Lift Zones

As part of our ongoing commitment to help connect underserved families to the Internet so they can fully participate in educational opportunities and the digital economy, we created free, WiFi-connected “Lift Zones” in community centers nationwide. Lift Zones, which provide internet access on-the-go, complement our Internet Essentials program that provides in-home broadband connectivity. Lift Zones help students who, for a variety of reasons (including homelessness, or housing insecurity issues), need somewhere to go during the day to participate in distance learning. The Lift Zones program is part of Comcast’s Project UP – a comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and build a future of unlimited possibilities.

Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA is a Comcast Lift Zone in Vineland, New Jersey.

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El Concilio is a Lift Zone in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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The SAFE Alternative Foundation for Education is a Comcast Lift Zone in Baltimore, Maryland.

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The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley at Montgomery Village is a Comcast Lift Zone in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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The John T. O’Connor Senior Center is a Comcast Lift Zone in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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The Boys & Girls Club at Brooklyn O’Malley is a Comcast Lift Zone in Baltimore, Maryland.

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The Y in Druid Hill is a Comcast Lift Zone in Baltimore, Maryland.

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El Centro Hispano De East TN is a Comcast Lift Zone in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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The Salvation Army Veterans and Family Center is a Comcast Lift Zone in Beaverton, Oregon.

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The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County is a Comcast Lift Zone in Boynton Beach, Florida.

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The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries is a Comcast Lift Zone in Detroit, Michigan.

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What are Lift Zones?

Comcast Business logo Working with our network of thousands of nonprofit partners and city leaders nationwide, Lift Zones provide a robust WiFi solution (powered by Comcast Business) in supportive neighborhood locations like nonprofits, community centers, gyms, and parks and recreation facilities.

$1B

Comcast is committing $1 billion to reach tens of millions of people with the connectivity, skills, training, and resources they need to be ready for anything.

25M

In 2021, WiFi-connected Lift Zones across the country enabled 25 million hours of homework for students who could not attend schools during the pandemic.

1,250+

Comcast has launched more than 1,250 WiFi-connected Lift Zones in community centers nationwide. ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎

Since launching Lift Zones, an estimated 6 million unique users have logged in to enjoy free WiFi. ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎ ‏‏

The initiative provides not only free Internet connectivity, but also access to hundreds of hours of educational and digital-skills content to help families and site coordinators navigate online learning.

According to surveys of consumers and site directors:

40%

4 in 10 report they would not have had Internet access without the Lift Zone

56%

56% say the Lift Zone is critical for success at school, work, and/or managing tasks online

92%

92% of sites report that being a Lift Zone helps them increase digital equity in their communities

A group of students holding Project UP laptops.

Lift Zones are a critical component of how Project UP provides the tools, resources, and skills people and communities need to succeed in a digital world.

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A close-up of the Ralph J. Roberts Germantown Boys & Girls Club.

Lift Zones provide free Internet access and other digital services in neighborhood locations including community centers, gyms, parks and recreation facilities, and even small businesses.

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A student sitting at a table using a laptop.

During the global pandemic, the goal of Lift Zones was to work with local governments and civic leaders, educators, and community nonprofit organizations to provide spaces where students and caregivers could go while schools were shut down.

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A student standing in front of the Ralph J. Roberts Germantown Boys & Girls Club.

“Having a place where I can use the Internet, focus on school, and make friends has meant the world to me.” – Damonee, student and staff member

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These teens are using their Lift Zone for enhanced learning outside the classroom – from teaching a new generation of musicians, to exploring the world through art, to mentoring other young people.

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“We go online. We game. We help each other out with schoolwork.” – Justin, student and aspiring artist

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Connecting Students Across the Nation

We’ve installed 1,250 Lift Zones all across the country in cities like Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, Oakland, Denver, Portland, Miami, and the Twin Cities. Here are some examples:

Baltimore

The Harvey Johnson Community Center at Union Baptist Church serves more than 50 students and community members in West Baltimore where they can participate in distance learning, as well as in intergenerational digital skills training classes. The Center also offers free access to computers onsite.

Denver

Girls Inc. helps create long-lasting mentoring relationships and provides research-based programming to equip students to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers. The Denver chapter supports more than 60 K-12 students.

Philadelphia

The Olney Recreation Center is a 13.6-acre site with outdoor spaces and a recreational building with an auditorium, gymnasium, and multipurpose rooms. It also offers free and low-cost programming for neighborhood children.

Memphis

Alpha Omega Veterans Services (AOVS) assists military veterans to reintegrate into society, often after achieving recovery and rehabilitation from debilitating mental and physical health issues. AOVS serves 120 veterans daily across five facilities.

Twin Cities

The Sanneh Foundation Distanced Learning Hub at Conway Community Center enables parents and guardians to continue to work while providing a safe space for their children to do during normal school hours. The Hub can accommodate up to 70 students working on laptops simultaneously and offers access to educational technology as well as tutoring support.

Washington, D.C.

Housing Up offers safe, affordable housing and comprehensive support services to homeless and low-income families. The organizations serve about 700 families and includes a youth center.