Across the company and here in the Beltway Region, every year we invest in our network, our products and the communities where we live and work. With the immense change brought on by 2020, we became more focused than ever on delivering the products and services our customers need while ensuring access for those who need it most.
CONNECTIVITY
This year, connectivity became even more important, with millions of people relying on us to help them work from home, access critical news and educational resources, and entertain and keep in touch with family members during the pandemic. We took steps to make sure we were there for them. We delivered the speeds and capacity our customers needed, even as we saw an unprecedented shift in network usage.
NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
As a company, we always look for ways to add value for our customers, and this year was no exception. We introduced new products and features like expanded 5G coverage for Xfinity Mobile, next-generation Xfinity xFi pods, free advanced cybersecurity for those with Xfinity’s xFi Gateway, additional home security options, and more. And, with TV viewing surging, customers were able to unwind at home with new entertainment options, including the launches of Hulu, Spotify and NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock on Xfinity X1.
BUSINESS SERVICES
We also know how much our business customers depend on us, especially at a time when they need to pivot to new ways of operating – including Central Virginia’s Clarkson David, CPA; Maryland agencies and municipalities; GeneDx in Montgomery County, MD; and the Town of North Beach, MD. We provided free and discounted access to leading third-party business applications and introduced a set of connectivity solutions for business owners with employees working from home in the pandemic. We also moved quickly to ensure essential businesses could stay connected.
COMMUNITY
While we focused on providing the best products, services and experience for our customers, we also applied our resources to make an impact in the community. We completed our solar system installation on the rooftop of our Washington, D.C., facility and spotlighted the successes of our 78 local Leaders & Achievers scholarship recipients through our social and digital platforms. We also enhanced and expanded Internet Essentials, our signature high-speed Internet adoption program for low-income families. And with the announcement of our Internet Essentials Partnership Program, cities, school districts, and community organizations like Arlington, VA, Public Schools; Baltimore City Public Schools; and Washington, D.C., Public Schools, to name a few, were able to connect large numbers of eligible students and families to the Internet at home. And finally, we announced a multi-year program to launch more than 1,000 WiFi-connected “Lift Zones” in community centers nationwide.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Companywide, we built upon our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion with a $100 million commitment to fight injustice and inequality against any race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or ability. As part of this commitment, we recently introduced Comcast RISE, an initiative created to help strengthen and empower small businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) that were hard hit by COVID-19. We recently announced our first round of RISE award recipients, including business owners in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Areas.
None of our initiatives this year would have been possible without the talents and focus of our employees, like Xiomara “Terri” Collado-Jessup in Alexandria, VA.
We’re grateful to be a part of your homes, your businesses and your communities, and we’re looking forward to continuing our relationships in the year to come. For more of 2020’s Comcast NBCUniversal news, visit corporate.comcast.com/press.