Time Warner Cable has launched a pilot program in several cities offering disadvantaged families with school-age children access to the Internet for $9.95 a month.

Families with children in the selected pilot schools are eligible to apply for Starter Internet service, which operates at 1/1Mbps in most cities. The eligibility requirements:

• The family has a working computer that is Internet ready;
• The family has not subscribed to Time Warner Cable Internet service within the last 90 days;
• The family does not have an overdue Time Warner Cable bill or any unreturned equipment;
• The family must pay any past due balances.

Time Warner Cable says there is no activation or installation fee with Starter Internet, no price increases, and no equipment rental fees for the first two years. Additional information is available directly from Time Warner at 1-855-746-8704.

Most of the pilot schools are located in urban or exceptionally low income communities, with the largest number of participating city schools in California, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. Among the highlighted communities:

• Arizona: Gasden, San Luis
• California: Cathedral City, Los Angeles, Van Nuys, Desert Hot Springs, San Bernardino, Ventura, Lennox, Santa Ana, San Diego, Highland, El Centro, North Hollywood
• Hawaii: Captain Cook, Waianae, Pahoa, Kekaha, Honolulu, Mountain View, Naalehu
• Idaho: Coeur d’Alene
• New York: Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Albany
• North Carolina: Charlotte, High Point, Wilmington, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Durham, Salisbury, Fayetteville
• South Carolina: Columbia, Florence
• Texas: Dallas, San Antonio, Irving, Austin, Waco, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, San Juan
• Wisconsin: Milwaukee

The enrollment period started Oct. 1 and ends November 30, 2012. Each participating school has a unique offer code that is required to sign up.  Eligible families will receive this code from their school administration or in the starter Internet materials provided to families and students.

In order to be eligible for Starter Internet, the family must have an Internet-ready computer. To help bridge this gap, each family in the pilot program is eligible for one low-cost, refurbished computer through Redemtech’s GoodPC via www.GoodPC.com/TWC or by calling 1-800-975-5837.

Other stories of interest:

1. Comcast Expands Internet Essentials Program, Relaxing Qualifications and Doubling Speed
2. Low Income $9.95 Internet Coming to Time Warner, Cox, and Charter… If You Qualify
3. Comcast’s Discount ‘Internet Essentials’ Off Limits Because of One Late Bill 10 Years Ago
4. Comcast Wants $94,000 from Massachusetts Families to Install Cable Service
5. Comcast’s Welfare Internet: 1.5Mbps for $9.95 a Month… If You Qualify… for 3 Years