In honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month, Comcast said it will install free WiFi at up to 100 facilities focused on veterans, part of its Lift  Zones program.   

The Lift Zone program, initiated in 2020, brings WiFi connections outside the home to neighborhood community centers and complements Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which provides low-cost broadband to eligible consumers inside the home. Both are part of Comcast’s Project UP, a 10-year, $1 billion commitment to reach 50 million people with the tools, resources and skills needed for success in the digital world.

“The Internet is a fundamental tool to participate in today’s increasingly digital economy,” Comcast NBCUniversal senior VP of Military and Veterans Affairs Carol Eggert said in a statement. “Today’s announcement will provide even more Internet access for veterans and military families. Doing so will enable them to participate in workforce development programs, access their well-deserved healthcare benefits, and foster meaningful connections with friends, family, and their fellow veterans.”

Comcast said it has already installed about 25 Lift Zones inside veteran-serving organizations and will continue to work with members of the military community to identify additional locations over the next several months.

Among the veteran  organizations that will receive free WiFi via the Lift Zone program are:

• Veterans Leadership Program, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: helps veterans in 30 counties across Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio with housing, career development, wellness and supportive services. 

• Do Good Multnomah, Portland, Oregon: provides permanent, supportive housing and low-barrier emergency shelter to houseless veterans, as well as one-on-one engagement and supportive services for veterans in need.

• Alpha Omega Veterans Services Inc., Memphis, Tennessee: helps military veterans reintegrate into society, often after achieving recovery and rehabilitation from debilitating mental and physical conditions.

“As we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, having access to the Internet to take advantage of career development searches and support services has grown increasingly important for not only the veteran in need, but their families as well,” Veterans Leadership Program chief development officer Toshua Jarret said in a press release. “We are proud to partner with Comcast through this Lift Zone to help provide the tools needed to help the veteran community succeed during this difficult time and beyond.”

Do Good Multnomah director of permanent supportive housing Jess Gibly added the program is especially important in the COVID-era, where access to internet service is crucial.    

“These Lift Zones give our Veterans in Permanent Supportive Housing, many of whom cannot afford Internet themselves, the chance to get their wellness needs met and participate in online communities that have given people much needed support and connection during COVID,” Gibly said in a statement. ■

Comcast said Wednesday that its Internet Essentials program has teamed up with Goodwill Industries International to provide digital skills and workforce development training for thousands of low-income adults at Goodwill organizations across the U.S.

In addition, Comcast will install free WiFi access at Goodwill locations to allow people to go online to search for jobs, seek digital skill training certification programs to prepare for entry and mid-level occupations.

"Access to the internet offers a life-changing pathway for workers to get the skills they need to move up the economic ladder and prepare for the jobs of the future, but not everyone is capable of taking full advantage of the technology,” Comcast executive VP of public policy and EVP of digital equity Broderick Johnson said in a press release. “Greater internet adoption and increased digital skills will not only lead to higher paying jobs, but also make our country more competitive globally.”

Comcast said its investment will bring training and free WiFi to the following Goodwill locations nationwide: Palmetto Goodwill (Charleston, South Carolina); Goodwill South Florida (Miami); Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake (Baltimore); Goodwill Houston (Houston); Goodwill Easterseals Minnesota (Saint Paul, Minnesota); Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois and Wisconsin Stateline Area, Inc. (Rockford, Illinois); Goodwill Industries Knoxville (Knoxville, Tennessee); and Goodwill of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia (Maple Shade, New Jersey). 

The company added that eight Goodwill organizations have been onboarded and two additional Goodwill markets will be named in the coming months.

“Goodwill has a long history of offering job seekers support that sets them up for success. From résumé building and interview preparation to connecting job seekers to local employers and community colleges, we provide a range of service to those in need of opportunities,” said Goodwill Industries International president and CEO Steven C. Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “This partnership with Comcast will provide many Goodwill participants with free connectivity and discounted devices, which are essential for people to access training and basic support to move forward. Our partners at Comcast are helping us ensure that those job seekers can gain economic mobility and pursue new beginnings with confidence.”

The Goodwill partnership comes about a year after Comcast unveiled a multi-year program to launch more than 1,000 WiFi-connected “Lift Zones” in community centers nationwide, working with its network of nonprofit partners and city leaders. Lift Zone sites complement Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which in 10 years has helped connect a total of more than 10 million people with low incomes to the internet at home. ■

Comcast said Wednesday that it would invest $1 billion over the next ten years in its Internet Essentials program, the high-speed data service targeted at low-income households in its service footprint, to help further narrow the digital divide.

Comcast started Internet Essentials in 2011 and in the past decade has connected a cumulative total of 10 million people to broadband service. In a press release, the company said its $1 billion commitment will include additional support for its Lift Zone initiative, which establishes WiFi-connected safe spaces in more than 1,000 community centers across the country by the end of the year; new laptop and computer donations; grants for nonprofit community organizations to create opportunities for low-income Americans, particularly in media, technology, and entrepreneurship; and continued investment in the company’s landmark Internet Essentials program. 

“Ten years is a remarkable milestone, signifying an extraordinary amount of work and collaboration with our incredible community partners across the country,” Comcast Cable CEO Dave Watson said in a press release. “Together, we have been able to connect millions of people to the power of the Internet at home, and to the endless opportunity, education, growth, and discovery it provides. Today, we are rededicating ourselves to this mission to ensure that the next generation of students in America has the tools, resources, and abilities they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.”

Comcast estimated that its new investment commitment will impact more than 50 million people over the next 10 years. In 2021, the company said students students will be able to complete more than 25 million hours of remote learning lessons to further address the “homework gap” at the hundreds of Lift Zone locations that have already opened or will open soon.

“For more than a decade, Comcast has been a leader in working with communities to close the Digital Divide through its Internet Essentials program,” National Urban League CEO  Marc H. Morial said in a press release. “From its beginning as a pilot program with the Wilmington Urban League to today, Comcast’s Internet Essentials program has transformed millions of lives by connecting low-income households to the power of broadband. While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic placed a spotlight on the digital divide, for the past decade Comcast, in partnership with organizations like the National Urban League, has been leading the effort to close the digital divide, address the homework gap, and ensure low-income communities have the necessary digital skills.”

In addition to capturing the total number of connections Internet Essentials has provided, the 10-Year Progress Report also highlights other key metrics about the program, including having:

“Last year, we partnered with Comcast on a major campaign to encourage Americans to participate in the first-ever digital census,” Fair Count CEO Rebecca DeHart said in a press release. “We are so proud to have partnered with Comcast on this valuable work—connectivity is incredibly essential to civic participation. It gives communities a voice and it enables individuals to take part in the cultural conversations that need to take place in this country. Broadband adoption, just like census participation, can mean the difference between communities growing and thriving or being left behind. For the past decade, the Internet Essentials program has successfully helped to narrow these digital divides. We look forward to the next 10 years of Internet Essentials and join Comcast in celebrating this significant achievement.”

This new commitment comes on the heels of a series of initiatives announced during the COVID-19 pandemic that reinforced the company’s commitment to addressing the digital divide and the homework gap by increasing speeds to 50 Mbps downstream without changing the program’s $9.95 per month price. The company also continues to offer 60 days of free Internet service to new Internet Essentials customers who sign up before June 30, 2021.

“For a decade Comcast’s Internet Essentials program has provided Latino families with tools and resources to access high speed Internet at home. Hispanic Federation has been proud to partner with Comcast and work with this program to bridge the digital divide and offer Latino communities the opportunity to access health, educational, and economic resources online,” Hispanic Federation Senior Vice President Brent Wilkes said in a press release. “We look forward to the next ten years of partnership with Comcast as we tackle more challenges in our ever-changing digital world.”

Comcast said that as part of its ongoing commitment to help connect low-income families to the Internet, it will equip 20 community centers and parks and recreation facilities in Oakland with free WiFi for the next three years. As part of its efforts to promote the initiative, part of its Lift Zones program to help low income students complete school work on the internet, the company is enlisting the help of two-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Simone Manuel.

Manuel spoke virtually to Oakland students at a special event to kick off the initiative on Feb. 25.

“The current health crisis has had a disproportionate effect on many students from communities of color, and I want these kids to know that there are people rooting for them,” Manuel said in a press release. “The lack of Internet access in low-income homes adds unique challenges to families that are trying to manage distance learning. I’m pleased to partner with Comcast to bring awareness to this important issue and help close the digital divide.”

In addition to providing free WiFi at the various Lift Zone locations, Comcast contributed $100,000 to the City of Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation and gave 1,000 students their own free laptop computer and free Internet at home for 12 months (to eligible families) through its Internet Essentials program.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the City of Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation to install free WiFi and provide digital skills training to ensure students can stay connected with their schools during this challenging time,” said Comcast California regional senior vice president John Gauder, in the press release.  “The COVID-19 crisis continues to put many low-income students at risk of being left behind, accelerating the need for comprehensive digital equity and Internet adoption programs to support them. Whether connecting to the Internet at home with our Internet Essentials program, or providing free WiFi at community centers, we’re helping to ensure students have multiple options to get online.”

Comcast created the Lift Zones program last September, a pledge to launch more than 1,000 WiFi zones in community centers across the country. The Lift Zones program is a complement to Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which has helped connect more than eight million low-income people to the Internet at home, including more than one million California residents.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on many inequities in our society including the digital divide. Parents who are essential workers or those who can’t work from home have been questioning how to handle distance learning for their children,” Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said in a press release. “That's why we are grateful that Comcast has partnered with the City of Oakland to provide these crucial technology resources and stepped in to fill an important need in the community.”

Comcast is doubling down on its efforts to bring affordable broadband service to underserved communities, including beefing up speeds for customers of its Internet Essentials product, accelerating the rollout of its Lift Zones program and funding organizations working for social justice and equality through digital equity grants.

“We’ve been on a mission to address digital inequities in under-resourced communities through Internet Essentials for a decade and there’s never been a greater need than now,” Comcast Cable CEO Dave Watson said in a press release. “As a media and technology company, we have a unique opportunity to provide meaningful connection to the communities we serve – whether that’s through access to the internet, programs to support creativity and digital literacy and skills training for young people, or workforce development opportunities for adults. Our commitment has never been stronger, and we are dedicated to leveling the playing field and making a lasting impact for generations to come.”

Also Read: Broadband Drives Q4 Again for Comcast Cable

Comcast first launched the Internet Essentials program in 2011, offering broadband service to those in need for $9.95 per month. Over the past decade it has connected  millions of people to the internet at home, donated tens of thousands of free laptops to students and families across the country and invested $700 million in digital literacy, skills training and awareness programs that have reached 11 million people. On Tuesday, Comcast said it would double download speeds for the service to 50 Megabits per second and raise upstream speeds to 5 Mbps at no extra charge. The faster speeds will be available beginning March 1 to both new and existing Internet Essentials customers. 

Comcast also said it would accelerate the timeline to launch about 1,000 Lift Zones in community centers across its footprint. Originally the company had planned to connect the Lift Zones, which provide safe spaces for students to access free Wi-Fi and participate in distance learning and do their schoolwork, over several years. Now, after launching several hundred Lift Zones in 2020 across the country, Comcast said it will connect 1,000 Lift Zones by the end of this year.

“Transforming our Boys & Girls Clubs into Lift Zones has made a huge difference in the lives of the students we serve in Philadelphia,” Boys & Girl Clubs of Philadelphia president and CEO Lisabeth Marziello said in a press release. “Many of the kids who come to our clubs either don’t have the Internet at home or they have it, but they can’t study at home for a variety of reasons and they need somewhere to go. We’re so happy to be able to work with Comcast to give our students a safe, clean space where they can stay in school even when schools are closed.”

Comcast also said it would earmark about $3.5 million within its $40 million digital equity grant program for partners including CodePath, Genesys Works, Jobs for the Future, NPower, i.c. stars, Opportunity at Work, Goodwill, YWCA, and Philadelphia Youth Network. Comcast launched the digital equity program last year to help organizations that foster social justice and equality and so far has made investments in partners like Per Scholas, Coded by Kids, Center for Black Innovation, Inner-City Arts, and BUILD.org. 

“Comcast’s investment in CodePath will help us double our impact to reach nearly 5,000 students and over 60 university partners in 2021. As disadvantaged communities struggle with mass job losses in the wake of the pandemic, our courses are one of the few holistic programs placing thousands of underrepresented minorities into our nation’s most competitive technical roles,” said CodePath co-founder and CEO Michael Ellison in a press release. “Through partnerships with CodePath and many other dedicated organizations, Comcast continues to demonstrate its commitment to creating tangible and systemic change, while providing new opportunities for people of color in the tech sector and beyond.”

Comcast unveiled a new multi-year initiative Thursday to launch more than 1,000 WiFi-connected “Lift Zones” in community centers across the company, providing free internet connections and access to educational and digital skills content to help needy students navigate online learning.

The initiative will complement Comcast's existing Internet Essentials program, which has offered low-cost internet access to families in need since 2011, connecting more than 8 million people to the internet at home. Working with its network of nonprofit partners and city leaders, Comcast will provide WiFi in facilities they have identified to help students get online, participate in distance learning, and do their schoolwork.

“For nearly a decade, Internet Essentials has helped to change the lives of millions of people by providing low-income families with Internet access at home,” Comcast Cable CEO Dave Watson said in a press release. “These Lift Zones, which will be installed in community centers in local neighborhoods that our partners have identified and will run, and where students and families can get online and access the resources they need, especially while so many schools and workplaces have gone virtual.”

Comcast said it has already identified the first 200 Lift Zones, which are intended to help those students who, for a variety of reasons, may be unable to connect to distance learning at home, or who just want another place in which to study.

Several of the Lift Zones are already open and others will open this year in more than a dozen cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Trenton, Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C.

Examples include: 

Baltimore – Harvey Johnson Community Center at Union Baptist Church – Serves more than 50 students and community members in West Baltimore in a safe space for participating in online education, as well as in inter-generational learning classes, with access to computers and training through its cyber center. 

Chicago – BUILD is one of Chicago’s leading gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organizations, serving nearly 3,000 young people each year. Its mission is to engage at-risk youth in schools and on the streets to help them realize their potential and contribute to their communities. BUILD focuses on hard-to-serve youth in some of Chicago’s most challenging neighborhoods.

Philadelphia – Olney Recreation Center – A 13.6-acre site with outdoor spaces and recreation building with an auditorium, gymnasium, and multipurpose rooms offering free and low-cost programming for neighborhood children.

