RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast today
announced a $25,000 grant to support
CodeVA and its free computer science programs for city
students and teachers, along with a donation of 500 free
laptops, which will be distributed to Richmond Public Schools students and resident
seniors across the city. The grant and donation are part of marking
the company's 10th anniversary of its Internet
Essentials program, which is the nation's largest and most
comprehensive broadband adoption effort for low-income households.
Since 2011, it has connected a cumulative total of 360,000
individuals in Virginia.
"This is an incredible day for the City of Richmond, and I want to thank Comcast
for its long-standing commitment to digital equity," said
Cynthia Newbille, President of the
Richmond City Council. "This grant will help us connect even more
residents to the internet so they're able to obtain the digital
skills that are critical to succeed in today's digital world."
Beyond the financial grant and laptop donation, Comcast is
focused on increasing broadband adoption in Richmond through Lift Zones, which provide
free WiFi access within select recreation centers, community
centers, senior centers, and public housing computer labs. In
addition, the company offers hundreds of hours of free digital
skills training to residents – allowing more students, seniors,
veterans, and others to learn how to get online for distance
learning, job hunting, telehealth services, and more.
"This generous laptop donation from Comcast will be a real
difference maker in the lives of many of our students and their
families," said Cheryl Burke,
Chairwoman of Richmond Public
Schools Board of Education. "Internet connectivity, devices and
digital literacy are must-haves to remain competitive in today's
world, and we're looking forward to our continued partnership with
Comcast."
Comcast is also supporting the Emergency Broadband
Benefit (EBB), a temporary benefit program from the federal
government designed to help qualified low-income households with a
credit of up to $50 per month toward
their Internet service until the program's funding runs out. For
Comcast Internet Essentials customers, household participation in
the EBB would eliminate any costs for the Internet Essentials
service.
"Our goal is to get every resident of Richmond connected to the Internet," said
Antoine Banks, Director of
Government Affairs for Comcast's Beltway Region. "There is no quick
fix to closing the digital divide, but we have been at this for 10
years with Internet Essentials and will continue to work with the
City of Richmond, Richmond Public Schools and our local
non-profit partners to drive internet adoption, improve digital
literacy and ultimately create a connected city."
Project UP & Comcast's $1
Billion Commitment to Advancing Digital
Equity
Comcast has been connecting more people to the Internet and the
technology they need to participate and excel in an increasingly
digital world for over a decade. Looking toward the next ten years,
Comcast is building on that foundation and expanding its impact
through Project UP, a comprehensive initiative to advance digital
equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. Backed
by a $1 billion commitment to reach
50 million people, Project UP encompasses the programs and
community partnerships across Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Sky that
connect people to the Internet, advance
economic mobility, and open doors for the next generation
of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers and creators. For more
information on Project UP and the latest news on efforts to address
digital inequities, including the recent expansion of the Comcast
RISE Investment Fund to provide millions in grants to small
business owners of color and investment in research to increase
diversity in the technology and digital fields,
visit https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/project-up.
About Internet Essentials
Internet Essentials is Comcast's signature digital equity
initiative and the nation's largest and most comprehensive
broadband adoption program. In 10 years, it has helped connect 10
million low-income Americans to broadband Internet at home, most
for the very first time. It has a comprehensive design that
addresses each of the three major barriers to broadband adoption.
This includes multiple options to access free digital literacy
training in print, online, and in person; the option to purchase a
heavily subsidized, low-cost Internet-ready computer; and low-cost,
high-speed Internet service for $9.95
a month, plus tax. The program is structured as a partnership
between Comcast and tens of thousands of school districts,
libraries, elected officials and nonprofit community partners. For
more information about Internet Essentials and Comcast's commitment
to education and digital equity, please
visit https://corporate.comcast.com/education. To apply, visit
www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376 for English
or 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.
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 broadband, 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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SOURCE Comcast NBCUniversal