Donation part of Comcast’s ongoing investment in Bloomington; partnership with city officials, community leaders to bridge the digital divide

Today, Comcast and United Way of South Central Indiana announced a donation of 100 laptops to Bloomington residents to help accelerate digital equity efforts in the community.

Laptop recipients include Bloomington families who participate in programming through the city’s Banneker Community Center – including early education and low-cost summer camp programs – and residents working with the Financial Stability Alliance, led by United Way of South Central Indiana.

“Community partnerships with organizations like Comcast and United Way are invaluable to ensuring Bloomington families can succeed in a digital world,” said Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson. “Achieving true digital equity means making long-term investments across all neighborhoods in the city, and we appreciate Comcast’s and United Way’s commitment and track record in helping us on our mission to achieve exactly that.”

In April 2020, the City of Bloomington conducted a Digital Equity survey to assess how residents use internet services. The survey results found a pronounced skills gap for low income and older residents, with 50% of respondents reporting they do not have the skills they need to use the internet effectively and comfortably.

“We’re seeing the impact of the digital divide happen in real time – affordability, access, and gaps in digital skills knowledge affect many of the families who participate in the Financial Stability Alliance and Free Community Tax Service programming,” said Randy Rogers, President & CEO, United Way of South Central Indiana. “Working together with Comcast and the City of Bloomington, investments in our community like laptops and continued affordable internet access can – and will – change the lives of the individuals and families our nonprofit partners serve every day.”

Across Indiana, Comcast is working with state and local officials to invest in communities most in need of fast, reliable broadband service in unserved and underserved areas of the state.

“Increasing digital equity unleashes the potential of high-speed internet within homes and businesses. We’re proud to be a partner in Bloomington’s digital equity journey, and to continue to work with community leaders to provide the latest technology in a way that benefits everyone – not just in the most affluent neighborhoods.”

– Craig D’Agostini, Comcast Vice President, Government & Regulatory Affairs.

This laptop donation is part of Project UP, Comcast’s 10-year, $1 billion commitment to help make digital equity a reality in communities the company serves in Bloomington and across the country. To support Indiana’s digital equity efforts, Comcast offers several programs to increase internet accessibility and skills training opportunities, including:

• The Comcast Internet Essentials program provides low-cost, high-speed broadband service for $9.95 a month to eligible low-income households, connecting more than one million students, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities in Indiana enrolled in a variety of government assistance programs, including the National School Lunch Program, Housing Assistance, Medicaid, the Federal Pell Grant program, SNAP, SSI, WIC, VA Pension and others.
• Comcast operates more than 20 Lift Zones across Indiana, including two in Bloomington: Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington Ferguson Crestmont Club and Lincoln Street Club. Lift Zones are robust Wi-Fi hotspots in safe spaces where kids and adults can access free high-speed WiFi, learn digital skills, and participate in remote learning.
• Comcast has made more than $3 million in cash and in-kind donations to community-based organizations in Indiana over the last three years, focusing on initiatives designed to foster digital equity.

Source: Comcast

Today, millions of Xfinity Internet customers are waking up to faster speeds at no additional cost. As the need for data increases in ever-connected households, Xfinity is ensuring customers can stream, surf, and share on a network and service they can rely on today and in the future.

“Streaming live sports, gaming, and other data-rich applications are driving Internet consumption to new heights,” said Emily Waldorf, Senior Vice President, Consumer Internet Services, Comcast. ”We have regularly increased speeds over the past two decades to provide customers with the connectivity they need to power their increasingly connected lives. And, with the potential that funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program will not be renewed, this year we have really leaned into boosting speeds for these customers so that they can take advantage of these new capabilities.”

