As that world becomes more digital, it’s our responsibility to use media and technology to ensure that everyone has the resources and opportunities they need to participate and excel in today’s economy.
$1B
Commitment to reach 50 million people.
We have been committed to creating and supporting digital equity within the communities we serve for more than 10 years.
Comcast will launch 1,000 Lift Zones nationwide to provide safe spaces for students to access free, high-capacity WiFi by year end.
Comcast RISE to support 13,000 small business owners of color with tech services, marketing resources, and millions of dollars in grants by the end of 2022.
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.
Having the Internet and the tools and information necessary to navigate the digital world are critical to opportunity and success. But the unfortunate reality is that not everyone has the same starting point. For more than a decade, we have used our platforms and reach to help bridge the digital divide by putting Internet, technology, and resources in the hands of more people.
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.
Together with nonprofit partners and city leaders, we are building safe spaces for students and families to connect to free WiFi for distance learning at more than 1,000 Lift Zones in community centers across the country. Lift Zones provide 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.
Digital skills training is essential to building and supporting the future workforce, yet it remains a barrier to millions. By providing the training and digital skills needed to unlock opportunities and new career pathways in media and technology, we can help everyone prepare for the future of work. In addition to signature training programs within our business, we also partner with leading organizations that provide millions with the support and resources necessary for success.
We want to help level the playing field by providing digital programs, training, and development via partners like Coded by Kids, Genesys Works, and BUILD.org. Together, we can create more diversity in tech and help young people learn marketable skills for the future.
We’re creating equitable pathways to careers in technology through partnerships with organizations including Per Scholas, Reboot Representation, CodePath, Year UP, and NPower. Together, we can ensure that people have the training, education, and workplace experience for today’s jobs.
We’re creating and fostering training programs that encourage young journalists to pursue careers in news and digital media. Through NBCU Academy, we offer journalism training and development to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and diverse-serving institutions, while Sky’s ‘The Edit’ is focused on bringing diverse voices into the newsroom.
By creating platforms and programs that enable new voices and stories to be shared, we can help more people shape the future of media and entertainment. Across our company, we provide access and develop pathways for emerging talent, diverse voices, and underrepresented youth to explore careers in arts, news, sports, and entertainment.
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 help 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.
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 2022.
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.
Comcast has a long and proud history of leveraging our resources, people, and reach to support communities where we live and work. Our employees play a significant role in advancing digital equity through their volunteer and mentorship efforts.
Comcast Cares is our year-round commitment to creating positive change in our communities and building a better future for everyone. The program provides an opportunity for our employees to put their passion and skills to use to benefit the communities where we live and work through volunteering and donating to nonprofit organizations, including those advancing digital equity.
Through the IE Ambassadors program, over 3,000 Comcast employees have volunteered in their communities to connect more people to broadband through Internet Essentials. Similarly, employees are going into their communities to connect people to local WiFi centers through our Lift Zone volunteer program.
With Comcast NBCUnites, our volunteering and social impact program at NBCUniversal, employees get involved with local nonprofits that focus on building stronger communities, empowering young storytellers, and promoting media and technology skills.
