Madison County Journal
Comcast donates laptops to all 129 Shirley D. Simmons Middle School students in Madison County
By Duncan Dent Staff Reporter
All 129 students at Shirley D. Simmons Middle School were awarded laptops this afternoon by Comcast in celebration of the completion of a multi-million-dollar broadband project that has brought high speed internet connectivity to rural parts of north Madison County.
Madison County Schools Deputy Superintendent Austin Brown said the school district appreciated the generosity of Comcast for donating a laptop to every student at Shirley D. Simmons Middle School.
"We are thankful to Comcast and local community leaders for investing in the families in this community,” Brown said.
Students were issued the laptops during a school assembly at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 23.
“This event reflects a strong collaboration among community, government, and education stakeholders,” Suzanne Forte, a Comcast spokeswoman, said.
The donation was a surprise to students and their families, Madison County School District spokesman Richard Negron said.
“These laptops are a donation from Comcast directly to the students for personal use,” Negron said. “They can keep them as soon as receiving them and use them however they choose.”
Negron said students will still be issued devices by the school district.
“These will not replace the devices that we provide as a school district, as this is a direct donation from Comcast to the community members for personal, home use,” Negron said.
Comcast officials said the donation was made possible through the efforts the company’s nationwide initiative to expand Internet access and digital opportunity known as Project UP. Project UP worked with the Madison County Business League & Foundation, Mike McArdle, Regional Senior Vice President, Comcast, said.
“We’re proud to bring our advanced broadband network and services to more homes and businesses in Madison County while also investing in students and their futures,” McArdle said. “By pairing connectivity with devices, we’re helping create more opportunities for students to learn, grow, and stay connected.”
Comcast recently completed a major network expansion in northeast Madison County, connecting thousands of homes and businesses to reliable, high-speed, symmetrical Internet from Xfinity, Comcast officials said.
“Expanding access to reliable, high-speed Internet is essential to helping communities grow, compete, and stay connected in today’s digital world,” Comcast officials said.
This project was made possible through a $4.8 million grant from Madison County, a $4.9 million grant from the State of Mississippi, and a $7.6 million investment from Comcast – reflecting a strong public-private partnership focused on expanding access and creating opportunity.
“With the addition of new laptops, students now have both access to connectivity and the devices needed to fully participate in online learning, complete homework, and build critical digital skills,” Comcast officials said. “Together, these efforts are helping close service gaps and ensure more residents and businesses can fully participate in the digital economy.”
Tuck Rainwater, Senior Vice President, State and Local Government and Community Affairs at Comcast, thanked the leadership of Representative Bennie Thompson; members of Mississippi’s congressional delegation, including Senator Roger Wicker and Senator Cindy Hyde Smith; and state and local leaders including Governor Tate Reeves, Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann, Speaker Jason White, Chairman Joel Carter, Chairman Brent Powell, Senator Bradford Blackmon, Representative Kenji Holloway, and Supervisor Paul Griffin.
“We also appreciate the Mississippi Broadband Office, led by Sally Doty, and our local partners including the Madison County Business League and Foundation and the Madison County Economic Development Association,” Rainwater said.
Other Project UP initiatives include a $10,000 grant to the North Madison County Economic Development Council to support a mobile computer lab serving students, small businesses, and seniors issued in 2024. Comcast also offers “Internet Essentials,” Comcast’s low-cost broadband program for eligible households and community partnerships.
“Comcast continues to help connect more residents to fast, reliable, and affordable Internet and the resources they need to succeed,” Comcast officials said.
Shirley D. Simmons Middle School serves grades six through eight in the Falcon Zone in north Madison County. The school is located at 820 Sulphur Springs Road.