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KYW Newsradio 1060 Presents 10-Laptop Computer Lab to a Philadelphia School

By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- For the past 13 years, KYW Newsradio 1060 and Comcast Corporation have proudly partnered to award laptops to individuals and schools in the Delaware Valley.

This past year, eight recent laptop winners each nominated a school of their choice to win a computer lab consisting of 10 personal computers.

Today, the students at Constitution High School, near 7th and Chestnut Streets in center city Philadelphia, have a new, 10-laptop Dell computer lab.

Courtney Simmons, a senior at the school, says the computers were greatly needed.

"We have to share computers in the classroom," she said today.  "I mean, we make it work, but it's stressful sometimes."

(McDevitt:)  "And this will help?"

(Simmons:)  "Definitely.  We're so grateful for the laptops."

David L. Cohen, executive vice president of Comcast Corp. (far left in photo), spoke to about 30 students assembled in the school's tech center about the economic inequality of the so-called "digital divide."

"I believe that all kids can learn," Cohen said afterward.  "I believe that if you level the playing field and you give all kids the same tools, then they are going to be able to be competitive in a 21st-century, technologically savvy environment."

And to give low-income families the opportunity to have Internet access at home, Cohen said, Comcast has a program called "Internet Essentials."   More information is available at internetessentials.com.

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