Bridging the Digital Divide in the City of Bridges

Comcast’s corporate headquarters may be in Philadelphia, but its footprint in southwestern Pennsylvania is deeply rooted in the Pittsburgh area. Today, Comcast’s Keystone Region serves Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and parts of West Virginia and Maryland. And while our service area continues to expand, we remain closely tied to our communities through our local technicians servicing homes and businesses, associates in Xfinity stores meeting face-to-face with customers, and regional leadership operating out of Robinson Township. We are invested in southwestern Pennsylvania’s success, and proud to serve this market and our customers as we work to bridge the digital divide.

Power of the Internet

Connectivity is more important than ever before – it enables residents and businesses to get the most out of their education, work on a virtual or hybrid schedule, build community, stay in contact with loved ones, and work out through online classes and studios. And given how digitally driven the world is today, there is an opportunity to reach more people in Southwestern Pennsylvania in unserved or underserved areas who either don’t have access to the Internet – or rely on inadequate Internet connections.

We’re focused on keeping customers covered now and into the future offering affordable solutions that ensure no one is left behind, regardless of income level, through programs including:

• Internet Essentials – In 2011 Comcast created the largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program in the country: Internet Essentials. Internet Essentials offers reliable, low-cost high-speed?Internet?service for $9.95/month, or for?those interested in faster speeds,?Internet Essentials+ doubles the speed of IE for just $29.95/month.

• WiFi Pass – Offering both customers and non-customers unlimited access to 23 million+ Xfinity WiFi hotspots nationwide – including those in Southwestern Pennsylvania – for $10 for the first month and $20 per month thereafter, WiFi pass enables users to connect at their discretion.

Staying Local

We’re dedicated community citizens that live and work locally and share a commitment to investing in Southwestern Pennsylvania through our volunteerism and corporate philanthropy. We believe serving the local community is a privilege, and it’s one we take seriously. We focus on a few core areas:

• Team UP – Our team is passionate about our communities and gives back through our national employee volunteer program, Team UP.

• Lift Zones – There are 176 free WiFi-connected Lift Zones in Pennsylvania, with more than 30 in Allegheny County. Lift Zones help students, Veterans, and anyone who, for a variety of reasons (including homelessness, or housing insecurity issues), need somewhere to go during the day to connect to the Internet and to learn digital skills. Lift Zones are part of Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive $1 billion commitment to help build a future of unlimited possibilities. 

• Foundation Grants – This summer we awarded $150,000 to four Allegheny County-based organizations to help close Pittsburgh’s digital divide. Our work with the African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania, Neighborhood Allies, STEM Coding Lab, and Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania allows us to support these organizations as they further digital education and excellence.

• Digital Navigators – Locally we partner with organizations like the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to equip Digital Navigators – or individuals trained to help get more people connected – with tools and resources. Digital Navigators can help people sign up for Internet service, get a digital device, and connect to skills training and other digital literacy resources to ultimately leverage the power of connectivity. 

In Southwestern Pennsylvania we continue to work towards our goal of helping to build more equitable, inclusive and sustainable communities by bridging the digital divide and investing in our local communities. To learn more about Comcast’s continuing dedication to closing the digital divide, scan the QR code!