Trenton – Catholic Youth Organization of Mercer County – Provides childcare and youth programs to approximately 1,200 children ages 8-14 from Catholic schools and parishes during the academic year.

Twin Cities – The Sanneh Foundation Distanced Learning Hub at Conway Community Center in St. Paul, enables parents and guardians to continue to work while providing a safe space for their children during normal school hours. Sanneh hosts 140 students per day and is offering safe, socially distanced access to educational technology as well as tutoring support. 

The Lift Zones initiative comes on the heels of Comcast’s recent launch of its new “Internet Essentials Partnership Program,” which focuses on enabling cities, school districts, and community-based organizations to connect large numbers of low-income students to the Internet at home to support distance learning while many schools remain closed. To date, more than 70 schools have signed up for the Partner Program, potentially benefiting nearly 200,000 students.

Comcast said Thursday it has extended its free Internet Essentials broadband offer to homes through the end of the year. 

Comcast, as did most other cable operators, offered 60-days o f free Internet service to homes with college, elementary and high school-aged children back in March as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That offer was extended to June 30 as stay-at-home orders continued. Even with most school years ended, Comcast said it has decided to extend the offer through the end of 2020. In addition, Comcast will continue to waive, through the end of the year, the requirement that customers not have a past due balance with Comcast to qualify for the free offer.

“For almost a decade, Comcast has been helping to level the playing field for families in need so they can benefit from all the Internet has to offer. So, we’re happy to be able to extend this 60 days of free Internet service to new customers,” said Xfinity Consumer Services president Dana Strong in a press release. “Now more than ever, connectivity has become a vital tool for families to access educational resources for students, important news and information about their community and the world, telehealth applications, or to stay in touch with family and friends.”

Comcast started Internet Essentials in 2011, and since that time has connected more than two million low-income families to the Internet, serving approximately eight million people. The program offers high-speed Internet service for $9.95 a month plus tax, and provides multiple options to access free digital skills training in print, online, and in person. In addition, customers have the option to purchase a low-cost Internet-ready computer.

Internet Essentials is structured in partnership between Comcast and school districts, libraries, elected officials, and nonprofit community partners. Applicants can go to: www.internetessentials.com using any web-connected device, including mobile phones.

Comcast is boosting speeds of its Internet Essentials low-income subsidized broadband due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will also make it easier for low income households without broadband to sign up. 

"As our country continues to manage the COVID-19 emergency, we recognize that our company plays an important role in helping our customers stay connected – to their families, their workplaces, their schools, and the latest information about the virus – through the Internet," said Dana Strong, president of consumer services for Comcast Cable. 

She said that was particularly important for low income Americans for who uncertainty is even more difficult.  

She said that effective March 16, Comcast is boosting the speed of the Internet Essentials service from 15 Mbps/2 Mbps to 25/3 (the FCC's baseline for high-speed access). Strong said that will ensure customers will be able to use the service for "all their increased needs." Those could include telework, telehealth and remote schooling. 

Comcast will also offer new Internet Essentials customers 60 days of complimentary service--after which it will be $9.95 per month, the standard price. New customers will get a free self-install kit--modem and WiFi router, and there will be no term contract or credit check and no shipping cost for the kit.  

Comcast said it is reaching out to "thousands of governmental and nonprofit partners" to spread the word about the changes to the program.  

Comcast is ramping up its effort to leave no veteran behind when it comes to broadband access help for low-income Americans, which includes some of those vets.

Comcast's Internet Essentials broadband subsidy program was initially targeted to families with children eligible for government assistance, but it has been expanded to include low income seniors (a pilot program in Washington D.C.) and military veterans in its service area, the latter which Comcast says totals almost a million vets.

In an extension of that veterans assistance program announced in Washington Tuesday (Sept. 25), Comcast said it is teaming with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the PsychArmor Institute.

That extension of the previously announced expansion of the program to low-income vets comprises 10 "veteran-specific" digital training videos and materials that will be available online, in classrooms and at Comcast-funded computer labs in 10 markets.

Related: Comcast Says Internet Essentials Has Helped 6 Million Low-Income Americans

“Internet access is incredibly important to the veteran community. Yet, about a third of low-income veterans still do not have Internet service at home and about 40% do not even own a computer,” said David Cohen, senior EVP and chief diversity officer at Comcast. “We think this is simply unacceptable and our partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and PsychArmor will help more low-income veterans get connected to the Internet so they can receive the benefits they deserve and learn the digital skills they need to be successful as civilians in our fast-paced, global economy.”

Comcast made the announcement at the Reserve Officers Association Headquarters in Washington.

It also announced a new Internet Essentials Learning Zone in Washington to encourage students to connect at school, after school at libraries and other anchor institutions, then at home with Internet Essentials. That will include Free Comcast broadband for 19 partners including nonprofits and social service organizations.

Comcast this week launched a campaign that links Internet Essentials, its high-speed internet adoption initiative for low-income households, with members of the Conference of Western Attorneys General and focuses on online safety for seniors, parents and children.

