Comcast has announced that Xfinity and Comcast Business services are now available to more than 4,000 homes and businesses in Highlands County, Florida, including over 1,800 previously unserved locations. This expansion connects residents to high-speed Internet, mobile, entertainment, and security services through a public-private partnership with the state of Florida’s Broadband Opportunity Program and Capital Projects Fund. The project is part of a broader investment in Florida, which also includes recent expansions to Flagler Estates, Lake County, Leon County, and Nassau County.

Service Offerings and Network Capabilities

Residents in Highlands County and Flagler Estates now have access to Comcast’s full suite of residential Xfinity services. This includes high-speed Internet with multi-gig speeds and 99.9% reliability, mobile service with speeds up to 1 Gig, streaming TV, and home security automation. For businesses, Comcast Business provides connectivity solutions such as SD-WAN, cloud connectivity, and unified communications. Comcast Business Mobile offers 5G access and connectivity to over 23 million WiFi hotspots nationwide.

Expansion Timeline and Future Plans

Construction in Highlands County will continue this summer to expand the network to more than 1,200 additional locations, with completion expected by the end of 2026. Residents can verify service availability via Xfinity.com or visit the local Xfinity store in Highlands County located at 3010 Herring Ave, Sebring, FL 33870. Nationally, the company’s network reaches 65 million homes and businesses.

Community Impact and Digital Equity

Local officials emphasize that the infrastructure investment supports economic resilience and workforce participation. Beyond connectivity, Comcast is investing in digital equity programs in Northeast Florida. These initiatives include Internet Essentials, which offers low-cost Internet to eligible households, and investments in nonprofits focused on digital skills training. The company is also expanding WiFi-connected Lift Zones to support community access.

President Donald Trump has threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of Comcast Corporation and Walt Disney Co after networks owned by the companies declined to air his primetime speech on Thursday. The speech featured unverified accusations of voter interference during the 2018 and 2020 elections, including claims that China illegally interfered. While FOX and CBS broadcast parts of the address, NBC and ABC opted not to air it live, prompting the President to suggest that "fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses."

Regulatory Pressure and FCC Authority

The Federal Communications Commission has limited authority to revoke broadcast licenses. However, the agency is currently led by Brendan Carr, a Trump ally who has previously targeted media companies for their content choices. Walt Disney Co is already under investigation by the FCC regarding accusations that "The View" did not provide political parties with equal airtime, putting eight company-owned stations at potential risk. While the immediate loss of main broadcast licenses is unlikely, both companies must tread carefully regarding acquisitions and other activities requiring White House approval.

Broadcast History and Context

Media outlets are not required to air primetime presidential speeches. A 2022 speech by President Joe Biden was not aired live on NBC or ABC, and a 2014 address by President Barack Obama was skipped by ABC, NBC, and CBS. Despite this tradition of selective coverage, the current administration has signaled a willingness to punish Comcast and Disney for their editorial decisions. CBS, which aired the speech, may have benefited given that Paramount Skydance, its potential acquirer, counts Trump allies David and Larry Ellison as key investors.

| Company | Ticker | Network | Action Taken | n| ---: | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Comcast Corporation | NASDAQ: CMCSA | NBC | Did not air speech live | | Walt Disney Co | NYSE: DIS | ABC | Did not air speech live | | Paramount Global | NASDAQ: PSKY | CBS | Aired part of speech |