PHILADELPHIA -- Comcast Corporation announced a pilot program today that will extend Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program for low-income families, to more than 90,000 low-income community college students who are Federal Pell Grant recipients in Illinois.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, community colleges enroll as many as 40 percent of all college students each year. As low-cost, open-access institutions, community colleges serve a high percentage of non-traditional students, including those who are low-income, are financially independent, have dependents, are first generation, and are older.

"For millions of Americans, community college is one of the most accessible paths to a post-secondary education and a brighter future," said David L. Cohen, Comcast Corporation Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. "By offering an affordable Internet connection and computer, Internet Essentials will enable low-income community college students to access educational resources not just at school but also at home. In addition, Internet Essentials will link these students to crucial digital literacy training programs that will help them as they complete their studies and continue to have a positive impact after graduation. Students need support at every level of their education, and extending Internet Essentials to community college students highlights our commitment to providing them the support they need, whether in elementary, middle, or high school or pursuing post-secondary education."

Since its inception in 2011, Internet Essentials has been available to eligible primary and secondary school students and their families. In Chicago, more than 30,000 households have been connected to the Internet, benefitting 120,000 residents, which is more than in any other city in the country. More than 55,000 families in the Chicago metro area and 65,000 families across the state of Illinois have been connected. Nationally, Internet Essentials has connected more than 500,000 households, giving 2 million low-income Americans access to the power of the Internet in their homes.

The Illinois community college pilot will expand on the work Comcast has done in Chicago and Illinois to enroll eligible families in the program. Since its inception in 2011, Comcast has worked with more than 2,000 school districts and community- and faith-based organizations, ranging from Chicago Public Schools, Big Brother Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, Centro Romero, to the Chicago Urban League and the United Way, all in an effort to spread the word to families with school-aged children that could benefit from the program.

Comcast also announced a similar community college pilot in the state of Colorado today. Low-income community college students in Illinois and Colorado must be recipients of Federal Pell Grants, the nation’s largest need-based grant program, in order to qualify for Internet Essentials.

Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK)