Project UP
$1B
Commitment to reach tens of millions of people.
We have been committed to creating and supporting digital equity within the communities we serve for more than 10 years.
We have opened more than 1,000 Lift Zones nationwide to provide student and families with access to free, high-capacity WiFi.
Through Comcast RISE, we will support 13,000 small business owners of color with tech services, marketing resources, and millions of dollars in grants by the end the year.
We work with thousands of partners across the country, including nonprofits and city leaders, to provide digital skills training so everyone can benefit from the opportunities that come from being online.
We know that having access to the Internet and the tools and information necessary to navigate the digital world are critical to closing the opportunity gap. But the unfortunate reality is that not everyone has the same starting point. For more than a decade, we’ve led the way with our Internet Essentials program, putting Internet, technology, and resources in the hands of more people. By working together to expand broadband adoption, we can help close the homework gap, advance economic mobility, and achieve digital equity.
Internet Essentials
So much of life and work happens online – but not everyone has Internet service at home. To help bridge the gap, we launched Internet Essentials in 2011 to bring affordable, high-speed Internet to low-income families. Today, Internet Essentials is the largest and most comprehensive Internet adoption program in the United States, connecting more than 10 million Americans in 10 years.
Lift Zones
Together with nonprofit partners and city leaders, we have created more than 1,000 award-winning Lift Zones in community centers nationwide to provide students and families with free, high-capacity WiFi. Lift Zones offer 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.
We know that equitable access to skills and development opportunities are essential to building and supporting the future workforce, yet they remain barriers to millions. From creating equitable pathways to technology roles, to supporting young journalists, to opening doors for new voices and stories to be shared, we can help foster the next generation of innovators, creators, and storytellers.
Too often, business leaders and young innovators don’t have the funding or resources to bring their ideas to life and excel in a digital world. By equipping entrepreneurs and small business owners with the skills, digital resources, and opportunities they need to thrive, we can empower them create their own success and achieve long-term growth. Together with partners like the Center for Black Innovation, Echoing Green, Prospera, Native Women Lead, and Ureeka, we’re also committed to making sure the next generation has an entrepreneurial mindset and the tools they need to bring their ideas to life.
Comcast RISE
A multi-faceted program offering grants, marketing services, and technology upgrades – Comcast RISE stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment,” and was created to strengthen and empower small businesses hard hit by COVID-19. To date, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund has granted $11 million to 1,100 small businesses owned by people of color and the program will support 13,000 small businesses by the end of the year.
LIFT Labs
LIFT Labs gives talented entrepreneurs access to Comcast NBCUniversal’s network of partners, brands, and mentors to foster rapid breakthroughs in media, entertainment, and connectivity.
