Oakland Activists Get Comcast to Change National Policy

With Oakland Unified School District making the transition from traditional classrooms to remote teaching and e-learning in light of the COVID-19 crisis, Dirk Tillotson – education activist and executive director of Great School Voices – knew that many low-income families would fall through the gap of the digital divide. 

After discovering that there were restrictions in Comcast’s offer to provide 60 days of free internet for low-income families, Dirk circulated a petition demanding that the provider remove provisions prohibiting access to indebted, high-need families. After collecting over 2,000 signatures, Comcast Oakland has committed to connect any family that needs it, no preconditions. This is what happens when communities take action together! Follow more of Dirk’s activism on Twitter.