Comcast to invest $4.5 Million to deliver high-speed internet access and full suite of Xfinity services to 2,000 underserved residents and businesses in St. Clair County
In partnership with the State of Alabama and Governor Kay Ivey, Comcast today announced it will expand its broadband network to hundreds of residents, businesses, and local municipalities in St. Clair County, Alabama.
Comcast has been awarded $3.6 million in grants for the St. Clair expansion through the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund, which is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). Through this investment and Comcast funding of $4.5 million, Comcast will deliver high-speed internet and its full suite of Xfinity and Comcast Business services to more than 2,000 underserved residents and businesses.
“I’m proud to partner with Governor Ivey and Comcast to connect more St. Clair County citizens to the many benefits that broadband has to offer,” said Alabama Senator Jim McClendon.
“One of the greatest needs for the rural parts of Alabama is access to high-speed internet,” adds Alabama State Representative Craig Lipscomb. “One can debate its necessity for casual usage, but they cannot deny the absolute necessity for educational and business-related purposes. I am very pleased to have been a part of creating the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Program, which ensures that Alabama will continue to expand broadband into underserved areas. Without this effort, we would not be able to share this exciting news today. Thousands of homes and businesses in my district will now be brought to a standard that many of us take for granted.”
“Now more than ever, staying connected is crucial, particularly for those in rural communities,” said Jason Gumbs, Comcast Regional SVP. “We have been working hard to bring our services to more residents and businesses across Alabama as quickly as possible. We are honored to be part of this critical project and proud to connect the residents of St. Clair County to the power of Comcast’s advanced broadband services.”
Over the last two years, Comcast has successfully expanded its network to such places as Dauphin Island, Colbert County, Madison County, and Mobile County, connecting thousands of new Alabamians to the internet.
In addition to Comcast’s traditional services, residential customers in the expanded areas will have access to the following Xfinity services:
- Xfinity xFi, allowing high-speed Internet customers to personalize and control their in-home Wi-Fi experience;
- Xfinity Flex, a simplified streaming solution for Xfinity Internet customers who do not want traditional TV video service;
- The X1 entertainment platform and voice remote; and
- Xfinity Home, a total home security and automation solution
Businesses in the expanded areas will also have access to a full suite of Comcast Business internet, voice, and video services.
This expansion will also provide families with access to Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, the nation’s largest and most successful broadband adoption initiative for low-income families. Internet Essentials provides low-cost broadband service for $9.95 a month, digital literacy training and discounted computers.
Comcast is also offering free and discounted internet and mobile options through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). ACP provides eligible low-income households a credit up to $30 a month toward the cost of Internet and mobile services ($75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands). Comcast is making ACP credits available for all of the company’s Xfinity Internet speed tiers, including Internet Essentials. For more information, visit www.Xfinity.com/free or call 1-800-Comcast.
Nationally, over the past five years and across Comcast’s service area, the company has quadrupled its overall network capacity and doubled its fiber miles; deployed gigabit speeds to more homes than any other Internet Service Provider; upgraded all of its speed tiers; and rolled out an entirely new class of gateways – the xFi Gateway and the xFi Advanced Gateway – which are designed for higher speeds and blanket most homes with Wi-Fi coverage.
