Lift Zones provide safe spaces to help students and families access the internet for school and digital skills building
Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Inc. named initial Lift Zone partners in Memphis
Plans for More Lift Zones Across State
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – February 9, 2021 – Comcast announced today the opening of two new Xfinity Wi-Fi-connected “Lift Zones” in Memphis to support local Veterans and students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 crisis has put many low-income students at risk of being left behind and has accelerated the need for comprehensive digital equity and internet adoption programs to support them. Lift Zones are designed to help those students who are unable to distance learn at home.
Comcast will provide robust Wi-Fi hotspots in safe spaces designed to help students get online, participate in distance learning and do their homework. Many of these sites also serve adults and can connect them to online education, job searches, healthcare information and public assistance. This initiative provides free connectivity inside the community centers and access to hundreds of hours of content to help families and site coordinators navigate online learning.
The first two Lift Zones in Memphis are at Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Inc, located at 2226 Ball Road and 1183 Madison Avenue.
With these Lift Zones, Veterans will have easier access to private telehealth consultations, special counseling services, education opportunities and the ability to do job searches.
“The Comcast Lift Zones at AOVS give our veteran heroes the capability to safely connect to the many resources that the internet has to offer – without interruption or charges,” said Cordell Walker, Executive Director, Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Inc. “We are honored and blessed to have such services for our programs and thank Comcast for their partnership.”
In October, Comcast announced a multiyear program to launch more than 1,000 Xfinity WiFi-connected Lift Zones in community centers nationwide. This effort is part of the company’s 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.
“As we continue to bridge the digital divide, the pandemic has brought on additional challenges for families and students that we have sought to address,” said Jason Gumbs, Regional Senior Vice President at Comcast. “These lift zones offer a safe place for our students to succeed, and we thank our community partners for their support.”
In nearly 10 years, Internet Essentials has become the nation’s largest and most successful low-income internet adoption program and has connected millions of people. It offers households low-cost, broadband service for $9.95/month, the option to purchase a heavily subsidized computer and multiple options for free digital literacy training. In 2020, Comcast committed to providing 60 days of free Internet Essentials service for qualifying low-income families that are new customers through June 30, 2021. Additionally, the company increased speeds for all new and existing Internet Essentials customers at no additional cost.
