Apps are the Present and the Future of TV
There is an interesting, but somewhat puzzling debate brewing in tech policy circles right now that poses a basic question: Do we need a new tech mandate to ensure that consumers can enjoy TV content on retail devices? If you take even a cursory look at the consumer experience and rapid transformation of the TV marketplace, the answer is pretty clear: No. We don’t need an FCC mandate telling tech innovators, show creators, and pay TV operators how they can and cannot distribute content. Technology, TV, and content companies have drawn similar conclusions. This most logical, consumer-driven
Taking Home Automation To a Whole New Level
Once upon a time, that thermostat on the wall was only for adjusting the temperature. The blinds had to be drawn with a pull-chord. Those lights had to be turned on with a switch on the wall. And that security camera recorded to videotape. But today, these objects could be running through a home automation system, often controlled through a smart phone and enabled by your Internet service provider. But these are just a few examples of how the Internet of Things and Wi-Fi enabled devices are changing our lifestyles. In fact, 37 billion smart products are expected on the market by 2020. A
Latest Data Reveals Fastest Broadband Regions Worldwide
Though the details have shifted slightly, the headline remains the same: the United States is home to ten of the top twenty fastest Internet regions in the world. According to the latest Akamai State of the Internet report, Washington, D.C. tops the list with the fastest Internet in America with an average peak connection speed of 72.7 Mbps. The next fastest is next-door-neighbor Maryland with 66.5 Mbps. This should come as little surprise as these regions are most like the small, densely packed urban regions also reflected in the top twenty like Singapore and Japan. Akamai’s State of the
Walter Kaitz Annual Dinner Raises $1.6 Million to Promote Diversity in Cable
This week’s festivities in honor of cable’s Diversity Week concluded last night at the 32nd Annual Walter Kaitz Foundation Dinner held in New York City. The dinner, hosted by Raven-Symone of ABC’s The View and Sage Steele of NBA Countdown on ESPN, raised $1.6 million, a great way to end a week full of leadership workshops, mentoring roundtables and breakout sessions on expanding cable’s commitment to diversity in the industry. The Diversity Champion award, won by Univision Communications Inc, was presented to Randy Falco, President and CEO. Pictured on right: Sage Steel of ESPN’s NBA Countdown
How a Commitment to Veterans Makes the Cable Industry Stronger
Of the many reasons I’m proud to be a part of the cable industry, perhaps the biggest is our role in improving the communities we touch. Over the past 20 years, we’ve created millions of local jobs and contributed billions of dollars to charities and non-profits. Not to mention, the infrastructure that we’ve built across most of America has added innumerably to the lives of millions who have been able to grow their businesses, access healthcare, and educate themselves, among other things. But perhaps closest to my heart is the contribution cable is making to American veterans. As a veteran, I
Recognizing Cable’s Commitment to Workforce Diversity
As the cable industry gathers in New York this week to reaffirm its commitment to diversity, an important survey was released today that recognizes efforts being made to increase the representation of women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups throughout the employee ranks. The “2015 NAMIC and WICT Cable Telecommunications Industry Workforce Diversity Survey” — announced today during a Joint Town Hall on Diversity held by the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications and the Women in Cable Telecommunications Association – gathered data on demographics, by gender
Once Again, ISPs Top Investment Heroes Ranking
According the latest Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) report U.S. Investment Heroes of 2015 issued today, ISPs (really, the cable and telecom industry as a whole) are investing more capital into infrastructure improvements than any other industry in America. In 2014, ISPs were the leader as well with $46 billion. In 2015, the number leapt to $48.7 billion, an impressive jump of nearly six percent. This is particularly significant as the United States continues to suffer through an investment drought. In fact, PPI cites capital per worker-hour has fallen since 2010. As the report says, “Given
Cable Prepares to Celebrate Diversity Week
“We need diversity of thought, experience, product and people. To best reflect the customers and communities we serve, we’re infusing diversity and inclusion into our governance, workforce, sourcing, programming and community investment practices,” writes David Cohen, the Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast. In anticipation of Diversity Week, which will be held in New York City next week, we’d like to take a moment to recognize these types of commitments and initiatives taking place across the cable industry. The Walter Kaitz Foundation, also known as cable’s
CableLabs Report Concludes LTE-U Risks Disrupting Consumer Wi-Fi
Yesterday, CableLabs, the cable industry’s non-profit research and development consortium, published a blog that highlighted an important question that many in the tech policy community are talking about: Does the lack of effective politeness protocols in LTE-U technology risk disrupting consumer Wi-Fi and other devices that rely on unlicensed spectrum? In short, the conclusion was yes. As the blog makes clear, the LTE-U “specification” provides only a limited, half-page discussion of potential approaches to testing sharing but no actual sharing requirements. If this is LTE-U’s answer to
Cable Sweeps Emmy's with 24 Trophies, 69% of Wins
It was as close to a rout as a Primetime Emmy Awards night could possibly be. With a whopping 24 wins, cable took home the big kudos for being the most awarded platform for television. Broadcast left with 6 wins and online programers like Netflix and Amazon took a shared 5 wins. All told, 69 percent of Primetime Emmy Awards went to cable programs. Nods for perhaps the most competitive and highly sought awards, Outstanding Comedy and Outstanding Drama, went to HBO’s Veep and HBO’s Game of Thrones. Veep broke ABC’s Modern Family’srecord-tying five win streak (shared with Frasier). Had Modern