PHILADELPHIA & SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, Comcast hosted a Digital Equity Summit in San Francisco. The gathering brought together more than 100 executives, program directors, community leaders, public officials, and other key stakeholders from around the Golden State working to close the digital divide and create digital equity. The goals of the summit were to highlight best practices; learn more about current and future needs of vulnerable communities; and identify challenges, solutions, and available funding resources. The summit also served as a moment to celebrate the work of Comcast’s valued digital equity partners across California, who worked throughout the pandemic to help drive Internet adoption and provide digital literacy training for those in need.

In addition, the company announced it has exceeded its expanded goal to launch 1,250 Lift Zones before the end of this year. Comcast’s award-winning Lift Zones program provides free WiFi access in neighborhood community centers nationwide. Since September 2020, Lift Zones have enabled nearly six million free WiFi user sessions for students, veterans, seniors, and adults.

According to a consumer survey of users who visited a Lift Zone:

• 4 in 10 report they would not have had Internet access without the Lift Zone.

• 50% of low-income households in major Comcast markets are within walking distance of a lift zone.

• 58% of Lift Zone users strongly believe that the site helps them achieve more.

• 58% report the Lift Zone reduces stress with studying, working remotely, and/or managing tasks online.

• 56% say the Lift Zone is critical for success at school, work, and/or managing tasks online.

• 92 percent of sites report that being a Lift Zone helps them increase digital equity in their communities.

The Lift Zones program is part of Comcast’s Project UP – a comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and build a future of unlimited possibilities. Backed by a $1 billion commitment, Project UP will help reach tens of millions of people with the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to succeed in a digital world.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity right now to help connect the unconnected,” said Broderick Johnson, EVP Digital Equity and EVP Public Policy, Comcast Corporation. “Working together between Comcast, our nonprofit partners, and the state and federal government, we will connect more households to the Internet and help even more people take advantage of critical resources such as the federal Affordable Connectivity Program and digital skills training.”

“Comcast’s continued partnership and dedication to our communities have resulted in allowing more students, children, seniors, and families to get connected to the Internet,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. “Public private partnerships like these allow us to ensure that all of our communities have access to services they need to thrive.”

Comcast’s Lift Zones were initially created in partnership with city leaders and nonprofit partners to help keep students connected to schools during the early stages of the pandemic. These digital navigators helped countless communities at a time when they needed it the most. Even as students return to their classrooms, Comcast continues to see strong demand for Lift Zones that serve underrepresented populations and offer an array of digital literacy programs, access to online healthcare services, workforce development training, and digital navigator support.

“Thanks to Comcast, we’ve been able to connect many of our families to the Internet with high-speed WiFi to support a dynamic learning environment for their children,” said Gloria Corral, President and CEO of Parent Institute for Quality Education. “Today’s Digital Equity Summit confirms Comcast’s commitment to the communities we serve. I am eager to see how today’s conversation will improve and help support the lives of the children and families.”

In addition to the Lift Zone program, which earlier this year won SXSW’s “People’s Choice Award,” Comcast is proud to participate in the Federal Government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). ACP provides eligible households with a $30/month subsidy that can be applied toward their Internet service. When used to pay for Comcast’s Internet Essentials service, home broadband Internet is effectively free.

Powered by a Comcast Business solution, the company has installed more than 150 Lift Zones across the state of California. To find a Lift Zone near you, please visit: https://internetessentials.com/learningsearchpage and for additional information on Project UP, please visit corporate.comcast.com/impact/project-up.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

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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.

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