BALTIMORE, Sept. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast
announced today the donation of 3,000 new laptops and free Internet
service from its Internet Essentials program across Baltimore City to be distributed among several
organizations focused on education, digital equity, and workforce
development. The announcement was made from M&T Bank Stadium
following a TODAY Show segment featuring principal Taiisha Swinton-Buck, whose Digital Harbor High
School students will receive 1,500 laptops plus 12 months of free
Internet service from Comcast's Internet Essentials, the nation's
largest and most successful low-income Internet adoption program.
Over the past ten years, Internet Essentials has connected a
cumulative total of 192,000 Baltimoreans.
"This is an incredible moment for Baltimore," said Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott. "As my administration works to
close the digital divide, it helps to have committed partners like
Comcast. Thanks to their donation, Baltimore students will be able to learn
remotely with reliable, high-speed Internet access."
In addition to Digital Harbor High School, other organizations
that will receive the free laptops and up to 12 months of free
Internet service include the Mayor's Office of Employment
Development, Baltimore's Promise,
Catholic Charities of Baltimore,
and the Community College of Baltimore
County. Even more organizations will be announced at a later
date.
"We're thrilled to see principal Swinton-Buck recognized today
for her incredible accomplishments as an educator and a leader. We
are also grateful for this wonderful donation from Comcast to our
students," added Sonja Brookins
Santelises, CEO of Baltimore
City Public Schools.
"Today's laptop donation gets to the heart of our focus in
Baltimore City and around the
country," said Michael Parker,
Senior Vice President for Comcast's Beltway Region. "From youth to
adults to seniors, we're focused on ensuring every individual
regardless of age and socioeconomic status has the devices and
digital skills – and most importantly, the same opportunity – to
succeed in today's increasingly digital world."
Comcast's Ongoing Commitment to Advancing Digital
Equity
Research shows that low-income students and
their families face numerous broadband adoption challenges,
including housing insecurity, literacy challenges, language
barriers, and lack of digital skills training. As a result,
Comcast's digital equity efforts have been designed to address as
many of these challenges as possible, including offering low-cost
broadband Internet at home; the option to purchase a heavily
subsidized, affordable computer; access to free WiFi in community
centers nationwide; and numerous options to acquire the digital
skills necessary to navigate distance learning and use the
Internet.
Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1 billion to programs and partnerships that will
reach an estimated 50 million people with the skills,
opportunities, and resources they need to succeed in an
increasingly digital world. This includes programs such as Comcast
RISE, which provides underrepresented small business owners with
access to the digital tools and funding they need to thrive, and
Lift Zones, community centers that provide free, high-speed
WiFi and hundreds of hours of digital skills training – 21 of which
are located in Baltimore City.
Internet Essentials, Comcast RISE and Lift Zones are part of
Comcast's ongoing efforts to advance digital equity. The Company is
also supporting the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a
temporary benefit program from the federal government designed to
help qualified low-income households with a credit of up to
$50 per month toward their Internet
service until the program's funding runs out.
About Internet Essentials
Internet Essentials is the
nation's largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program.
In 10 years, it has helped connect 10 million low-income Americans
to broadband Internet at home, most for the very first time.
It has a comprehensive design that addresses each of the
three major barriers to broadband adoption. This includes multiple
options to access free digital literacy training in print, online,
and in person; the option to purchase a heavily subsidized,
low-cost Internet-ready computer; and low-cost, high-speed Internet
service for $9.95 a month, plus tax.
The program is structured as a partnership between Comcast and tens
of thousands of school districts, libraries, elected officials, and
nonprofit community partners. For more information about Internet
Essentials and Comcast's commitment to education and digital
equity, please visit https://corporate.comcast.com/education. To
apply, visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376 for
English or 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:
CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects
people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on
broadband, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer
relationships across the United
States and Europe. We
deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast
Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading
entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed
Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC
and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock,
NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and
provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in
the United States and Asia.
Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for
more information.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comcasts-internet-essentials-program-donates-3-000-laptops-and-free-internet-service-to-baltimore-city-as-part-of-companys-largest-laptop-donation-of-its-kind-301380538.html
SOURCE Comcast