RELATED: Comcast’s ‘Internet Essentials’ Connects 1M Low-Income Households

In Arizona and New Mexico, Comcast said it will partner with both State Attorneys General to raise awareness about online safety, building on a similar effort launched last year with Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

Comcast said the campaign follows recent announcements from the Federal Trade Commission that estimate scammers extracted nearly $1 billion from Americans last year alone, with more than $240 million coming way either online or via email.

In connection, Comcast also announced it is providing support to several national nonprofits focused on internet safety education and research, including Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI); Common Sense Media; and Older Adults Technology Services (OATS).

“We welcome the opportunity to combine our Internet Essentials program with Attorneys General across the nation to provide low-income seniors, parents, and children with the tools and knowledge they need to be safe online,” David Cohen, Comcast ‘s senior executive VP and chief diversity officer, said in a statement. “This is an issue that cuts across party lines. There is a universal desire on the part of law enforcement officials to protect Americans from the potential risks of being online. We also want to address the fear, which is the number one barrier to broadband adoption, that prevents some seniors and families from connecting to the Internet’s life-changing resources.”

“Attorneys General across state and party lines are responsible for protecting citizens from online scams and other predatory behavior,” added Derek Schmidt, Kansas Attorney General and president of the National Association of Attorneys General. “I commend Comcast for their work to protect seniors online by providing these educational materials to our members. This is a true example of a public-private partnership that benefits all of the members of our communities.”

“Older adults are often vulnerable to exploitation by those who prey on the goodness, financial insecurity, or trusting nature of seniors,” said Mark Brnovich, Arizona Attorney General and Chair of the Conference of Western Attorneys General. “My office is dedicated to protecting Arizona seniors from abuse and exploitation. I’m proud to work with Comcast and their Internet Essentials program to help arm our seniors and parents with the tools they need to safely take advantage of all the internet has to offer.”

As of August 2017, the Internet Essentials program has connected more than 4 million low-income Americans in 1 million households to the internet at home. 

Comcast said is extending Internet Essentials, the MSO’s high-speed Intneret program for low-income homes, to senior citizens in Boston.

Comcast also said it has donated  $100,000 to Boston's Tech Goes Home for digital literacy training for seniors. The operator also donated 110 laptops to seniors at the South Boston Neighborhood House and high school students throughout the city.

Comcast has introduced a similar Seniors-focused trials of Internet Essentials in Palm Beach County, Philadelphia, San Francisco County, and Seattle.

RELATED: Comcast Expands Low-Cost Broadband for Seniors

Internet Essentials, originally a voluntary commitment linked to Comcast's acquisition of NBCUniversal, provides high-speed Internet service (up to 10 Mbps downstream)  to those who qualify for $9.95 per month, plus subsidized computer equipment (less than $150 each) and free Internet training.

In August, Comcast announced that the program connects 750,000 families or about 3 million Americans. Comcast said about 80,000 residents in Massachusetts are on the program.

Comcast said eligible senior citizens in Boston are also in line for a 10% discount on Basic Cable TV or Digital Starter Cable TV.

"Closing the digital divide for low-income parents and children across the country and in the City of Boston has never been more important to Comcast.  Seniors, too, need internet access at home to break down barriers of isolation and connect them to their friends, family, and caregivers," David Cohen, SVP and chief diversity officer of Comcast said in a statement.

"I am pleased to be working with Comcast to bring affordable internet access to our Boston seniors," added Mayor Martin J. Walsh.  "Seniors are the fastest-growing segment of our population, and we are committed to making Boston an age-friendly city.  Our low-income seniors need both training and access to internet services, and I thank Comcast and our partners for their work to create equitable internet access for our City's seniors."

 In July, Comcast inked a partnership with the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development’s ConnectHome initiative to expand Internet Essentials to about 2 million HUD-assisted homes within the MSO’s service territory. It recently named Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee as the new national spokesperson for Internet Essentials.

Timed with the back-to-school season, Comcast said Wednesday that Internet Essentials, the operator’s service for low-income families, now connects 750,000 families or about 3 million Americans.

Internet Essentials, originally a voluntary commitment linked to Comcast's acquisition of NBCUniversal and now entering its sixth year, provides high-speed Internet service (up to 10 Mbps downstream)  to those who qualify for $9.95 per month, plus subsidized computer equipment (less than $150 each) and free Internet training.

In July, Comcast inked a partnership with the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development’s ConnectHome initiative to expand Internet Essentials to about 2 million HUD-assisted homes within the MSO’s service territory. HUD says those homes account for about 40% of all its households.

David Cohen, SVP and chief diversity officer at Comcast, and Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, the new national spokesperson for Internet Essentials, announced the milestone Wednesday as they kicked off a multi-city tour that, over the next six weeks, will make stops in Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia, where it will also announce more than $2 million in grants to community organizations that provide digital literacy training and Internet access.

