Comcast is proud to support partners who apply for ECF. Eligible applicants interested in working with Comcast to obtain high-speed Internet service on behalf of students, school staff, and library patrons using ECF can do so through our acclaimed Internet Essentials Partnership Program (IEPP).
With IEPP, we have a streamlined process for eligible entities to use ECF to quickly connect individuals in need to broadband access at home through Internet Essentials from Comcast. Interested schools and libraries can find more information and apply for ECF at emergencyconnectivityfund.org.
Sponsors may select between 2 speed-tier options to support their sponsored households.
Work with Comcast
In 10 years, we have connected more than 10 million low-income Americans to the Internet at home. The Internet Essentials Partnership Program (IEPP) is uniquely designed to support the ECF program.
Click here to work with us. Our team provides dedicated support and will reach out to you within 72 hours.
On Tuesday, July 27th we hosted an informational webinar for our partners to learn more about ECF and working with Comcast. If you were unable to join us live, would like to view the webinar again, or want to share the replay with colleagues or peers - please watch here.
Become a Sponsor
IEPP Partners
The Internet Essentials Partnership Program not only provides Internet access to the nation’s most vulnerable families, but also allows key partners to bring their expertise to empower families to take on the challenges of today while preparing for the future.
Join the hundreds of organizations that have partnered with Comcast to close the digital divide and support distance learning for students.
Organizations interested in becoming IEPP partners or that would like to partner with Comcast on the Emergency Connectivity Fund can fill out this form to receive more information or begin the sponsorship process. Click here
Sponsor FAQ
The FCC's Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) is a $7.17 billion government program to help schools and libraries provide the tools and services needed for remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period. For eligible schools and libraries, the ECF program will cover reasonable costs of:
(1) Internet connectivity for students, school staff, and library patrons at locations other than schools or libraries;
(2) equipment such as Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, and routers; and
(3) laptop and tablet computers.
Comcast is proud to support partners who apply for ECF. Eligible applicants interested in working with Comcast to obtain high-speed Internet service on behalf of students, school staff, and library patrons using ECF can do so through our acclaimed Internet Essentials Partnership Program (IEPP). Leveraging IEPP, we have a streamlined process for eligible entities to seek ECF funds and quickly connect individuals in need to broadband access at home through Internet Essentials from Comcast.
The initial application filing window will opened on June 29, 2021, and close on August 13, 2021. During this time, eligible entities can submit funding requests to the FCC to cover the cost of eligible services, equipment, and devices between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. Applicants must specify if they will submit invoices or if their service provider has agreed to submit invoices on their behalf. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is the administrator of the ECF program and will review applications and issue funding commitment decision letters (FCDL) for approved organizations. After receiving an FCDL, approved organizations may submit reimbursement requests to USAC. A second filing window may be opened for prospective or retrospective purchases if not all funds are used within the first filing window. Interested schools and libraries can find more information and apply at EmergencyConnectivityFund.org.
No, any organization can become a sponsor. However, only schools and libraries can participate in ECF.
Partners interested in entering into an Internet Essentials Partnership Program agreement with Comcast to leverage ECF should click here to provide their information and submit a request. Partners may also connect with their local Comcast representative or email IEPP_Support@Comcast.com with their information and partnership details. Visit InternetEssentials.com/Sponsor to learn more about the process listed below.
1. Enter Comcast as a provider into the ECF application using Comcast Cable Communications, LLC SPIN#: 143013564. The ECF application can be accessed at EmergencyConnectivityFund.org.,
2. Comcast and the partner accept Partnership Program Terms and Conditions,
3. Outreach to households begins and promo codes are distributed,
4. Sponsor receives a monthly invoice for each sponsored household that connects.
Partners, such as schools, healthcare providers, and other community-based organizations, have the ability to sponsor, or pay for, Internet Essentials service for their eligible members/families at a cost of $9.95 + tax per month per household. The minimum requirements to establish an IEPP agreement are at least a six-month sponsorship for at least 25 eligible applicants that are new to the program.
Following a formal agreement, Comcast will send sponsors “promo codes” to distribute to eligible families. These codes will ensure the billing for an approved applicant will flow up to the sponsor’s account. Sponsors will receive one bill each month and are only charged for applicants that are approved and connected to the Internet Essentials program.
Partners interested in the Internet Essentials Partnership Program should fill in this form and your local Comcast representative will reach out to you. Please have your information and partnership details ready to begin the process listed below.
Provide Partnership details:
- Number of sponsored accounts (25 or more are required)
- Term of partnership(6-month term or longer is required)
- Zip codes of all desired households being sponsored
- Main point of contact (name, phone number, email)
Accept Partnership Program Terms and Conditions:
- Comcast will send a draft agreement as a Microsoft Word document for sponsors to review and revise (if necessary) using the Track Changes feature
- Revised drafts will be reviewed by Comcast legal—once finalized, the sponsor needs to send a signed PDF to Comcast
Distribute Promotional Codes to Eligible Applicants:
- Comcast will issue unique, one-time use, promotional codes to sponsors to distribute to eligible people or families
Yes, in some cases, school districts, healthcare providers, and other organizations have received state funding from the CARES Act that they are using to sponsor service for low-income households. In other cases, a combination of both public and private funding is being used. It really depends on the local school district or organization.
So far, the IEPP agreements we have made are only for households that qualify for Internet Essentials, which for school-focused programs, tend to be student households. If a teacher’s or school administrator’s household qualifies for Internet Essentials, and the sponsoring organization agrees to pay for their service, they too can be part of an IEPP agreement.
