Families with children who qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program may also qualify to receive low-cost internet access and a low-cost computer as part of Comcast's "Internet Essentials" broadband adoption program.

The program will grant the aid to 317,000 low income families with children eligible to receive the National School Lunch Program in 28 metro-Atlanta school districts in an effort close the "digital divide."

Governor Nathan Deal helped launch the program on Aug. 8 and said, "The Internet is no longer a dispensiable item - it's essential in almost every aspect of our lives from our education to our careers."

Comcast Corporation Executive Vice President David Cohen said, "The Internet has proved to be a great equalizer and life-changing technology. Internet Essentials will help level the playing field for low-income families by connecting students online with their teachers and their school's educational resources as well as enabling parents to receive digital literacy training so they can do things like apply for jobs online."

Families chosen to participate in the program will receive internet service for $9.95 a month, plus taxes and no price increases or activation fees, and a voucher to purchase a computer for $149.99 plus tax. Participants will be signed up until the 2013-2014 school year, as long as the eligible child is in the household.

In order to be eligible, families must also be located where Comcast offers internet service, must not have a past due bill to Comcast or unreturned equipment, has not subscribed to Comcast in the last 90 days, and have at least one child eligible to receive a lunch under the NSLP.

For more information, go to www.internetessentials.com or www.internetbasico.com for Spanish, or call 1-855-846-8376.