Comcast said it has invested more than $300 million in cash and in-kind support since the 2011 launch of Internet Essentials, including the broadcast of 8.5 million public service announcements, valued at nearly $110 million. It also estimates that it has distributed 54,000 subsidized computers and teamed with more than 9,000 community partners such as schools, school districts, elected officials, and businesses.

“In the last five years, we’ve learned that no single company or government program is ever going to fix the digital divide and that solving a big, difficult societal issue like this takes nothing short of a movement,” Cohen said in a statement. “We are so proud that thousands of community partners around the country have helped us make a meaningful dent in the digital divide.  With the recent announcement of our expansion to HUD-assisted homes, we look forward to bringing this essential connection to even more families over the next five years. There is still more good work to do.”

“I’ve dedicated my life to inspiring young people to have the confidence to succeed in both academics and athletics,” added Joyner-Kersee.  “At my foundation’s community center in East St. Louis, I’ve seen first-hand the kids who grow up without internet service at home and the impact it has on their futures.  I’m proud to represent Internet Essentials and help close the digital divide, so every child can have the chance to develop to their fullest potential and reach their dreams.”

Charter Communications announced a new low-cost broadband service for low-income customers that the MSO pledged to offer within six months of the close of its proposed acquisitions of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.  

The service, which will be offered across Charter’s footprint within three years of close, will deliver speeds of up to 30 Mbps downstream and 4 Mbps upstream for  $14.99 per month. The speeds happen to exceed  FCC’s current definition of wireline  “broadband”  -- 25 Mbps down by 3 Mbps up.

Other MSOs have launched similar high-speed Internet options for low-income families. Those from Cox Communications (Connect2Compete) and Comcast (Internet Essentials) currently offer max downstream speeds of 10 Mbps, but cost less to homes that qualify -- $9.95 per month. The Cox and Comcast programs also provide free WiFi routers, and Comcast’s provides access to discounted computer equipment (less than $150).

Charter, meanwhile, will hang its hat on  faster speeds through its $14.99 per month program, which is targeted to families with students who participate in the National School Lunch Program, and seniors who are 65 years and older who receive Supplemental Security Income program benefits. Additionally, enrollees can’t have had a Charter, TWC, or BHN broadband subscription within 60 days of signing up. Eligible participants won’t need to undergo a credit check, but must clear any bad debt with the three MSOs.

In addition to the 30/4 service and a free modem and self-install kit, Charter’s low-cost option for eligible subs will also be in line to receive “promotional” video and phone service bundle offerings.

"Recognizing the central role broadband plays in our daily lives and the economic challenges faced by many Americans today, we look forward to launching this offering that will provide more consumers a superior broadband service," Tom Rutledge, president and CEO of Charter, said in a statement.  "Our industry-leading low-cost broadband service is just one of the many benefits these transactions will bring to our customers. We look forward to providing this superior broadband service to underserved families and seniors throughout Charter's footprint."

Charter’s plan drew praise from Public Knowledge, a group that is scrutinizing the proposed deals.

"Although we still have significant concerns about Charter's proposed merger with Time Warner Cable, we also recognize that some of the commitments that Charter has made could serve as a model for the rest of the cable and broadband industry,” said John Bergmayer, senior staff attorney with Public Knowledge, in a statement. “For example, its commitment not to impose data caps on its users. Similarly, Charter's effort to make it easier for low-income seniors and families with children to access broadband service has many good attributes, including fast broadband speeds. In conjunction with a modernized Lifeline program, Charter's proposal can help the nation achieve universal affordable access."

In its announcement, Charter rallied support from leaders with several organizations, including the  National Urban League, National Action Network, League of United Latin American Citizens,  The National Hispanic Media Coalition, California School Boards Association, Connected Nation, Digital Divide Partners LLC, NOBEL Women’s Initiative, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and the Los Angeles Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC).

Cox Communications is doubling the downstream speed and bringing an in-home WiFi component to Connect2Compete, the MSO’s high-speed Internet program for low-income families with school-aged children.

Cox said it will bump downstream speeds for the program to 10 Mbps, and tack on WiFi for $9.95 per month. The new speeds take effect on  December 3, and will benefit nearly 130,000 people who are on the program. WiFi equipment will be included for all new enrollments in the program after December3.

The MSO announced the updates today at Broadmoor High School in East Baton Rouge Parish in Louisiana, and was joined there by FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai.

"Students with high-speed Internet access at home have educational opportunities that were inconceivable just a generation ago,” Pai said in a statement. “But students without it are essentially stuck in the era of the No. 2 pencil," said Commissioner Pai. "I applaud Cox Communications for helping to bridge this gap with its Connect2Compete program. By offering fast, affordable Internet access and WiFi connections at home, Cox is giving students in Baton Rouge and around the country every chance to succeed in the digital age."

