Comcast is doubling the speed of its low-income internet plan, Internet Essentials

Comcast made several announcements that build on its longstanding commitment to advancing digital equity, closing the digital divide, and addressing both digital literacy and the homework gap.

1. Accelerating the Nation’s Largest Broadband Adoption Program, Internet Essentials. Comcast is now doubling the program’s Internet download speed to 50 Mbps and increasing the upstream speed to 5 Mbps for all new and existing customers at no additional cost. To receive the increased Internet speeds, existing customers will not need to do anything. The new speeds will be rolled out nationally beginning March 1.
2. Launching 1,000 Lift Zones by December 2021. Lift Zones provide safe spaces for students to access free Wi-Fi so they can participate in distance learning and do their schoolwork. Comcast is now accelerating that timeline to connect 1,000 Lift Zones by the end of 2020 – more than a year ahead of its original plan.
3. Investing in Education and Equity-Focused Organizations. Comcast is also expanding its targeted philanthropic investments in organizations working to increase digital equity and contributing to the collective action needed to drive sustained change. These new organizations and investments are focused on creating greater pathways to opportunities for communities of color, particularly in media, technology, arts, and entrepreneurship.