Comcast on March 17 announced it has invested $1 million to bring high speed broadband to Biola, Cali., a rural community in Fresno County.
As part of its larger digital equity initiative in California, Comcast said it will also open three of its "Lift Zones," WiFi-connected community centers, in California's Central Valley region, while donating more than $100,000 to community organizations for digital literacy programs, and providing free laptops to 250 families.
Biola residential customers will now have access to all Xfinity services, including the Internet Essentials, which provides high speed Internet at home for $9.95 per month (plus tax) for qualified families/individuals. Businesses in the area now also will be able to receive the full suite of Comcast Business products and services.
The three new Lift Zones will account for one at the Biola Community Services District and two at Reading & Beyond, located in Southeast Fresno. Each location will provide free WiFi access to students, families, seniors, and community members. With these three additions,
Comcast notes it now has established 13 Lift Zones in Fresno County—and a total of 150 Lift Zones throughout its California footprint, including ten at Boys & Girls Clubs locations in the state last year.
In addition to providing free WiFi service at the new Lift Zone locations, Comcast notes it donated $102,000 to community partners. Fresno State Parent University received $77,000 to help residents with digital literacy training and work readiness skills. $25,000 went to to Reading & Beyond to provide digital literacy training to students, families, seniors, and community members.
“Access to high-speed broadband is a game changer for the residents and business owners in Biola,” said Fresno County Supervisor Brian Pacheco. “Our world has become even more dependent on the internet to learn, teach, work, find healthcare services and so many other aspects of daily life. Comcast’s new high-speed internet services, combined with these sizable financial contributions to our community, will help so many individuals, families and businesses in our region. I’m thankful to everyone who worked so hard to make it a reality.”
“The need for fast, secure internet service has never been greater than it is today, and I’m glad to see Comcast continue to invest in rural areas such as Biola to help our underserved communities,” said California State Assembly member Dr. Joaquin Arambula. “Bold investments like these from Comcast have a significant impact. Helping families gain affordable and reliable internet access opens numerous areas of opportunity, maximizes potential, and creates lasting change.”
“I am greatly appreciative of the efforts taken by Comcast’s significant investments in our rural communities and the expansion of broadband access,” said, executive director of the San Joaquin Broadband Consortium Eduardo Gonzalez. “Continuing to support public private partnerships, such as Comcast and the community of Biola, to create digital equity solutions can be a model of what can be accomplished together. These partnerships will help create vital educational opportunities, workforce development skills and overall quality of life for our residents and families in the region.”
Comcast expands to Silverton, OR
Meanwhile, on March 21 Comcast Oregon/SW Washington announced its plan to expand to Silverton, Oregon, enabling nearly 5,000 Oregonians access to its broadband network.
The $10.6 million Silverton project will allow residents to access Xfinity Internet, delivering speeds of up to 1.2 gigabits per second (Gbps). Comcast Business services will enable speeds up to 10 Gbps for commercial customers. Over the last three years, Comcast notes has invested more than half a billion dollars in the state to improve the network, support the community, and ensure residents, students and businesses remain connected to the internet during the pandemic. The Silverton expansion is part of a broader plan to bring Comcast’s network to more Oregonians, the company said.
“Comcast operates with the fundamental belief that connecting people to the power of broadband technology can be life changing,” said David Tashjian, regional senior vice president of Comcast Oregon/SW Washington. “That’s why we are committed to bridging the digital divide for Oregon/SW Washington residents – not only with our network expansions and investments, but also with our lnternet Essentials program, which brings fast, affordable internet to those who need it most.”Tashjian describes the expansion as strategic. “We’re also exploring expansions into additional communities adjacent to our footprint.”
Construction is slated to begin in the early spring with building the fiber backbone. Some customers will be able to connect to services in late 2022, with completion of the network throughout Silverton in 2023. “I know there’s a lot of interest in Comcast,” said Silverton Mayor Kyle Palmer. “As a mayor, I want to have more choices, and I want residents to have better choices, and I want to have fewer people bugging me all the time saying they’re upset at their service.”
“I love the fact that our businesses will have another choice in providers,” added Stacy Palmer, director, Silverton Chamber of Commerce. “We have a strong tourism-based historic downtown and I know the services Comcast brings will be welcomed by our service and retail businesses.”
Along with its products and services, Comcast will bring its Community Impact programs to Silverton. Earlier this year, Comcast announced a $1 billion commitment over ten years in continued support of digital equity, including its Lift Zones initiative, which has established WiFi-connected spaces in 25 community centers around Oregon/SW Washington for students and adults.
Comcast Oregon/SW Washington has more than 1,000 employees who serve more than one million residential and business customers throughout the state. Comcast is Oregon/SW Washington’s provider of Xfinity video, high-speed Internet, smart home and phone services. The company operates Xfinity retail stores throughout Oregon/SW Washington, which feature a welcoming and modern retail environment that highlights the complete line of Xfinity home and Comcast Business technology offerings, including Xfinity Mobile, Xfinity X1, Xfinity Home and Xfinity Internet.