"Affordable, home access to the Internet, especially for students and their families, is a vital component of ending the digital divide," added  Zach Leverenz, CEO of EveryoneOn, the parent organization of Connect2Compete. "Digital equity for students inside and outside of school also requires equity in the type and quality of service. Cox Communications' commitment to not only providing affordable service, but also expanded speeds and WiFi, is an important part of home access for the underserved populations."

Cox went national with Connect2Compete in April 2013.

Among other MSOs, Comcast recently doubled Internet Essentials’ download speeds to up to 10 Mbps, added free WiFi routers to the mix, and has begun to test a version of the program for low-income community college students.

Comcast said it has picked Colorado and Illinois as the first two states where it will test out a version of its Internet Essential program for low-income community college students.

The two-state trial comes on the heels of Comcast’s recent expansion of a similar Internet Essentials pilot tailored for senior citizens.

To qualify for the program, low-income community college students in Colorado and Illinois must be recipients of Federal Pell Grants. Comcast, citing recent data on community colleges from the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), said nearly 40% of students attending two-year community colleges receive Federal Pell Grants. In Colorado, an estimated 40,000 community college students attending schools within Comcast’s service area receive Pell Grants and would be eligible to apply for Internet Essentials. There are more than 90,000 who are Federal Pell Grant recipients in Illinois, Comcast said. 

Internet Essentials, a voluntary commitment linked to Comcast's acquisition of NBCUniversal and originally designed for low-income families, provides high-speed Internet service to those who qualify for $9.95 per month, plus computer equipment (less than $150) and free Internet training. Comcast recently doubled Internet Essentials’ download speeds to up to 10 Mbps, and said it would offer free WiFi routers that enable users to connect devices such as tablets, laptops and smartphones to their home service. As of June 2015, Comcast said it had connected more than 500,000 households and 2 million Americans to Internet Essentials.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, community colleges enroll as many as 40%  all college students each year, and that community colleges serve a high percentage of non-traditional students, including those who are low-income, are financially independent, have dependents, are first generation, and are older.

“For millions of Americans, community college is one of the most accessible paths to a post-secondary education and a brighter future,” David Cohen, Comcast’s senior executive VP and chief diversity officer, said in a statement. “By offering an affordable Internet connection and computer, Internet Essentials will enable low-income community college students to access educational resources not just at school but also at home."

At the Community College of Denver, Comcast’s Cohen announced the community college pilots alongside Colorado Lieutenant Governor and executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education Joe Garcia; and President of the Colorado Community College System Nancy McCallin, Ph.D.

Comcast has expanded its pilot low-cost broadband service for senior citizens to the San Francisco area, the company said Wednesday.

The pilot – building on an earlier one in Palm Beach County Florida on Aug. 4 – is part of its Internet Essentials package.

Comcast is working with the San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services, the City’s SF Connected Senior’s Digital Literacy Training Collaborative, Self-Help for the Elderly, Community Technology Network, and the Community Living Campaign on the program.

Internet Essentials, Comcast’s low-cost broadband initiative is in its fifth year. Initially trargeted at low-income families in larger cities, the program has connected more than 500,000 homes and 2 million individuals. In California, the program has connected more than 280,000 low-income Californians to online access at home, of which more than 90,000 live in the Greater Bay Area.  California now ranks first in the nation for Internet Essentials adoption, with the program reaching more than 23% of its estimated eligible population.

 “We have made real and significant progress toward closing the digital divide for low-income parents and children across the country.  In less than four years, Internet Essentials has connected more than 500,000 families, or more than 2 million low-income Americans, to the power of the Internet at home,” said Comcast executive vice president and chief diversity officer David Cohen in a statement.  “Now, with our low-income senior citizen pilot in San Francisco, we are opening up a second front in our attack on the digital divide so these seniors can get connected to the Internet in their homes and use it to communicate with friends and family, access healthcare and financial information, and enjoy online news and entertainment.”

Since 2011, Comcast has made more than 25 key enhancements to the program. Earlier this month, the company doubled the service’s download speed to up to 10 Mbps downstream and providing a Wi-Fi router for no additional cost.  Customers will be able to power multiple devices simultaneously and connect any Internet-enabled device, which could help save money on wireless bills.

According to Pew Research Center, about 47% of seniors (aged 65 and older) have high-speed Internet at home.  Ranked by income level, only 25% of seniors with household incomes below $30,000 have home broadband, compared to 82% of seniors with household incomes at or above $75,000.

“Like every city across the country, San Francisco depends on the Internet to provide fundamental services to its residents, including information on governmental resources,” said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee in a statement.  “We have made great strides toward a larger vision of connectivity for our City as a whole to bridge the digital divide and ensure that our diverse communities have access to innovation, which include expanding free WiFi access to our public spaces including libraries and parks.  Much more remains to be done, and I thank Comcast for partnering with the City to help us better connect our residents including offering affordable Internet access to our seniors by expanding the eligibility of its Internet Essentials program in San Francisco to include low-income seniors over 65, and also training our older adults on using and accessing technology so they learn skills necessary to succeed in the 21st Century.”

