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Comcast
Expands
Efforts
to
Bridge
Digital
Divide
in
Michigan
Company
Launches
20
WiFi-Connected
“Lift
Zones”
in
Detroit
Neighborhoods;
Plans
More
Across
State
PLYMOUTH,
MI -
After
completing
the
launch
of its
first 20
WiFi-connected
“Lift
Zones”
in
Detroit
in early
January,
the
company
announced
today
that it
will
expand
its
program
to help
bridge
the
digital
divide
by
establishing
more
locations
across
Michigan
before
the end
of this
year.
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
provides
robust
WiFi
hotspots
in
community
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.
Any
nonprofit
organization,
government
agency,
public
housing
or other
establishment
that is
interested
in
becoming
a
Comcast
Lift
Zone and
is
located
within
the
company’s
Michigan
serviceable
area can
send an
email to
CENHRT_LiftZones@comcast.com
for more
information.
Criteria
for
becoming
a Lift
Zone
include:
•
On-site
adult
supervision
to
monitor
activity
during
all
hours of
operation
•
Enforcement
of
COVID-safety
protocols
•
Allocation
of
adequate
space
with
chairs
and
computers
conducive
for
learning
• I.T.
support
The
first 20
Lift
Zones
include:
Boys
& Girls
Clubs of
Southeastern
Michigan:
Lloyd H.
Diehl
Club:
4242
Collingwood
Street,
Detroit
Boys
& Girls
Clubs of
Southeastern
Michigan:
Dick &
Sandy
Dauch
Campus:
16500
Tireman
Street,
Detroit
Boys
& Girls
Clubs of
Southeastern
Michigan:
Fauver-Martin
Club: 24
Ferris
St.,
Highland
Park
Chance
for Life
Organization:
2400 E.
McNichols,
Detroit
City
Covenant
Church
(Mission:
City):
20405
Schoolcraft,
Detroit
COTS
Detroit:
2211 E.
Jefferson
Ave.,
Detroit
Detroit
Association
of Black
Organizations:
12048
Grand
River
Ave.,
Detroit
Detroit
Blight
Busters:
17340
Lahser
Road,
Detroit
Detroit
Hispanic
Development
Corporation:
1211
Trumbull
Street,
Detroit
Detroit
Impact:
9930
Greenfield
Rd.,
Detroit
Detroit
PAL:
1680
Michigan
Ave.,
Detroit
Detroit
Rescue
Mission
Ministries
– Men’s
Shelter:
3606
Third
Street,
Detroit
Detroit
Rescue
Mission
Ministries
–
Women’s
Shelter:
12900
West
Chicago
Street,
Detroit
Downtown
Boxing
Gym:
6445
East
Vernor
Highway,
Detroit
Franklin
Wright
Settlements:
7375
Woodward
Avenue,
Detroit
Friends
of
Parkside:
5000
Conner
St.,
Detroit
Latin
Americans
for
Social
and
Economic
Development,
Inc.:
7150
Vernor
Highway,
Detroit
Life
Remodeled:
2470
Collingwood
St.
Detroit
Matrix
Human
Services:
Social
Mobility
Center:
13560
East
McNichols
Road,
Detroit
Say
Detroit
Play
Center:19320
Van Dyke
Avenue,
Detroit
“While
the
digital
divide
has been
an
ongoing
challenge
long
before
the
outbreak
of
COVID-19,
the past
10
months
have
brought
this
critical
issue to
the
forefront
for
everyone,”
said Tim
Collins,
senior
vice
president
of
Comcast
in
Michigan.
“We have
been
dedicated
to
creating
digital
equity
for
nearly
10 years
through
our
Internet
Essentials
program.
Bringing
more
Lift
Zones to
Michigan
neighborhoods
where
they’re
needed
most is
an
extension
of our
commitment.”
In the
past ten
years,
Internet
Essentials
has
become
the
nation’s
largest
and most
successful
low-income
broadband
adoption
program
and has
connected
millions
of
people
to the
Internet
at home.
It
offers
households
low-cost,
Internet
service
for
$9.95/month
(plus
additional
taxes
and
fees),
the
option
to
purchase
a
heavily
subsidized
computer
and
multiple
options
for free
digital
literacy
training.
Comcast
is also
providing
60 days
of free
Internet
Essentials
service
for
qualifying
low-income
families
that
sign up
before
June 30,
2021.
Additionally,
the
company
increased
speeds
for all
new and
existing
Internet
Essentials
customers
at no
additional
cost.
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