Comcast Connections: March 2021 Edition

Source: League Business Leaders Network Member Comcast

Comcast Commits to Investing $1 Billion Over Next Ten Years to Reach 50 Million Low-Income Americans With Tools and Resources To Succeed In Digital World

On the 10th anniversary of our Internet Essentials program, Comcast has announced it would invest $1 billion over the next 10 years to help further close the digital divide and give even more low-income Americans the tools and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The announcement coincides with the release of a 10-year Progress Report showing that, since 2011, the company, working in collaboration with its network of thousands of nonprofit

partners, has connected a cumulative total of more than 10 million people in America to broadband Internet at home, the overwhelming majority of whom were not connected prior to signing up.

Comcast’s $1 billion commitment will include investments in a number of critical areas, including:

additional support for its ongoing Lift Zone initiative, which establishes WiFi-connected safe spaces in 1,000+ community centers nationwide for students and adults by the end of 2021; new laptop and computer donations; grants for nonprofit community organizations to create opportunities for low-income Americans, particularly in media, technology, and entrepreneurship; and continued investment in the company’s landmark Internet Essentials program. It is estimated that these new commitments will impact as many as 50 million Americans over the next 10 years. In 2021 alone, Comcast estimates students will be able to complete more than 25 million hours of remote learning lessons to further address the “homework gap” at the hundreds of Lift Zone locations that have already opened or will open soon.

“Ten years is a remarkable milestone, signifying an extraordinary amount of work and collaboration with our incredible community partners across the country,” said Dave Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Comcast Cable. “Together, we have been able to connect millions of people 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 the next generation of students in America has the tools, resources, and abilities they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.” Read more about our commitment over the next ten years.


Comcast Launching Seven Wifi-Connected Lift Zones in Lycoming and Clinton Counties

Lift Zones Will Provide Safe Spaces with Free Internet to Help Thousands of Low-Income Students Participate in Distance Learning

As part of Comcast’s ongoing commitment to help connect low-income families to the Internet so they can fully participate in educational opportunities and the digital economy, Comcast plans to equip seven different locations in Lycoming and Clinton Counties with WiFi-connected Lift Zones. The locations will be Eastern Lycoming YMCA and Vineyard Community Center in Muncy, Jersey Shore YMCA, Lock Haven YMCA Child Care and School Age Program, Loyalsock Child Care Center and the YMCA in Williamsport.

“We know that local families have a fundamental need for access to crucial resources like WiFi Lift Zones, bridging the gap when at-home connectivity may not be available,” said Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter. “Thanks to Comcast, we look forward to connecting community centers with WiFi to provide a dynamic learning environment for our kids.”

“YMCA is very pleased to welcome Comcast’s Lift Zones to our communities as part of our collective effort to ensure that families, regardless of income, are connected to the digital world,” said Chad Eberhart, Chief Executive Officer of River Valley Regional YMCA. Lift Zone sites complement Comcast Internet Essentials which has helped connect 10 million low-income people to the Internet at home since 2011.


Comcast Rolls Out Nation’s Largest Landline Voice Verified Caller ID Solution to Combat Robocalls

Verified Caller ID Feature Helps Consumers and Business Owners More Easily See What Calls are Spoofed

Comcast has rolled out the nation’s largest landline voice implementation of STIR/SHAKEN-based Verified Caller ID feature in an effort to help protect the company’s Xfinity Voice, Comcast Business Voice, and Business VoiceEdge Select customers from illegal robocall calls and caller ID spoofing. These customers will now display a Verified [V] label in the caller ID when a call is authenticated as not spoofed, meaning we have been able to confirm the call is coming from the telephone number displayed. 

“Comcast engineers helped pioneer STIR/SHAKEN and the company has been a leader in the industry-wide effort to combat fraudulent calls since day one,” said Kelly Barlow, SVP Connectivity Services, Comcast. “We’ll continue to enable our customers with the tools to protect themselves and partner within the industry to help rid the nation’s consumers of these dangerous calls for good.”  Learn more about the Caller ID features here.


Comcast Reports 2020 Network Performance

Comcast details its 2020 network data, showing that years of strategic investment, combined with advancements in network software, were among the principal factors that allowed its network to perform at such a high level throughout a year marked by historic growth in Internet usage and demand.

Smart technologies, more than $15 billion in investment since 2017, has allowed us to manage elevated demand driven by large growth in online video and gaming.” You can find the full report here.


Xfinity Communities Offer Riverside Foundry Residents High Performance Wi-Fi Ready Experience

Xfinity Communities announced that Riverside Foundry, a new multifamily community in Marietta, PA, is providing residents with its WiFi Ready solution for simple, easy access to the Internet upon move-in. A contactless, streamlined experience, WiFi Ready offers pre-installed Xfinity Wi-Fi gateways so residents only need to select a service plan and activate their Internet connection without waiting for additional equipment or a technician visit.

Located alongside the Susquehanna River, Riverside Foundry is a new multifamily community consisting of 12 townhomes and six buildings with 172 apartments. Residents have access to a pet spa and a clubhouse with a boutique workout facility. The property sits only a few steps away from the Northwest River Trail entrance and the “Social Scene” along Front Street. With WiFi Ready from Xfinity Communities, each unit features advanced technology that is capable of delivering WiFi speeds of a Gigabit to support the ever-increasing number of connected in-home devices, as well as connectivity for streaming home entertainment, smart home automation and voice services.

For more information about the services offered by Xfinity Community, visit multifamily.