Whether you’re living on the Gulf of Mexico or closer to I-75, it’s never been easier to connect to reliable, high-speed Internet in Sarasota County.
Sarasota County is ready for tomorrow’s connectivity needs following the completion of $22M worth of technology upgrades. Comcast recently announced the multimillion-dollar investment to bring its most advanced network to industrial parks, retail sites and residential developments. Comcast’s reliable and fiber-rich network powers Comcast Business and Xfinity services. The tech company’s significant investment means businesses and residential customers now have access to a full suite of services, including speeds of up to 100 Gbps for commercial customers and faster than a gigabit for homes.
“We are so excited!” Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce CEO Heather Kaster said. “The $22 million dollars that Comcast and Xfinity have invested in our region is going to make such a difference in the lives of our residents, as well as our business community.”
Some of the areas now equipped with the upgrades include:
- University Parkway and Business Boulevard
- University Parkway and Deer Drive
- I-75 and Fruitville Road
- The residential area in North Port, north of I-75
“Access to advanced Internet and telecommunications services are crucial to Sarasota County’s continued growth,” Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Neunder said. “Comcast’s investment in its local technology infrastructure will not only attract new businesses and help existing businesses grow and compete, but it will also help us continue to attract new residents and developments and, at the end of the day, have a positive impact on our overall quality of life.”
Comcast is committed to expanding access to reliable, high-speed Internet across Sarasota County to as many neighborhoods as possible.
Sarasota’s ties to Comcast date back more than 50 years. The growing community is and will continue to be a focus area for the company. In fact, more than 3,700 miles of network miles power connectivity across the county, including more than 120,000 WiFi hotspots and 8 Lift Zones.
Following the upgrades, the network architecture allows Comcast to deliver the same suite of innovative services, the same high-level customer experience and gigabit+ Internet speeds across Sarasota County, regardless of zip code – making the area’s connectivity future-proof.
Sarasota’s First-Ever Xfinity Store Opens
There’re even more reasons to celebrate in Sarasota County. Customers now have access to the area’s first-ever Xfinity store. It’s located at the southeast corner of Stickey Point Road and U.S. 41 in Sarasota. In January 2024, community leaders joined Comcast representatives for a grand opening to celebrate the company’s huge investment. The festivities included a surprise laptop donation. Jeff Buzzelli, Senior Vice President for Comcast Cable’s Florida Region, announced a donation of 50 laptops to students from the United Way of South Sarasota County’s ALICE project.
“We’re more than a service provider. Comcast has been part of the fabric of Sarasota County for more than 50 years,” said Jeff Buzzelli, Comcast’s Florida Region Senior Vice President. “We not only invest in our technology, products, services and the customer experience, we invest in the communities we serve and in our people.”
Started in 2021, Project UP is a comprehensive 10-year, $1 billion Comcast initiative designed to help make digital equity a reality and build a future of unlimited possibilities. Internet Essentials has been one of Project UP’s centerpieces, providing low-cost Internet service, digital skills training and subsidized computers to eligible low-income households. This program has helped thousands of residents across the state access the Internet at home since it was launched in 2011, including students, senior citizens, veterans and people with disabilities enrolled in public assistance programs and more.
Since 2010, Comcast has provided over $9 million in cash and in-kind donations to Sarasota County’s non-profits, community events, sponsorships and other initiatives including:
- All Faiths Food Bank
- Alzheimer’s Association-FL Gulf Coast Chapter
- American Red Cross – Sarasota
- Asolo Repertory Theatre
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast
- Big Cat Habitat
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties, Inc.
- Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice, Inc
- Child Protection Center
- Children First, Inc.
- City of Sarasota
- Coastal Behavioral Healthcare
- Community Foundation of Sarasota County
- Easter Seals Southwest Florida
- Education Foundation of Sarasota County
- Florida Center for Child and Family
- Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
- Jewish Family and Childrens Service of Sarasota-Manatee Inc
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Sarasota
- Mayors Feed The Hungry Program
- Miracle League of Manasota
- Mote Marine Laboratory
- NAACP of Sarasota County
- Neuro Challenge Foundation
- New Gate School
- North Port Chamber of Commerce
- Players Theatre
- Ringling College of Art and Design
- Sahib Shrine
- Sarasota Blues Festival
- Sarasota County
- Sarasota County Agricultural Fair Association
- Sarasota Film Festival
- Sarasota Pumpkin Festival
- Sarasota Tomorrow
- Senior Friendship Centers
- Suncoast Charities For Children
- Suncoast Communities Blood Bank
- The Haven
- United Way of Sarasota County
- United Way of Suncoast
- University of South Florida Foundation
- Van Wezel Foundation
- Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Comcast has been serving and supporting communities across Sarasota County for decades. The following are announcements about Comcast’s initiatives over the last few years:
- January 2024 – Comcast Announces Completion of $22 million in Technology Infrastructure Projects in Sarasota County and Celebrates Xfinity Store Grand Opening
- November 2022 – Hurricane Ian Response and Restoration Update for Southwest Florida
- October 2022 – Xfinity WiFi Van Access Points and Reopened Xfinity Store Locations
- October 2022 – Southwest Florida Network Restoration Timeline
- July 2022 – The Roar Continues: Sarasota Youth Enjoys “Jurassic World: Dominion” Screening
- May 2020 – Comcast Awards $225,000 in Scholarships to Florida Students
- February 2020 – Comcast Hiring for Business Sales Jobs in Sarasota and Southwest Florida
- November 2019 – Comcast Partners with C-SPAN to Bring C-SPAN Bus to Sarasota and Fort Myers
- May 2019 – Thousands of Comcast Cares Day Volunteers “Make Change Happen” Across Florida
Leadership
Jeff Buzzelli serves as Senior Vice President of the Florida Region which includes parts of southern Alabama and Georgia. He oversees the Region’s business functions, focusing on technical operations, engineering, launching and marketing new products and services, and overall financial performance. He is responsible for delivering reliable products and services to around 3.5 million customers throughout Florida. He leads more than 2,700 employees and is focused on delivering exceptional customer experience and providing the most reliable, fastest Internet connection to customers.
Comcast is incredibly proud to serve Sarasota. We’re more than just your Internet service provider. We’re your friends, neighbors and coworkers, and we share a future.
