Comcast Pledges To Spend $100M 'Fighting Injustice'

Comcast Corp. will spend $100 million over the next three years to help fight “injustice and inequality against any race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or ability,” CEO Brian Roberts told employees in a message Monday.

The dedicated funds include $75 million in cash and $25 million in media spending spread across five main focus areas:

• funding social justice organizations,
• accelerating diversity and inclusion efforts for employees,
• highlighting black voices and stories through awareness and education on the company's media outlets
• addressing digital inequities;
• and supporting small businesses.

The Philadelphia Business Journal reports Roberts first wrote to employees last weekend to express his “outrage over the far too familiar and frequent acts of violence against the black community, and to acknowledge the structural racism that fuels these injustices,” just as massive protests began to swell nationwide. His note Monday said Comcast’s leaders agree “it’s time we start putting our words into real, sustainable action.”

Brian Roberts

NBCUniversal Chief Diversity Officer Craig Robinson will spearhead the efforts alongside Roberts. All of Philadelphia-based Comcast’s divisions, Comcast Cable, NBCU and European satellite company Sky, will “create sustainable programs within their businesses,” drawing on ideas from employees.

The company will also speed up diversity and inclusion efforts for hiring, promotions and training and have “important conversations — however uncomfortable” in town halls, speaker series and mandatory anti-racism and anti-bias training. It will also provide more support to employee resource groups.

Part of the funds will also help small businesses that were impact by Covid-19 closures, and a “substantial portion” will go to businesses owned by people of color. The company’s business services and ad sales division will also offer free commercials. On the entrepreneurial side, it said it will create new programs for black business founders through its LIFT Labs program, and will increase investments in diverse founders through it venture capital am, Comcast Ventures.

“We know that Comcast alone can’t remedy this complex issue,” Roberts said. “But you have my commitment that our company will try to play an integral role in driving lasting reform. Together, we hope to help create a more equitable, just and inclusive society.”