We also have a separate “Xfinity for Teachers” program that is available. We offer a $150 Visa gift card to teachers who want to sign up for Xfinity Internet service. Our Xfinity for Teachers program is not available to school administrators, but we will continue to evaluate it.
The process timeline can vary depending on the time it takes to finalize the agreement and collect partnership details. Please work closely with your Comcast representative to move your project through the process as quickly as possible.
Typically, these agreements are for six or twelve months, but they can also last for multiple years, too. We can be flexible to try to accommodate terms that work for each sponsoring organization.
Yes, we honor the 2-month free offer in our IE agreements. This offer is available for new customers only who sign up for Internet Essentials service by June 30, 2022.
We have more than 70 so far that have signed agreements and have received interest from many, many others..
Customers cannot currently be subscribed to another Xfinity Internet service or have subscribed in the past 90 days*. Currently, we are waiving all back due debt through June 30, 2022, so that more subscribers can sign up and get connected.
*This requirement does not apply to current Internet Essentials customers who may be eligible for IEPP.
Click here for more information about eligibility.
While Comcast does offer parental controls, these must be set by individual families. Internet Essentials customers now have access to Comcast’s xFi app where they can set parental controls, see what devices are connected to their home network, and pause WiFi access for any device or profile, among other features.
The end user/subscriber is ultimately responsible for any associated data plan overage fees, and for returning the equipment.
Effective July 29, 2020, Internet Essentials customers no longer have Professional Installation or Home Drop Off as an option to install their new Internet Essentials Internet service. All new and transfer of service customers will be provided a free Self-Installation Kit with instructions to activate their Gateway via the xFi app. Addresses that are not eligible for self-installation due to physical connection issues to the outside of the house will receive Home Drop Off or Pro Install (depending on their location) at no additional charge.
If a customer discloses that a disability will preclude them from installing their new Gateway and Internet service, they will be transferred to the Accessibility Center of Excellence (call center), where a full professional installation will be scheduled at no additional cost. If a customer is unwilling to attempt a self-installation, the agent can offer in-person options* at an additional charge to the customer.
*available options and charges vary by location
There are no additional discounts for sponsoring a larger number of accounts.
Bulk computer orders are unrelated to the Internet Essentials Partnership Program. Please work with your local Comcast representative if you also want to order computers. Individual customers can order a discounted computer at any time by visiting InternetEssentials.com/low-cost-computer
Sponsored Families
Applying for Internet Essentials is easy and fast from a mobile device. Applicants can visit InternetEssentials.com to be guided through the online process. Applicants will need to enter the promotional code provided by their sponsor in order to receive the sponsored service. If the sponsor is a school, applicants also need to select that they have a child attending school and type in the school’s name when prompted under the National School Lunch Program.
All Internet Essentials program eligibility criteria still apply for IEPP. Customers must live in our service area and cannot currently be subscribed to another Xfinity Internet service or have been a subscriber in the past 90 days.
Currently, we are waiving all back due debt through the end of the year, so that more subscribers can sign up and get connected. Click here for more information about eligibility.
Yes, you will still receive a standard Xfinity bill. The $9.95 charge for Internet Essentials will be listed but will then be credited off by the sponsorship, so the Internet Essentials service charge will be $0. If you have additional services or fee charges from Comcast, those will NOT be credited and will be shown as due by you.
IEPP is an agreement between the sponsoring organization and Comcast, allowing the sponsor to pay for service for select customers. If you did not receive a promo code, we recommend you contact your city, school district, or organization to find out additional information and to see if you are eligible for sponsored service or to get your promo code.
If the sponsor organization does not wish to extend their agreement beyond the original time frame, we will communicate with customers who continue to be eligible for Internet Essentials that they will either have to start paying $9.95/month plus tax to continue to keep their service or close their accounts and return the cable modem.
No. Effective July 29, 2020, Internet Essentials customers no longer have Professional Installation or Home Drop Off as an option to install their new Internet Essentials Internet service. All new and transfer of service customers will be provided a free Self-Installation Kit with instructions to activate their Gateway via the xFi app. Addresses that are not eligible for self-installation due to physical connection issues to the outside of the house will receive Home Drop Off or Pro Install (depending on their location) at no additional charge.
If a customer discloses that a disability will preclude them from installing their new Gateway and Internet service, they will be transferred to the Accessibility Center of Excellence (call center), where a full professional installation will be scheduled at no additional cost. If a customer is unwilling to attempt a self-installation, the agent can offer in-person options* at an additional charge to the customer.
*available options and charges vary by location
At this time IEPP is only for the Internet Essentials program. We are exploring additional options to meet the needs of our varied sponsors.
For the duration of 2021, we will provide unlimited data at no cost for our low-income customers facing the most significant economic challenges during this difficult time, who are either part of our Internet Essentials program or our Internet Essentials Partnership Program.
To see your actual usage, sign in here.
Comcast’s Internet Essentials Partnership Program (IEPP), also known as Sponsored Service, works through an agreement between the sponsoring organization and Comcast, allowing the sponsoring organization to pay for service for select customers.
Once an agreement is in place, “promo codes” are generated by Comcast, which the sponsor can then distribute to Internet Essentials eligible families and individuals at their discretion. Promo codes are used by Comcast to bill the sponsor directly for the customer’s Internet Essentials service.