Comcast Launching WiFi-Connected “Lift Zones” in Oregon/SW Washington Boys and Girls Clubs in Portland, Vancouver, Salem, and Eugene Provide Safe Spaces Fully Equipped with Free Internet to Help Low-Income Students Participate in Distance Learning



As part of its ongoing commitment to help connect low-income families to the internet so they can fully participate in distance-learning and the digital economy, Comcast today announced that seven Boys and Girls Clubs across Comcast’s Oregon/SW Washington footprint have established Lift Zones.

With robust WiFi access provided by Comcast, the Lift Zones are designed to designed to help lift, or elevate, the experience for students getting online, engaging in distance learning and doing their homework, providing a safe, secure location for students to connect online each day during normal school hours. This initiative provides free connectivity inside various partner community centers over the next three years.

While additional Lift Zones are expected to launch in the coming weeks in Portland and Vancouver, they are currently open at the following Boys and Girls Clubs in Portland, Salem, and Eugene: • Blazers Club - 5250 NE MLK Jr. Blvd, Portland • Rockwood Club - 454 SE 165th, Portland • West Salem Club - 925 Gerth Ave NW, Salem • Swegle Club - 1711 Aguilas Ct, Salem • Knudson Club - 1395 Summer St NE, Salem • Boys and Girls Club of Emerald Valley - 1545 W. 22nd Ave. Eugene

Terry Johnson, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro Area, says he’s glad to have Lift Zones as a resource. “These Lift Zones are critical for the kids who attend our Club sites. Our Club members depend on our support to help them thrive in the virtual learning environment and we are grateful to have the resources and partnerships to be able to meet their needs. We are eager to see how this improves their academic performance and helps them avoid learning loss during this challenging pandemic.”

"We are proud to partner with community organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs in the effort to enable kids to keep up with their schoolwork,” said David Tashjian, regional vice president, Comcast Oregon/SW Washington. “The COVID-19 crisis continues to put many low-income students at risk of being left behind, accelerating the need for comprehensive digital equity and Internet adoption programs to support them. We hope these Lift Zones will help those students who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to connect to effective distance learning at home.” Tashjian is personally committed to the mission of the Boys and Girls Clubs: he is joining the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Portland Metropolitan Area in January.

In addition, Comcast recently announced that it is extending its offer of 60 days of free internet access to low-income customers through its program, and free access to all outdoor WiFi hotspots until June 30, 2021. Lift Zone sites complement Internet Essentials, which has helped connect more than 8 million low-income people to the Internet at home, including more than 52,000 families in Oregon/SW Washington.