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The
COVID-19
crisis
has put
many
low-income
students
at risk
of being
left
behind
and has
accelerated
the need
for
comprehensive
digital
equity
and
Internet
adoption
programs
to
support
them.
Lift
Zones
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.
(Comcast
Photo) |
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Comcast
Announces
First 12
WiFi-Connected
“Lift
Zones”
in
Detroit
Neighborhoods
Lift
Zones
provide
safe
spaces
to help
students
and
families
access
the
Internet
for
school
and
digital
skills
building
PLYMOUTH
-
October
26, 2020
– Comcast
announced
today
plans to
establish
its
first 12
WiFi-connected
“Lift
Zones”
in
Detroit
by year
end.
The
COVID-19
crisis
has put
many
low-income
students
at risk
of being
left
behind
and has
accelerated
the need
for
comprehensive
digital
equity
and
Internet
adoption
programs
to
support
them.
Lift
Zones
are
designed
to help
those
students
who, for
a
variety
of
reasons,
are
unable
to
connect
to
distance
learning
at home.
Comcast
will
provide
robust
WiFi
hotspots
in safe
spaces
designed
to help
students
get
online,
participate
in
distance
learning
and do
their
homework.
Many of
these
sites
also
serve
adults
and can
connect
them to
online
adult
education,
job
searches,
healthcare
information
and
public
assistance.
This
initiative
provides
free
hotspot
connectivity
inside
the
community
centers
and
access
to
hundreds
of hours
of
digital
skills
content
to help
families
and site
coordinators
navigate
online
learning.
The
first 12
Lift
Zones
include:
Boys &
Girls
Clubs of
Southeastern
Michigan:
Lloyd H.
Diehl
Club:
4242
Collingwood
Street
Boys &
Girls
Clubs of
Southeastern
Michigan:
Dick &
Sandy
Dauch
Campus:
16500
Tireman
Street
Detroit
Blight
Busters:
17340
Lahser
Road
Detroit
Boxing
Gym:
6445
East
Vernor
Highway
Detroit
Hispanic
Development
Corporation:
1211
Trumbull
Street
Detroit
Rescue
Mission
Ministries
– Men’s
Shelter:
3606
Third
Street
Detroit
Rescue
Mission
Ministries
–
Women’s
Shelter:
12900
West
Chicago
Street
Franklin
Wright
Settlements:
7375
Woodward
Avenue
Latin
Americans
for
Social
and
Economic
Development,
Inc.:
7150
Vernor
Highway
City
Covenant
Church
(Mission:
City):
20405
Schoolcraft
Matrix
Human
Services:
Social
Mobility
Center:
13560
East
McNichols
Road
Say
Detroit
Play
Center:19320
Van Dyke
Avenue
“Our
vision
is to
ensure
that
every
Detroiter
is fully
digitally
included,
improving
the
quality
of life
for all
residents,”
said
Joshua
Edmonds,
director
of
digital
inclusion,
City of
Detroit
and the
Connect
313
digital
inclusion
strategy.
“Connect
313 and
Comcast
share a
passion
for
bridging
the
digital
divide,
and our
partnership
will
ensure
these
Lift
Zone
locations
will
reach as
many
Detroiters
who need
them as
possible.”
Last
month,
Comcast
announced
a
multiyear
program
to
launch
more
than
1,000
WiFi-connected
Lift
Zones in
community
centers
nationwide.
This
effort
is part
of the
company’s
ongoing
commitment
to help
connect
low-income
families
to the
Internet
and
provide
resources
to help
them
fully
participate
in
educational
opportunities
and the
digital
economy.
“Solving
a
problem
as vast
and
complex
as the
digital
divide
requires
collaboration
with
schools,
elected
officials,
nonprofit
community
partners
and
other
private-sector
companies,”
said Tim
Collins,
senior
vice
president
of
Comcast’s
Heartland
Region.
“Since
2011
when
Comcast
launched
its
Internet
Essentials
program,
we’ve
been
fortunate
to
partner
with
other
local
organizations
who
share
our
passion
for
digital
equity,
like
Connect
313.”
In
nearly
10
years, Internet
Essentials has
become
the
nation’s
largest
and most
successful
low-income
Internet
adoption
program
and has
connected
millions
of
people
to the
Internet.
It
offers
households
low-cost,
broadband
Internet
service
for
$9.95/month,
the
option
to
purchase
a
heavily
subsidized
computer
and
multiple
options
for free
digital
literacy
training.
Earlier
this
year,
Comcast
committed
to
providing
60 days
of free
Internet
Essentials
service
for
qualifying
low-income
families
through
the end
of 2020.
Additionally,
the
company
increased
speeds
for all
new and
existing
Internet
Essentials
customers
at no
additional
cost.
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