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Martin Moylan
ST. PAUL, Minn.

Comcast aims to boost broadband for low-income families

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Comcast is trying to greatly increase the number of low-income families signed up for a high-speed Internet service that costs about $10 a month.

A household is eligible to participate in the program if at least one child qualifies for free or reduced price school lunches.

In Minnesota, about 5,000 families are getting the discounted broadband connections from Comcast. But about 300,000 Minnesota public school students are in families that would qualify for the service.

"In some higher-income areas, more than 90 percent of households have Internet service at home, but in lower-income areas, less than 15 to 20 percent of households do," said Marty Beth Schubert, Comcast spokeswoman.

The cable company agreed to provide the low-cost Internet service as part of a deal to get regulators to approve its acquisition of NBC.