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Seniors
along
with
other
residents
learned
how to
make
their
dollars
stretch
further
at a
recent
educational
event
with
Comcast
at
Bicentennial
Tower, a
300-unit
affordable
family,
and
senior
high-rise
in
Midtown.
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us USA) |
| |
Detroit
Seniors
Get Help
from
Comcast with
Digital
Adoption
DETROIT,
MI -
Seniors
along
with
other
residents
learned
how to
make
their
dollars
stretch
further
at a
recent
educational
event
with
Comcast
at
Bicentennial
Tower, a
300-unit
affordable
family,
and
senior
high-rise
in
Midtown.
Xfinity
technology
consultants
were on
hand to
inform
attendees
about
the
federal
government’s
Affordable
Connectivity
Program
(ACP),
which
offers
income-constrained
households
a $30
monthly
credit
for
internet
service.
The ACP
credit,
combined
with
Comcast’s
Internet
Essentials
or
Internet
Essentials
Plus
plans,
makes
internet
service
free for
eligible
households.
“Comcast
understands
the
barriers
to
digital
adoption,
and we
continue
to meet
people
where
they are
to help
them
clear
those
roadblocks
to get
online,”
said
Melissa
Bahoora,
vice
president
of Sales
for
Comcast
in
Michigan.
“It is
so
important
that we
work
with our
community
partners,
like
Bicentennial
Tower,
to help
educate
residents
about
the many
ways
being
online
can
enhance
their
lives,
such as
having
access
to
telehealth,
distance
learning,
and
work-from-home
options.”
According
to the
Census
Bureau,
roughly
35% of
households
in the
city of
Detroit
do not
have a
broadband
internet
subscription
despite
broadband
coverage
being
available
throughout
the
city.
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us USA)
“The
obstacle
isn’t
internet
access,
a common
misconception—there
is
network
infrastructure
and
coverage
available
across
virtually
every
corner
of the
city,”
said
Shannon
Dulin,
Government
Affairs
manager
for
Comcast
in and
around
Detroit.
“In
fact,
Detroit
residents
have
access
to the
same
robust
and
reliable
gigabit
speeds
that are
available
in
neighboring
suburbs.
The true
challenge
lies in
getting
households
to adopt
broadband
internet
service,
so we
need to
focus on
eliminating
the
barriers
to
adoption,
including
cost,
lack of
proper
equipment,
and lack
of
digital
skills
training
and
support.”
A recent
nationwide
study by
the
Boston
Consulting
Group
found
that
Digital
Navigators
are
critical
to
closing
the
digital
divide
and
reducing
socioeconomic
inequalities
by
helping
more
people
get
online.
Digital
Navigators
are
individuals
affiliated
with
trusted
community
organizations
who are
trained
to help
people
access
the
Internet,
use
devices,
and
build
digital
skills.
The
study
surveyed
1,500
individuals
across
the
country
who
received
support
from a
Digital
Navigator.
With the
support
of these
digital
caseworkers:
• More
than 65
percent
of
survey
respondents
said
they
obtained
Internet
access
or a
computer
or
tablet
at home;
among
Hispanic
and
Black
Americans,
this
increased
to 72
percent.
• More
than 85
percent
of all
respondents
said
they
used the
Internet
more
frequently.
• Almost
half
surveyed
obtained
better
healthcare,
and 40
percent
received
support
with
basic
needs
like
food,
rent,
and
housing.
• 1 in 3
found a
new job
or
earned a
higher
income.
"Thirty
dollars
a month
goes a
long
way,
especially
when our
residents
have
other
bills to
pay and
prescriptions
to
fill,”
said
Jean
Johnson,
Social
Service
Coordinator
at
Bicentennial
Tower.
“Having
educational
and
hands-on
support
from
Comcast
is
essential
to
helping
our
residents
get
online
and
participate
in our
digital
world.”
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