Starting today, new and existing customers can take advantage of the following speed increases:

• Connect: From 75 Mbps to now 150 Mbps
• Connect More: From 200 Mbps to now 300 Mbps
• Fast: From 400 Mbps to now 500 Mbps
• Xfinity Prepaid: From 50 Mbps to now 200 Mbps

Faster Speeds, Cybersecurity Protection and Incredible WiFi

Today’s speed increases help to ensure that Xfinity has customers covered now and into the future. They are made possible by Comcast’s fiber-based network which has been built to deliver an exceptional Internet experience, ubiquitously, to the more than 60 million homes and businesses across the country. It is a culmination of years of research, technological breakthroughs, and massive investments, more than $20 billion since 2018 alone, in development and infrastructure.

Fast speed is an important feature of a comprehensive connectivity experience that also combines this powerful network with sophisticated hardware and software to deliver incredible benefits to consumers:

• 99.99% Reliability – Fast Internet speeds won’t matter if you don’t have a reliable broadband connection. Xfinity has 99.99 percent reliability, and the Xfinity network utilizes artificial intelligence to keep customers connected by fixing issues before they even affect homes.
• Cybersecurity – xFi Advanced Security, included for free for customers who lease an Xfinity gateway, protects connected devices from malware and other threats at the gateway before they reach connected household devices. Since launching xFi Advanced Security, Xfinity has stopped more than 10 billion cyber security threats.
• Next-Level WiFi – Next-generation Xfinity gateways deliver advanced WiFi capacity to power hundreds of devices in homes and more than a billion devices each year across Comcast’s network.
  • Later this year, Comcast will introduce its latest gateway, the XB10, the first to incorporate unified DOCSIS 4.0, WiFi 7, and AI technologies. The XB10 will be capable of delivering symmetrical multi-gig speeds over WiFi and connect up to 300 devices.
  • WiFi Boost Pods work with Xfinity gateways to extend WiFi coverage to hard-to-reach areas of the home. The latest WiFi extender, Storm-Ready WiFi, is Xfinity’s most powerful device to date and helps maintain a strong connection even if the power goes out. Visit an Xfinity store or visit Xfinity.com to learn more about Storm-Ready WiFi.

Keeping Customers Connected

The federal government recently announced that the Affordable Connectivity Program could end as early as April if it does not receive additional funding. The speed increases rolling out today will help to ensure those who may be affected by the end of ACP will continue to have access to fast, affordable, reliable Internet options.

• Xfinity Promotional Offers – ACP participants who are existing Xfinity customers or new to Xfinity can take advantage of current promotional offers. Customers are encouraged to call 1-800-Xfinity to learn more about what offers may be available in their area. Teams are ready to work with customers to move them to a plan that fits their budget and connectivity needs if they will no longer be able to afford their current tier of service without the $30 ACP benefit.
• Internet Essentials – Xfinity customers benefitting from ACP are automatically eligible to enroll in Internet Essentials for as low as $9.95 a month or Internet Essentials Plus, which doubles the speed of traditional Internet Essentials for $29.95 per month. Both services provide fast and reliable home Internet with no credit checks or cancellation fees and come with equipment included.

To learn more about Xfinity’s Internet and connectivity solutions for customers, click here.

Source: Comcast

Funds will help teachers get school supplies and other resources for South Bend Community Schools’ classrooms

Comcast announced today that it has proactively connected its fiber-rich network to multiple mall properties across the company’s Greater Chicago Region in Illinois and Indiana, including:

• Southlake Mall, Merrillville, IN

Mall traffic is experiencing a resurgence. Some malls are experiencing a shift in tenants, while others are transforming from traditional retail destinations into anchor communities that include everything from entertainment venues, medical offices, service businesses, and public gathering spaces to office facilities and even residential buildings – in addition to retail. As a result, in many instances, the redevelopment is occurring both inside and outside mall structures and spilling onto the mall property.

With Comcast’s network in place, the company can deliver Internet speeds up to 100 Gbps to businesses and residential speeds faster than a Gigabit, along with its full suite of Comcast Business and Xfinity residential services, to mall properties.

“At the very least, the mix of stores inside malls is changing. On the other end of the spectrum, some malls are planning or are even in the process of transforming themselves,” said Sean McCarthy, Comcast’s Regional Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives. “State-of-the-art Internet connectivity and technology are playing a major role in almost all aspects of these changes. You really can’t have one without the other.”

