Comcast Launching More Than 20 WiFi-Connected “Lift Zones” in Twin Cities
November 16 2020 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Lift Zones Provide Safe Spaces Fully
Equipped with Free Internet Access to Help Low-Income Students
Participate in Distance Learning
As part of its ongoing commitment to help connect low-income
families to the Internet so they can fully participate in
educational opportunities and the digital economy, Comcast today
announced plans to equip more than 20 different locations in the
Twin Cities with WiFi-connected “Lift Zones” before the end of
2020.
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Comcast plans to equip more than 20
different locations in the Twin Cities with WiFi-connected “Lift
Zones” before the end of 2020, designed to help students get
online, participate in distance learning and do their homework.
(Photo: Business Wire)
Working with its network of nonprofit partners, Comcast is
providing robust WiFi hotspots in safe spaces designed to help
students get online, participate in distance learning and do their
homework. This initiative provides free connectivity inside partner
community centers for the next three years.
The Sanneh Foundation Distanced Learning Hub at Conway Community
Center in St. Paul was the first of 14 Lift Zones installed in the
Twin Cities. The Sanneh Foundation Distanced Learning Hub provides
much needed help to parents and guardians by providing a safe place
each day for more than 140 students during normal school hours. The
Lift Zone features free WiFi provided by Comcast, which allows
students to work on laptops simultaneously so they can successfully
participate in distance learning.
“Working parents across our community have been wondering how to
handle distance learning for their children. In addition, many
parents are not able to afford daycare or access to the technology
needed for distance learning at home,” said Tony Sanneh, founder
and CEO, The Sanneh Foundation. “That's why we are so grateful
Comcast has partnered with us to provide these crucial resources
and stepped in to fill an important need.”
“We are proud to partner with community organizations across the
Twin Cities and equip them with free internet service and the
digital training skills that will provide kids with safe, fast and
reliable connectivity to keep up with school and prepare for a
brighter future,” said J.D. Keller, regional senior vice president,
Comcast Twin Cities. “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. We hope these Lift Zones will help those
students who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to connect to
effective distance learning at home.”
Twin Cities community organizations that have established Lift
Zones in their respective facilities include:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities locations
- Al Lenzmeier West Side, St. Paul
- East Side, St. Paul
- Jerry Gamble Center, Minneapolis
- Mount Airy, St. Paul
- Southside Village, South Minneapolis
- Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, St. Paul
- Keystone Community Services, St. Paul
- Neighborhood House, St. Paul
- Perspectives Family Center, St. Louis Park
- Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, Minneapolis
- Pillsbury United Communities, Brian Coyle Center,
Minneapolis
- The Real Minneapolis, Allina Commons, Minneapolis
- The Sanneh Foundation, Conway Community Center, St. Paul
- Vietnamese Social Services, St. Paul
Several more Twin Cities Lift Zone partners are currently under
consideration, including YMCA of the North and Division of Indian
Work in partnership with the Phillips Indian Educators of
Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors group, with the goal to have
all locations installed by early 2021.
In addition, the company is providing free access to all outdoor
WiFi hotspots until the end of 2020, plus hundreds of hours of
digital skills content to help families and site coordinators
navigate online learning. Lift Zone sites complement Comcast’s
Internet Essentials program, which has helped connect more than 8
million low-income people to the Internet at home, including more
than 172,000 Minnesotans.
About Comcast
Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and
technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable,
NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’
largest video, high-speed Internet, and phone providers to
residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides
these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and
security and automation services to residential customers under the
Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news,
entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo
broadcast networks, television production operations, television
station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and
Resorts. Sky is one of Europe's leading media and entertainment
companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content
through its pay television services. It also provides
communications services, including residential high-speed Internet,
phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast
network and sports and entertainment networks, produces original
content, and has exclusive content rights. Visit
www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
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Jill Hornbacher Jill_Hornbacher@Comcast.com 651.425.1695 Dave
Nyberg Dave_Nyberg@Comcast.com 651.341.6401
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