Lift Zone provides safe and engaging space where local students and families can access the internet for education, life resources and digital skills building
(Tuscaloosa, AL): August 5, 2021 – Comcast today announced the opening of its newest Xfinity WiFi-connected “Lift Zone” at the Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama Jaycee Park Unit, located at 2201 Alberta Parkway, in Tuscaloosa. Lift Zones are safe spaces for students and families to connect to the internet and its many resources.
At the Boys and Girls Club, members are able to use this newest Lift Zone space to access free internet and WiFi services to participate in distance learning, do homework, and connect to online education, job searches, healthcare information and other public assistance. This is especially critical at a time where COVID-19 and the new COVID variant puts many Americans at risk of being left behind in their education and digital skills building.
“We are so thankful for the opportunity to partner with Comcast and provide internet services to our area, especially the children and teens that we serve through the Lift Zone project,” said Kim Turner, President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama. “Comcast’s commitment to communities such as ours is so important. In today’s world, nothing gets done without the internet, and our kids and teens need to be able to access a strong signal so they can stay productive, learn 21st century skills, and frankly enjoy their electronic games and devices.”
The Lift Zones are part of a larger multiyear plan by Comcast to support community-organization based WiFi at more than 1,000 Lift Zones throughout the country – including Alabama. The Lift Zones are also an extension of the company’s longstanding commitment to help connect low-income families to the internet and provide resources to help them take advantage of educational opportunities and the digital economy. The Lift Zones complement Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, a low-cost internet adoption program for low-income families, which has helped connect more than 10 million people to the Internet at home since it was launched in 2011.
“Comcast is absolutely committed to bridging the digital divide by providing free, robust WiFi access through the Lift Zones initiative,” said Jason Gumbs, Regional Senior Vice President at Comcast. “I am so honored to be a part of the launch at the Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama. Here, these families – students and adults alike, now have a safe place to get online for critical educational and everyday life resources.”
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 the end of 2021. Additionally, the company increased speeds for all new and existing Internet Essentials customers at no additional cost.