With such a wide variety of retail, commercial, residential and public uses, this new iteration of malls requires powerful Internet connectivity and technology. Examples of how technology can be employed in transformed malls include:

• Retail stores process online orders for in-store and curbside pickup and employ virtual in-store try-on technology.
• Medical offices access patient medical records and exchange large imaging files.
• Entertainment venues book and manage reservations for large numbers of patrons.
• Malls need powerful websites and to connect to app platforms that have real-time information about all the different tenants, services and events occurring onsite.
  • Interactive maps use augmented reality and track and communicate with visitors onsite.
  • Smart displays and digital directories help visitors locate businesses, provide schedules and take advantage of amenities onsite.
• With residential buildings creating a built-in market onsite, businesses in the mall interact with residents, and vice versa, from booking restaurant and concert reservations to making medical appointments.
• Residents interact online or via app with building management, access building amenities, pay rent and even track packages that arrive.

Malls contribute to the economy. Technology contributes to malls.

Malls are big businesses, major economic drivers and job creators. Malls attract visitors from local and surrounding communities, which, in turn, increases tax revenue. With the COVID-19 pandemic keeping shoppers at home and the rise of online shopping, mall traffic fell. However, a turnaround is underway. In fact, in 2022, mall sales increased by more than 11% to nearly $819 billion, according to The State of the American Mall, a report from Coresight Research. According to Gitnux Market Data, malls with a greater portion of non-retail tenants, such as restaurants, gyms and experience-oriented businesses, tend to attract more foot traffic.

For more information about the role of connectivity and technology in the next generation of malls and shopping centers, send an email to economic_development@comcast.com.

Source: Comcast

This Flag Day, June 14, there were plenty of displays across Northwest Indiana of Old Glory in the familiar red, white and blue stars and stripes. But what happens when a flag is not in good enough condition to fly outside of a home or business and represent the United States of America?

According to U.S. Flag Code, if a flag is no longer serviceable and is faded, frayed, tattered, torn or worn, it needs to be taken down and destroyed. The recommended method for homeowners and businesses across the country is the same way that U.S. military personnel retire their flags – through burning.

Veterans on staff at Comcast in Northwest Indiana have united to ensure that flags are retired with proper military protocols according to Comcast’s Regional VetNet co-lead Karin Ladd.

“Comcast is committed to supporting the military community, its veteran employees and their families,” Ladd said. “Comcast’s Veterans Network Employee Resource Group (VetNet ERG) is another great example of how our connection to the military community has influenced our company culture and focus. This group serves as a vital support system for our military-connected teammates, providing opportunities for mentorship, networking and professional development. This group also participates in several veteran-related service projects each year.”

VetNet ERG has more than 450 members in Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region, which includes Northwest Indiana, and nearly 10,000 members across the company nationwide. VetNet ERG members include Comcast employees who are military veterans, active participants in the reserves, military family members and other supporters of the military community.

In 2017, military-connected employees at Comcast NBCUniversal launched the Flag Replacement program to honor the nation’s symbol and ensure that the American flag is proudly displayed in Comcast’s service areas.

“Through this program, our dedicated teammates work together to replace worn or damaged flags outside homes and businesses at no cost to the property owners,” Ladd said.

If a Comcast technician notices a distressed, faded or torn American flag at a home or business, they report the location to the local VetNet team.

“The VetNet team then contacts the individual or business and offers to replace the flag for free,” Ladd said. “Our flag replacement team will then retire the flag in accordance with military protocols. Our team assists anyone in need of a flag replacement, regardless of whether they are Comcast customers.”

Flag ‘ambassadors’ are trained on the customs and courtesies for properly handling the American flag, including the traditional 13 folds. Each of the folds represents different facets of life, liberty, this country and the U.S. armed forces.

“After replacing the flag, our flag ambassadors will either provide the old flag to the property owner or coordinate with the local American Legion post for proper disposal,” Ladd said.

To learn more about Comcast’s ongoing commitment to the military community, visit military.comcast.com.