Broadcasting and cable giant Comcast announced on Monday it's offering six months of free Internet access for eligible families signing-up for the company's Internet Essentials service.

Families that have been approved for Internet Essentials between Aug. 4 and Sept. 20 will be able to enlist in the program.

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Internet Essentials, which was launched in 2011, offers Internet access for US$9.95 per month. There's also an option to buy an Internet-ready computer for under US$150. It also provides access to digital literacy training, according to PC Magazine.

Families must have at least one child qualified for the National School Lunch Program to be able to enlist in the Internet Essentials program.

Together with the offer for free Internet, the broadcasting company launched a new pardoning program for low-income families eligible for Internet Essentials that have an outstanding balance, according to Tech Investor News.

Previously, Comcast exclusively approved Internet Essentials for families without unpaid dues. The new program allows those with unpaid fees of more than a year to enlist.

Comcast will forgo of the outstanding balance and transfer the subscribers over to Internet Essentials, as long as the family meets other eligibility prerequisites.

"Internet Essentials is about transforming lives and inspiring a new generation of leaders to be digitally ready to access the information and tools all students need to succeed in the 21st century," said Comcast executive vice president David Cohen.

Cohen said that by offering up to six months of free Internet Essentials along with a pardoning plan, Comcast hopes to persuade families that having broadband Internet at home is indispensible to students.

With access to the Internet, parents can have open lines of communications with schools and teachers while children can do their assignments with ease.

TagsComcast, Charity, Free internet, education, altruism