Comcast and Economic Development
Presentation to Mountain Connect Conference
June 8, 2015
Agenda
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Less TV Provider, More Economic Development Partner
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Capabilities, Tools that Aid Economic Development
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Internet Essentials Program
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New Developments @ Comcast
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Building the Business Case Together
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Contact Info/Q&A
Comcast and Economic Development
• Comcast – A Technology and Media Company
– No longer just a “cable” company
– Major advances in our technology platform, service
offerings
– Own NBC Universal
• IT/Broadband Infrastructure Partner
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Extensive capabilities – up to 10GB fiber
Helping communities attract, retain, and grow businesses
Aid economic diversification
Helping businesses themselves grow, expand
Comcast and Economic Development
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Network Investment: Fiber-deep network, continual
reinvestment – nearly $7B since 1996
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Comcast Business: Wide variety of capabilities to meet the
needs of small, medium, and large enterprises
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Innovation resources directed to the Mile High Region
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Wifi capabilities, public wifi projects
Continued network investment
Speed increases – now up to 2GB residential
Incubator support
Comcast Labs
EveryBlock platform
Internet Essentials program
Internet Essentials Program
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Internet Access for Low-Income Families
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Available to families with kids K-12 who receive free or reduced
school lunch
Students at schools with more than 70% free and reduced school
lunch eligible students
• Broadband connection for $9.95/mo
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Access to a laptop computer for $150
Free Digital Literacy Training
• Resource for students and their families
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Students: Homework, research, school info, etc.
Families: Job research, job applications, bill paying,
communicating with family/friends, more
• Summer Connection and Back to School
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Summer: Resources to slow summer learning loss
Back to School: Info distribution, booths at events
Customer Experience Transformation
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More customer service reps and technicians: Commitment to create
5,500 more customer service jobs.
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Automatic credit for missed appointments: $20 credit for missed
appointments automatically applied.
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Tech tools for diagnosis/resolution: More investment in technologies to
quickly diagnose and solve customers’ issues early and first time.
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Tech tools for customers: “Tech Tracking,” “My Account” app’s
capabilities, with services like account review, bill paying, “virtual hold,”
appointment scheduling, and more.
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More staff at Xfinity Stores: Increasing staff to help further reduce wait
times.
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Billing clarity, simplification: We’ll be making changes to our bills to
make them simpler, clearer and more consistent.
Technology Developments
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Gigabit Modem: Enables 1-gigabit+ speeds over our fiber/coax network,
and home wifi customers; across our entire footprint in 2016.
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2-Gig Cities: Gigabit Pro residential service, which delivers professionalgrade, fiber-to-the-home connectivity, reaching 2-gigabit symmetrical
speeds. Roll out in CO begins this summer.
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Xfinity Share - live streaming: New Xfinity Share app lets X1 users live
stream video and send photos and recorded videos to each other in real
time.
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Voice Remote: New voice-enabled remote control allows users to search
and scan just by using their voice.
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Xfinity Home 3rd Party Devices: Expanding home security and automation
business by partnering with companies like Nest, Lutron, Phillips, SkyBell,
Kwikset and more
Building a Business Case Together
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Information Sharing
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Understanding community economic development plans can help influence our
network investment
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Understanding where we are and where we can deploy can help economic
development teams save new/growing businesses $$
Competition for funding within Comcast
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Competing against projects within the Region and the entire West Division
Data and info from communities can be critical
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Our information may not be complete
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Can make a big difference when building a business case
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Variety of tools that can aid economic activity
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Can’t reach everywhere but always worth having a conversation
Takeaways
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Comcast is a valued economic development partner with a variety
of tools to help boost economic activity
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Internet Essentials brings affordable internet access to low income
families and ensures that no part of a community is falling behind
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Major customer service and technology developments announced
in the last month…and they are rolling out as we speak
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Let’s get together, share information, and build a business case
Comcast: Contact Information
Government Affairs
Business Services
Andy Davis: Director, Government Affairs –
Mountains, West Metro Denver, Boulder
andy_davis@cable.comcast.com
M: (720) 951-2868
Twitter: @davisdispatches
Chris Prekopa: Director, State and Local
Government Sales, Western Division
chris_prekopa@cable.comcast.com
M: (970) 658-6030
Technical Operations
Kari Conley: Enterprise Sales Account Executive,
kari_conley@cable.comcast.com
M: (970) 230-0469
Dan Wherry: Director, Field Operations –
Northern Colorado and Mountain Communities
dan_wherry@cable.comcast.com
M: (970) 658-6030
Tim Shannon: Business Account Executive,
timothy_shannon@cable.comcast.com
M: (970) 401-1023