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Michael Ferrie, Comcast Project Manager, checks equipment connections. Comcast has installed $1 million worth of routers and equipment that are responsible for transporting all data to/from the internet. (Comcast Photo)

  Detroit is in the top ten cities in the nation in closing the digital divide with Comcast's 'Internet Essentials' program

Comcast Again Increases Program’s Internet Speed, Offers Free Access to Millions of Xfinity WiFi Hotspots, and Expands Low-Income Senior Citizen Pilot Program in City of Detroit

DETROIT - Today, Comcast Corporation announced that its acclaimed Internet Essentials program, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program, has now connected more than four million low-income Americans, in one million households, to high-speed Internet service at home. The City of Detroit is eighth in the country, having connected more than 13,000 low-income households benefitting more than 52,000 Detroiters. Across Michigan, which ranks seventh among all states for Internet Essentials, 50,000 low-income households have been connected, benefitting nearly 200,000 Michiganders.

The Company also announced three key program enhancements:

First, Comcast is expanding its pilot program for low-income senior citizens from five cities and metropolitan areas to 12 – including in the City of Detroit.
Second, for the fourth time in six years, Comcast will increase the program’s Internet service speeds, this time from 10/1 Mbps to up to 15/2 Mbps. More speed was the number one requested enhancement from Internet Essentials customers, and this latest increase will improve streaming quality in the home (15 Mbps is three times the speed necessary to view a high definition video), especially when multiple devices are connected to the Internet at the same time.
Third, to help family members connect to the Internet on the go and save money on their wireless bills, Internet Essentials customers will now enjoy 40 hours of free out of home WiFi access per month to the company’s growing network of 18 million Xfinity WiFi hotspots. This WiFi access is being offered in addition to the free in-home WiFi Internet Essentials customers currently enjoy.

In addition, Comcast today announced it is making two investments with nonprofit partners in Detroit. The first will be used to upgrade the Technology Corridor at the Joseph Walker Williams Community Center with new computers, smart boards, and other equipment. The workspace will also be improved and made to be more inviting and conducive to collaboration. This investment will allow the Center to scale its digital literacy training classes for its 1,650 clients.

The second investment will support digital literacy training for more than 6,000 youth to participate in a number of programs at the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, including college and career readiness, family financial literacy training, and digital arts and media classes. Additionally, Comcast will be sponsoring a computer lab at the Boll Family YMCA.

Finally, Comcast announced it is also donating more than 100 computers, along with six months of complimentary Internet service, to seniors and youth at both organizations.

This integrated approach is part of the core design of the Internet Essentials program to address each of the three major barriers to broadband adoption – digital literacy, access to computer equipment, and affordable Internet service. The program is also structured as a partnership between Comcast and thousands of school districts, libraries, elected officials, and nonprofit community partners, to address this complex set of broadband adoption issues.

David L. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation, made these announcements in Detroit with six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who is serving, for the second year in a row, as Internet Essentials’ national spokesperson. Their visit in Detroit is part of a multi-city tour, which will run through October.

“When we started this program six years ago, we never imagined four million low-income Americans would benefit from it,” said Cohen. “We also never would have reached this milestone without our many dedicated nonprofit partners, elected officials, educators, employees, libraries, and advocates who were all united by the belief that the Internet is essential, not only to compete in the 21st century economy, but also to be connected to loved ones and the world. While this milestone is a wonderful moment to celebrate, it also inspires all of us to keep going to connect even more families to all that the Internet has to offer for education, jobs, healthcare, news, information, and entertainment.”

Also accompanying Cohen and Joyner-Kersee at the Joseph Walker Williams Community Center was Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

“Comcast has been a tremendous partner to the City of Detroit and we applaud their work to make the Internet more affordable and accessible to families and seniors throughout the City of Detroit, said Mayor Mike Duggan.”

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.



 

 

 

 

 

   
   

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