Here’s a program for those who already have tight household budgets. Let’s be honest, not having internet access at home today is equivalent to not having a set of Britannica or Encarta encyclopedias in the 1990s. You can get by without it, but it can cause frequent inconveniences when you need to look something up. That’s where Comcast comes in.

Comcast recently announced that it would offer a new service called Internet Essentials. Qualified customers can get internet access in their home for $9.95 per month AND can opt to by a new computer for only $149.99 (plus tax) during enrollment. Those who sign up for the offer will never experience a price increase for the service and they don’t have to pay any activation or rental fees for equipment. To qualify, your household must be located within Comcast’s service area with at least one child receiving free school lunches through the National School Lunch Program. You also cannot have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment and you can not have been a subscriber to Comcast’s Internet service for the past 90 days.

If you qualify and are worried that you won’t know how to use the equipment, no worries. You can get free internet training online, in print, or in person. And if you’re worried about your computer getting viruses or your children venturing to sites that aren’t appropriate, you’ll get parental controls and Norton Security Suite at no additional charge.

Comcast estimates that there are 2.5-3 million people within their service area who qualify for the program, so if you know of someone who may be eligible–spread the word. Their kids can be learning so much more after school in the comfort of their own home.