Celebrating the Internet Essentials program 10th anniversary, Comcast will invest $1 billion over the next 10 years to further close the digital divide and give more low-income Americans the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.
In 10 years, we’ve connected 160,000 low-income Utahns to broadband Internet service at home as we worked together with our network of thousands of nonprofit partners throughout Utah.
We’re excited to unveil new plans to support low-income residents across the state with more digital tools and resources over the next decade.
Comcast’s $1 billion commitment will include investments in several critical areas, including:
- Additional support for the Lift Zone initiative, which establishes WiFi-connected safe spaces in 35 community centers in Utah for students and adults by the end of 2021
- Funding for new laptop and computers
- Financial grants for nonprofit community organizations to create opportunities for low-income Utahns, particularly in media, technology, and entrepreneurship
- Continued investment in the company’s landmark Internet Essentials program.
These new commitments will impact hundreds of thousands in Utah.
“Comcast’s investment in Utah’s digital connectivity future is remarkable,” said Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox. “Helping to close the digital divide so everyone has Internet access in Utah is paramount.”
Our commitments are projected to impact as many as 50 million Americans over the next 10 years. In 2021 alone, Comcast estimates students across America will complete more than 25 million hours of remote learning lessons to further address the “homework gap” at the hundreds of Lift Zone locations nationally and 35 Utah Lift Zones that have already opened or will open soon.
“Ten years is a remarkable milestone, signifying an extraordinary amount of collaboration with our incredible community partners across Utah,” said Deneiva Knight, director of external affairs at Comcast. “Together, we have been able to connect tens of thousands of Utahns 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 Utah’s next generation of students has the tools, resources, and abilities to succeed in an increasingly digital world.”
For more information on this announcement and Comcast’s Internet Essentials 10-year anniversary and $1 billion please visit our official headquarters site.