Industry Stats: Women Advancing in the Workforce
March is Women’s History Month, and while the cable industry celebrates and supports women year-round, the month provides an opportunity to check in on how well the workforce actually stacks up. Every few years, WICT commissions the PAR Survey, an analysis of representation in the cable industry workforce across all levels and all segments. While the 2024 report has yet to be released, the most recent report shows gains for women in the cable workforce, notably during a time (2019-2021) when employment was upended for millions as the coronavirus pandemic brought unprecedented uncertainty into
ACP Has Been Transformational for America
Unless Congress acts, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is set to run out of funds by May. When that happens, millions of Americans could lose their internet access and access to critical services like healthcare, education, and job opportunities. Why it matters: To date, the program has helped connect over 23 million Americans, a significant step forward in the nation’s mission to close the digital divide. Recently, the FCC surveyed program participants to understand the program’s impact. The full report can be found here. ACP connects those who need it the most Before ACP, 68% of
Lower Prices, More Choices: How American Consumers Benefit From the Competitive and Innovative Broadband Marketplace
In his State of the Union address to the nation tonight, President Biden will acknowledge that Americans are facing inflationary pressures when it comes to groceries, energy bills, and rent costs. One household staple, however, has notably bucked this trend: home internet service. Adjusted for inflation, consumers paid 7.8% less for broadband services in January than three years ago. Meanwhile, average broadband speeds have surged more than 40%. In fact, controlling for the exponential increase in speeds, the real cost-per-megabit for broadband service offerings has declined by roughly 80%
Time To Share the Road: Building A Spectrum Policy for All
Federal policymakers at NTIA are poised to release a plan to implement the National Spectrum Strategy to open certain spectrum bands for commercial use while balancing national security and other important federal operations. The task before NTIA is challenging, but certain things are clear: innovative uses of spectrum have unlocked new opportunities for consumers and are disrupting the wireless marketplace. Cable providers are part of that new ecosystem of innovation and competition. Building on widely deployed next-generation broadband networks, cable providers are increasingly delivering
Here’s What It Will Take to Achieve “Internet for All”
While details of President Biden’s State of the Union address are being closely guarded, we can expect infrastructure, including our nation’s broadband networks, to play a starring role. There’s no doubt that we have already made, and continue to make, significant strides to close the country’s digital divide. Forty million new U.S. homes subscribed to broadband between 2016 and 2021. 89% of American homes and businesses now have access to gigabit-speed service and 95% of U.S. customers have multiple choices for wired or wireless broadband. Why it matters: 2024 will prove especially pivotal to
C-SPAN Delivers Super Tuesday To New Audiences On New Platforms
In preparation for what promises to be a significant election year, C-SPAN has been rolling out new technology on the campaign trail and expanding to new platforms to reach all types of audiences. NCTA spoke with C-SPAN to learn more about how the network has digitally transformed itself behind the scenes to be a more engaging and innovative presence for new generations. The high-tech trail Earlier this year, NCTA spoke with C-SPAN Political Editor Nate Hurst about how the network has implemented new technology on the campaign trail. Bluetooth microphones and high-quality smartphone cameras
Decoding Bandwidth: Making Sense of Internet Speeds and Performance
Bandwidth is one of many components of a cable broadband network important to its operation and performance. It plays a pivotal role in delivering an optimal and seamless experience for users, and its availability is crucial for running today’s advanced streaming applications, downloading content, and meeting the ever-changing demands of users. What Is Bandwidth? Bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data a network can transfer in a given amount of time, or the difference between the lower and upper bands of a continuous band of frequencies. Essentially, it’s the ability of a network to
TV Stats: January Saw Highest Streaming Yet
TV entertainment can be accessed anytime, anywhere, and on almost any device. That’s a far cry from previous decades when most viewing happened around a TV set, often live for must-see shows. Today, audiences have many viewing options, a testament to innovation in the video programming marketplace and ubiquitous, powerful broadband networks. In fact, Nielsen recently reported that the first month of 2024 set records for streaming TV viewership.
America’s Expanding Broadband Networks Continue To Grow: The South Pt. 3
As America targets efforts towards connecting every community to robust broadband – including the distribution of more than $40 billion in federal funds for building new networks – cable providers continue to do what they have always done: build out their networks to reach as many Americans as possible. With network expansions continuing to happen nationwide, here are a few more examples of projects that work towards the national goal of connecting every American. To learn about other projects highlighted in previous blogs, be sure to check out NCTA.com. Louisiana In Livingston Parish, Charter
“Diarra From Detroit” Signals BET Studio’s Entrée to Scripted TV
BET Studios is debuting its first-ever scripted series “Diarra from Detroit,” marking a new creative pivot from the studio and network. After a freshly divorced schoolteacher, Diarra, goes on a Tinder date with the man of her dreams, his sudden disappearance sends her on an investigation that leads her through the Detroit underworld. From executive producers Diarra Kilpatrick (who also stars in the lead role) and Kenya Barris (“Black-ish”), the comedy-drama series is set to premiere on March 21 on BET+. The plot thickens: The show follows Diarra as she and her reluctant friends work to solve