Comcast adds Philly seniors to Internet Essentials, wires zoo with Wifi

Comcast has expanded its program to offer discounted Internet Essentials program for senior citizens to Philadelphia, the company said Thursday.

The cable giant launched the program in Palm Beach County in Florida, Seattle and San Francisco in 2015.

Philadelphia senior citizens can call 1-855-848-6348 to apply for the program. To qualify, an individual needs to be at least 62 years old and enrolled in federal or state assistance programs that include Medicaid, Section 8 housing assistance, food stamps and Pharmaceutical Assitance for the Elderly.

Internet Essentials offers high-speed broadband service for about $10 a month.

Separately, Comcast said it has wired the Philadelphia Zoo for free Wifi for the public, similar to Septa stations.

Comcast also is sponsoring a social media challenge in which people can post zoo pictures using #sendakid so that 10,000 low-income children can visit the zoo.