Comcast connects 41,000 families to Internet through low-cost program

{mosads}The plan also offers a laptop computer for less than $150 to eligible families. Comcast said it sold 5,500 computers during 2011.

Comcast said it advertised the program in 4,000 school districts and more than 30,000 schools.

“As gratifying as these early results are to Comcast, we recognize there is still a long road ahead,” David Cohen, Comcast’s vice president for public policy, said in a blog post.

He said the company will expand the program to include families with children eligible for reduced school lunches, rather than just free lunches.

That would make an additional 300,00 households eligible for the program, Cohen said.

He said the company will also double the speed of the program’s Internet service and streamline the application process.