Comcast has invested about $240 million in cash and in-kind services to help fund digital literacy and education initiatives, reaching nearly 3.2 million people through national and local community partners.  Through the end of June 2015, Comcast has dedicated more than $1 million in grants to create Internet Essentials Learning Zones, aimed at increasing family-focused digital literacy training in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Fresno, Miami, and Seattle; provided more than 41,000 subsidized computers at less than $150 each; offered Internet Essentials to nearly 48,000 schools and 5,000 school districts, in 39 states and the District of Columbia; and partnered with 9,000 community-based organizations, government agencies, and federal, state, and local elected officials to spread the word.

“Many may not initially think of senior citizens when it comes to addressing high-speed Internet adoption and digital literacy,” said Self-Help for the Elderly CEO Anni Chung in a statement.  “However, the Internet has a tremendous power to improve their lives by better connecting them with loved ones and restoring a sense of community and inclusion to an often-isolated population.”

Gearing up for back-to-school season, Comcast announced Tuesday that Internet Essentials, its program for low-income families, had connected more than 500,000 families, and north of 2 million Americans as of June 2015.

In addition to releasing the new figures and milestones, Comcast said it is also doubling the downstream speed of the service to 10 Mbps (paired with a 1 Mbps upstream), and will offer a free WiFi router to new and existing Internet Essentials customers.

Comcast, which has increased the speed of Internet Essentials three times in four years, said existing customers can get the faster speeds by rebooting their cable modems and can obtain the WiFi router by calling the Internet Essentials dedicated call center. Comcast said it will ship the WiFi equipment for free and will also provide professional installations for no additional cost. New Internet Essentials customers can opt for the WiFi router when they sign up.

Comcast is also expanding the number of schools that are eligible for its streamlined auto-enrollment process. “Now, if a child attends a school where at least 50 percent of the students are eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program, all student families in that school are automatically eligible for Internet Essentials,” David Cohen, Comcast' executive vice president and chief diversity officer noted in a blog post.

Internet Essentials, a voluntary commitment linked to Comcast's acquisition of NBCUniversal, provides low-cost Internet service ($9.95 per month), computer equipment (less than $150) and free Internet training to low-income homes with school-aged kids.

Comcast launched Internet Essentials in August 2011, and has made the program available to nearly 48,000 schools and more than 5,000 school districts in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

Comcast also announced that it will conduct several pilot programs for low-income senior citizens, noting that 47% of seniors (aged 65 and older) have high-speed Internet at home, according to Pew Research Center. The first pilot is slated for Palm Beach County, Fla., and Comcast expects to introduce the pilot in additional markets in the weeks ahead. Cohen announced the pilot program there today with City of West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio, Palm Beach County School District Superintendent Robert Avossa, and Urban League of Palm Beach County President and CEO Patrick J. Franklin.

“We have made significant progress toward closing the digital divide for low-income parents and children across the country,” Cohen said in a statement. “In less than four years, Internet Essentials has connected more than 500,000 families, or more than 2 million low-income Americans, to the power of the Internet at home. With the increase in the program’s Internet speeds, the addition of Wi-Fi, and a streamlined auto-enrollment process, more families will have even easier access to the Internet and its life-changing resources for education, employment, healthcare, communication, and entertainment.”

Through Internet Essentials, Comcast said it has invested more than $240 million in cash and in-kind support to help fund digital literacy and readiness training and education, reaching nearly 3.2 million people through national and local nonprofit community partners. 

Through the end of June 2015, Comcast said it has also dedicated more than $1 million in grants to create Internet Essentials Learning Zones; provided more than 41,000 subsidized computers (at least than $150 each); distributed for free nearly 46 million Internet Essentials program materials; broadcast more than 7 million public service announcements, valued at more than $90 million; and fielded more than 3.2 million phone via its Internet Essentials call center. 

Comcast said today it would give six months of free Internet service, under its Internet Essentials program, to any new family that applies for the program. Families who are approved for Internet Essentials between Aug. 4 and Sept 20 will receive up to six months of Internet service.

Comcast also said it would offer amnesty for certain low-income families that could qualify for the broadband service but have a past-due balance. Customers who have an outstanding bill that is more than a year old are now eligible for Internet Essentials, as long as they meet other eligibility criteria.

Internet Essentials provides broadband service (up to 5 megabits per second downloads, up to 1 Mbps uploads) from Comcast for $9.95 a month plus tax and the option to buy an Internet-ready computer for less than $150, plus access to free digital literacy training in print, online and in-person. Eligible families must have at least one child eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program, including public, parochial, private and homeschooled students. Comcast started the program in 2011 and said it has connected more than 350,000 families, or about 1.4 million low-income Americans. It's offered in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

Comcast said in a release it will promote the six-months-free offer via public service announcements as part of a back-to-school campaign. Executive vice president David Cohen announced the program enhancements at Peyton Forrest Elementary School in Atlanta along with Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal.