Comcast Offers Free WiFi to 32 San Francisco Neighborhood Hubs
SAN FRANCISCO – (BUSINESS WIRE) – As part of its ongoing commitment to connecting low-income people to the Internet so they can fully participate in educational opportunities and the digital economy, Comcast announced today that it is partnering with more than 30 San Francisco community hubs to provide WiFi San Francisco Mayor’s Office and the Department of Child Youth and Their Families (DCYF) of the City of San Francisco.
DCYF and the SF Recreation and Parks Department worked with community agencies, other city departments and companies like Comcast to implement the Community Hubs Initiative, a city-wide, neighborhood-focused strategy to support children, youth and families throughout the school year. Community Hubs provide support for Grade K-12 students using SFUSD’s distance learning program and prioritize children and young people with high needs.
The San Francisco Community Hubs Initiative offers distance learning, all-round service, and resources to support students and their families. Comcast offers free WiFi in over 30 locations that allows students to work on laptops at the same time for successful distance learning. By donating 800 laptops and 12 months of free Internet at home through the Internet Essentials program, Comcast is creating a seamless learning experience for teenagers in San Francisco.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to put many low-income students at risk of being left behind,” said San Francisco Mayor, London N. Breed. “Access to technology and a safe learning space are essential for children to be fully immersed in distance learning. A laptop and access to the internet at home are also essential for students to complete homework and other assignments after leaving school. The City of San Francisco is excited to partner with Comcast to provide children with the full support they need to thrive now and in the future. ”
“The health crisis challenges us in many ways and focuses on the inequality and inequality that exists for many of our underserved communities,” said Maria Su, executive director of the Department for Children, Youth and Their Families. “But the crisis also shows how powerful we are when we come together and unite around a common goal. This is exactly what this Community Hubs initiative is all about. We are grateful to Comcast for joining us on this mission and for being part of a public-private partnership that is delivering truly exceptional results to our communities. ”
“We are proud to partner with the City of San Francisco to operate more than 30 community hubs in our most vulnerable neighborhoods and to support a comprehensive learning continuum for thousands of students in San Francisco,” said John Gauder, senior vice president regional at Comcast California. “By providing robust WiFi coverage in secure locations, Comcast aims to help thousands of low-income students get online, take distance learning, and do their homework.”
In addition to servicing Community Hub locations through Comcast’s Lift Zones program, Comcast donated $ 140,000 to Give2SF to provide digital literacy training, pandemic and holiday food insecurity efforts, and other services offered at the Community Hubs support.
Comcast will provide a laptop and 12 months of Internet at home (for eligible families) to 800 teenagers through its Internet Essentials program.
The Comcast Lift Zones program complements Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which since 2011 has enabled more than 8 million low-income people to be connected to the Internet at home. That includes more than a million residents across California. This is the number one state in terms of total participation in the Internet Essentials program.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with three main businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the largest video, high-speed Internet and telephone providers in the United States for private customers under the Xfinity brand and also offers these services to companies. The company also offers wireless, security and automation services under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the broadcast networks NBC and Telemundo, television production companies, television broadcasting groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a wide range of video content through its pay-TV services. It also provides communication services including high-speed Internet, telephone, and cellular services for homes. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network as well as sports and entertainment networks, produces original content and has exclusive content rights. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.