Submitted by Comcast, written by Rodrigo Lopez
There is a major challenge in cities all across Washington state,
big and small: it’s called the digital divide and it’s here in Whatcom County. Broadband
connectivity is something we’re working hard to fix through Comcast’s Internet Essentials program.
It’s the state’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program.
Ten years of work has resulted in more than 15,000 low-income people in Whatcom
County having internet service in their home, many for the first time.
Internet Essentials has broken down the barrier to internet
adoption. It includes literacy training, access to a low-cost Internet-ready
computer, and Internet service for $9.95 a month.
Connectivity in the home continues to be our top priority, and the
number one solution for our residents to access online resources. But it’s is
not the only answer.
We recognize that we also play an important role connecting people
to the internet outside of the home. Thousands of Washingtonians depend on
community centers for access to internet resources. Our Lift Zone initiative
aims to address that need.
We are equipping 80 community centers in the state with free,
internet service to help students in need of a safe place for distance
learning. This includes Lift
Zones in Whatcom County, like the one we are building with Lighthouse Mission.
Lift Zones will help thousands of people who may need a place to
access online education, healthcare and employment resources.
Each Lift Zone provides free internet service to the community
center run by a nonprofit, city, or business. Some are open now and more will
be open in the coming months. Open Lift Zones may be found at https://www.internetessentials.com/learningSearchPage.
Earlier this year, Comcast announced plans to invest $1 billion
over the next 10 years to help further close the digital divide.
This long-term investment will help 50 million Americans. Funds
will go toward Lift Zones, laptops
and computers, grants for nonprofits, and Internet Essentials.
This news comes on the heels of a series of initiatives announced
during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Increased Internet Essentials speeds to give families at home had the speeds they needed.
- Joined Washington’s K-12 Internet Access
Program. This program has helped thousands of students get home internet for
the 2020-2021 school year.
- Offered 60 days of free Internet service to
new Internet Essentials customers who needed to get online pandemic. This
program runs through 2021.
- Opened more than 70,000 public WiFi hotspots
for people to connect to during the current pandemic.
- Built an online learning center that with200
digital literacy training videos and guides that are free to anyone to use.
For more information about
Internet Essentials and Comcast’s commitment to education and digital equity,
please visit https://corporate.comcast.com/education. Families and households can apply for Internet
Essentials at www.internetessentials.com or by phone at 1-855-846-8376 for English or
1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.
