2011, Internet Essentials has connected more than 52,000 low-income households in the Oregon/SW Washington region. The program charges $9.95/month, but in response to the COVID-19 crisis, Comcast is offering two months free for customers who sign up before May 13. People who qualify for a broad range of federal assistance programs including Pell Grants, Medicaid, HUD-assisted housing, SNAP, and SSI, among others, are eligible to apply for Internet Essentials.
“During this unprecedented time, it is vital for Oregonians to stay connected to the internet – for education, work, and personal health reasons,” said Comcast’s Marion Haynes, Vice-President of External Affairs for Comcast Oregon/SW Washington. “We’re proud to partner with Portland Community College to help get students connected through our Internet Essentials program.”
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest video, high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services. It also provides communications services, including residential high-speed internet, phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks, produces original content, and has exclusive content rights. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
About the PCC Foundation
It is a nonprofit organization that enriches lives and strengthens the region through support of education at PCC. Its “Campaign for Opportunity” has set out to raise $30 million to support student success by June 30. The campaign has four focus areas — scholarships, urgent need, student mentoring and workforce development. To find out more, call (971) 722-4382 or visit www.pcc.edu/foundation.
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