Comcast Hosts Digital Inclusion Days in Seattle to Help Bridge the Digital Divide
October 10 2018 - 11:30AM
Business Wire
Comcast’s Internet Essentials Program Connects
More Than Six Million Low-Income Individuals to the Internet,
Including More than 260,000 in Washington
Company Expands Eligibility for Internet
Essentials to Low-Income Veterans, Including Nearly 1 Million
Nationally and 60,000 Veterans in Washington
Comcast announced today it is hosting a series of events in
Seattle designed to raise awareness of the urgent need for more
Internet access and training for local families, students, and
veterans. Since 2011, Comcast has connected more than six million
low-income Americans to the Internet through its acclaimed Internet
Essentials program, which is the largest and most comprehensive
high-speed Internet adoption program for low-income families in the
U.S.
Washington State ranks eighth in the nation in terms of the
number of residents who have embraced the Internet Essentials
program. In fact, in the last seven years, more than 260,000
residents across the state, and more than 164,000 in the greater
Seattle area, have signed up for the program.
The company also announced it has significantly expanded
eligibility – for the 11th time – to include low-income veterans.
This includes one million participants nationally, and nearly
60,000 across the state of Washington. According to the United
States Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey, nearly a
third of low-income veterans do not have Internet access, and less
than 60 percent own a computer.
“Internet Essentials has had an enormous impact
on millions of families and children – and now veterans –
who need access to high-speed Internet and
technology resources,” said David L. Cohen, Senior Executive
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Comcast Corporation.
“The Seattle community has its own unique challenges in relation to
technology and Internet access. With programs like Internet
Essentials, Comcast hopes to offer the region the tools it needs to
bridge the digital divide and empower the community to grow and
thrive.”
David Cohen, and U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists Monique
Lamoureux-Morando and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson will speak at a
digital literacy assembly at Beverly Elementary School today, to
help accelerate access to technology resources for low-income
students. During the rally, 150 students will be recognized as
digital ambassadors and given new laptops to help provide them with
resources they need to continue to expand their educational
opportunities.
In addition, Comcast highlighted Internet Essentials’ veteran
expansion at the Bunker Labs Muster Conference to an audience of
local veteran entrepreneurs and technology enthusiasts. Bunker Labs
is the nation’s premier veteran entrepreneurial training ecosystem
designed to support veterans and their business ventures.
At the event, Comcast announced a grant to support the launch of
the new Bunker Labs Digital Boot Camp pilot program. Specifically
aimed at increasing digital skills and access for veteran
entrepreneurs, this is the first program of its kind, created by
Bunker Labs, that will operate exclusively in Seattle.
Finally, Comcast is holding a “Future of Digital Inclusion”
roundtable today with leaders from some of the most influential
community advocacy groups in the Puget Sound. This event will
include discussions on diversity, inclusion, gender equality,
technology access, and resources for marginalized communities
across the Puget Sound.
Comcast Internet Essentials has an integrated,
wrap-around design meant to address each of the three
major barriers to broadband adoption that research has
identified. These include a lack of digital
literacy skills, a lack of a computer and the
absence of a low-cost Internet service. 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 on Internet Essentials, visit
www.internetessentials.com.
About Internet Essentials
Internet Essentials from Comcast is the nation’s largest and
most comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program for
low-income Americans. It provides low-cost high-speed Internet
service for $9.95 a month plus tax; the option to purchase an
Internet-ready computer for under $150; and multiple options to
access free digital literacy training in print, online and in
person. For more information, or to apply for the program, visit
www.InternetEssentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376. Spanish-only
speakers should call 1-855-765-6995.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and
technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and
NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s 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 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. Visit
www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181010005045/en/
ComcastAndy Colley,
425-248-5438Andy_Colley@comcast.comorNick McDonald,
425-977-5565Nick_McDonald@Comcast.com
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