Comcast has announced the opening of four WiFi-connected Lift Zones at the Catholic Youth Organization of Mercer County and Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County facilities in Trenton and Lawrenceville. Comcast is providing robust WiFi coverage at these safe spaces that will help up to 300 low-income students get online each day to participate in distance education and other programming.
Lift Zones complement Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which has helped connect more than 8 million low-income people to the Internet at home since 2011. Working with its network of nonprofit partners, Comcast is providing free WiFi hotspot connectivity in community centers with access to hundreds of hours of digital skills content to help families and site coordinators navigate online learning.
“With some of our club members unable to learn and study at home while their parents work, it became more important than ever for them to be able to access reliable internet at our clubs,” said Reginald J. Coleman, Executive Vice President of Operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County. “Thanks to the Lift Zones provided by Comcast, we’re able to connect these students onsite while offering an online learning management system for others who are staying at home.”
“The Catholic Youth Organization of Mercer County provides Trenton-area students with a trusted location for virtual learning and other programming through this challenging time. We’re so appreciative to be part of Comcast’s Lift Zone initiative so that we can provide the WiFi coverage needed to support students as they study and participate in online education,” said Thomas Mladenetz, Catholic Youth Organization Executive Director.
In September, Comcast announced a multiyear program to launch more than 1,000 WiFi-connected “Lift Zones” in community centers nationwide. This effort is part of its ongoing commitment to help connect low-income families to the Internet and provide resources to help them fully participate in educational opportunities and the digital economy.
“The pandemic has put many low-income students at risk of being left behind, and we’re proud to work with partners like the Boys & Girls Clubs and Catholic Youth Organization of Mercer County to support them with Internet adoption and digital equity programs like this one,” said Jim Samaha, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Freedom Region. “We hope these Lift Zones help Trenton students stay connected to vital educational resources.”