Press release
Comcast and Serve Your City Launch Digital Navigator Program to Accelerate Internet Adoption in Washington, D.C.
Trusted D.C. community leaders in Wards 7 and 8 will drive awareness about free and low-cost Internet options, how to use devices, and help build digital
About this update from Comcast Corporation
[{"type":"text","content":"Trusted D.C. community leaders in Wards 7 and 8 will drive awareness about free and low-cost Internet options, how to use devices, and help build digital skills\nWASHINGTON, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast today announced expanded efforts to close the digital divide in Washington, D.C. by partnering with Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid (SYC/W6MA) to launch a Digital Navigator program that will train trusted community leaders to serve as Digital Navigators, providing direct outreach to residents in Wards 7 and 8 about free and low-cost Internet options and how to build their digital skills.\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \nSYC/W6MA is a D.C.-based nonprofit that for more than a decade has provided Black and Brown youth and families the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. The SYC/W6MA Digital Navigators will provide a range of support, including helping residents take advantage of the federal government's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) – which provides a $30 per month credit toward purchasing Internet or mobile service ($75 per month on tribal lands) and can be combined with Internet Essentials from Comcast to provide eligible residents with free Internet service.\n\"With the Federal government's Affordable Connectivity Program, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help connect as many people as possible to the internet,\" said Broderick Johnson, Executive Vice President, Digital Equity and Executive Vice President, Public Policy at Comcast. \"The challenge we face, however, is low awareness about ACP and many people who qualify for it also lack the digital skills required to sign up. This is why working with trusted organizations like Serve Your City and Ward 6 Mutual Aid is one of the most effective ways to get more people online and help build the digital skills they need to succeed – driving transformative change for families across the District and nationwide.\"\nThe Digital Navigator model is a highly effective and research-driven approach that engages trusted community organizations to address the root causes of the digital divide – including access to technology, affordability, and digital skills – the essential foundations for Internet adoption. A recent study from the Boston Consulting Group surveyed more than 1,500 people nationwide who used Digital Navigator services and revealed t...