Comcast Surprises 1,000+ Detroit-Area Students with High-Speed Internet Service to Foster Digital Opportunity
Comcast partners with Black Tech Saturdays, the Michigan Science Center to reach students from 26 local organizations
More than 1,000 Detroit-area students were surprised with access to free high-speed internet service from Comcast during Black Tech Saturdays Youth Tech Fest.
Now through the end of the year, participating students and their families are eligible for Comcast’s Internet Essentials program to help them complete e-learning, communicate with friends and family, and extend digital opportunity into their homes.
“This isn’t just free internet — this is three months of unlimited possibility.”
Broderick Johnson, Comcast Executive Vice President of Public Policy & Executive Vice President of Digital Opportunity
“We believe deeply in the potential of Detroit’s young people, and we believe that access to connectivity should never be a barrier to achieving their dreams,” said Broderick Johnson, Comcast Executive Vice President of Public Policy & Executive Vice President of Digital Opportunity. “Every future coder, entrepreneur, digital artist, researcher and AI user needs reliable internet to achieve their goals and share their work. This isn’t just free internet — this is three months of unlimited possibility.”
Students from 26 Detroit organizations — including Cornerstone Adams-Young Middle School, Carver STEM Academy, Cass Technical High School, Harper Woods High School and the Association for the Advancement of Deaf/ Hard of Hearing — participated in Black Tech Saturdays Youth Tech Fest, hosted at the Michigan Science Center.
During the event, students were able to explore hands-on opportunities in STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math — with interactive exhibits, workshops, and live demonstrations.
“Young people are going to shape the potential of technology and innovation in Detroit — our goal is to inspire them to dream big in tech, and beyond.”
Johnnie Turnage, Co-Founder of Black Tech Saturdays
“The Black Tech Saturdays Youth Tech Fest is designed to expose kids to the world of STEAM careers and give them a front row seat to the possibilities of the future,” said Johnnie Turnage, Co-Founder of Black Tech Saturdays. “Young people are going to shape the potential of technology and innovation in Detroit — our goal is to inspire them to dream big in tech, and beyond.”
In addition to Comcast’s donation of high-speed internet services, the company sponsored Black Tech Saturday’s event programming, aired public service announcements about the Summit to encourage attendance from local residents, and hosted a STEAM activity table at the Youth Tech Fest event.
Comcast’s donation of high-speed internet services and event support are part of Project UP, Comcast’s $1 billion commitment to advance digital opportunity and help create a future with limitless possibilities in Michigan and across the country.
To support Michigan’s digital opportunity efforts, Comcast offers several programs to increase internet accessibility and skills training opportunities, including:
- The Comcast Internet Essentials program provides low-cost, high-speed broadband service to eligible low-income households, connecting more than one million students, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities in Michigan enrolled in a variety of government assistance programs, including the National School Lunch Program, Housing Assistance, Medicaid, the Federal Pell Grant program, SNAP, SSI, WIC, and others.
- Comcast operates Lift Zones across Michigan. Lift Zones are robust Wi-Fi hotspots in safe spaces where kids and adults can access free high-speed WiFi, learn digital skills, and participate in remote learning.
- Comcast has donated millions of dollars in cash and in-kind donations to community-based organizations in Michigan over the last three years, focusing on initiatives designed to foster digital opportunity.