Midco's Commitment to Connecting Students During the Pandemic
"Midco will do what it takes." These are the words that Rupak Gandhi, school superintendent in Fargo, N.D., said he heard Midco representatives repeat to him again and again when his district turned to the ISP for help this past spring. Back in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools across the country including in North Dakota, Gandhi's district faced the challenge of getting every student ready for remote instruction, with every decision dependent on students having an internet connection in their homes. The school district of Fargo is the second largest in North Dakota and
Television Brings Hispanic Stories and Culture to American Viewers
Since 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month – which officially concludes today – has marked a time to celebrate the enormous contributions that the Hispanic and Latinx community has made to the United States’ economy, society, and culture. This year, it’s particularly poignant to recognize the iconic TV shows and characters that have brought Latinx stories and culture to American viewers. An H Code survey of U.S. Hispanics found that, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hispanic viewers have significantly increased the amount of TV they consume. In fact, 60% of U.S. Hispanics reported that they are
Leading by Example: TV Network Executives Say D&I Starts at the Top
During a Diversity Week virtual panel hosted by NAMIC, top executives from cable TV networks with successful diversity and inclusion (D&I) programs shared their thoughts on the current social justice climate, how they’re committing to building diverse and inclusive workforces, and where the industry needs to go from here. "At ViacomCBS, this work didn't start this year. It builds on a legacy of us working to build a more equitable company, but we are certainly broadening and deepening our work this year," said ViacomCBS President & CEO Bob Bakish. "We recognize our responsibility and we are
10G: Powering Economic Progress and Jobs in the U.S. Economy
New Technology Estimated to Contribute $330 Billion and over 676,000 jobs to the U.S. Economy by 2027 The future is closer than it might seem, especially with 10G just around the corner. As the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated, the virtue of a robust, high-speed, and reliable internet connection has never been more evident, and the cable industry has continued its work to stay ahead of consumer demand. Indeed, 2020 has seen major developments on the road to 10G – the cable industry’s initiative to bring broadband speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second to residential households across the U.S
Kaitz Foundation's Michelle Ray Reflects on the Enduring Importance of Diversity
Each year during the fall, key players across the cable industry gather for meetings and critical exchanges that champion diversity and inclusion efforts. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic may have prevented an in-person gathering in NYC, but it could never prevent the continuance of this gathering which will take place virtually. In fact, WICT and NAMIC have both planned robust agendas of virtual sessions packed with thought leaders driving the value of gender and ethnic diversity. The iconic fundraising Kaitz Dinner, which has been hosted by the Walter Kaitz Foundation every year since 1984
Mediacom’s Connect2Compete Keeps Waterloo Students Connected
As the COVID-19 pandemic forced a nationwide shift to distance learning, schools and internet service providers quickly mobilized to close the gaps for students without a home internet connection. In Iowa, a collaboration between Mediacom Communications and Waterloo Community Schools allowed K-12 education to continue. “Waterloo is a very diverse community in terms of both ethnicity and socioeconomic status.” says Matt O’Brien, executive director of technology for Waterloo Community Schools. “With the move to distance learning, we absolutely didn’t want internet access to be a barrier.” By
Cox Doubles Down on Commitment to Connect Students
To check the latest findings on nationwide broadband network performance during the pandemic, go to the NCTA COVID-19 dashboard. The cable industry has long been committed to closing the digital divide through its numerous broadband adoption programs, community initiatives, and school partnerships. But as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, America's broadband leaders have doubled-down on this commitment to address the education crisis that the country is facing right now. With many schools still either closed or in a hybrid learning mode, cable operators have been stepping up since March to
Comcast and Chicago Public Schools Team Up to Enable Distance Learning
As schools across the country dive head-first into distance learning and attempt to resolve digital equity issues, districts can find a great model in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and its unique public-private partnership with Comcast. This past summer, Comcast, along with multiple stakeholders, worked with CPS to launch Chicago Connected, a digital equity initiative whose goal is to provide broadband internet at no cost over the course of four years to as many as 100,000 eligible students. The initiative is part of a nationwide effort, K-12 Bridge to Broadband, which provides a path for
ESPN Prepares for Monday Night Football, COVID Style
Tonight kicks off the 50-year old American tradition of Monday Night Football, and ESPN is ready to launch its 15th season hosting the program. Even during a pandemic, ESPN has been preparing for a live broadcast under new protocols while staying true to its renowned coverage of the sport. During a media call, the new MNF commentator team, production executives, and reporters previewed the NFL season and shared how they have come together to bring football fans the entertainment they've been waiting for. This year, the network has had to scale down the number of people on site at a football
Cable ISPs and Schools Come Together in New Broadband Connectivity Effort
"Back to school" time has looked very different this year as millions of kids started K-12 classes this week virtually instead of in the classroom. With many schools still closed for in-person learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, America's cable internet service providers have been working in their communities, developing partnerships with school districts across the country that are focused on figuring out which students lack a home broadband connection, and getting service to those kids within reach in order to assist in enabling online instruction. As part of this effort to close this gap