TCA NEWSLETTER
Latest industry news in Texas and around the country.
CABLE BOOSTS WOMEN
CAPITOL
Q&A
WICT EMPOWERS WOMEN
We are excited to launch the latest issue of the Texas Cable Association newsletter. These monthly communications are intended to provide a brief overview of the significant things happening in the cable industry in Texas and around the country. If you ever have any questions or information to submit please do not hesitate to contact us .
CABLE BOOSTS WOMEN
March marks Women’s History Month and also International Women’s Day (March 8) – an appropriate time to examine the cable industry’s commitment to gender diversity and inclusion in its workforce.

An industry-wide survey released last fall found that women make up 33% of the overall cable industry workforce (cable providers and programmers), down 0.2% since the 2017 survey. That number also remains below the national benchmark. The industry recognizes that improvement is needed and is dedicating the resources to achieve it. 

One of the biggest advocates for women in the cable industry is the national organization  Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) , which also has a chapter in Texas,  WICT Greater Texas . In addition, each Texas Cable Association member – Altice USA (Suddenlink), Cable One (Sparklight), Charter Communications (Spectrum) and Comcast (Xfinity) – has its own initiatives.
CAPITOL Q&A: STATE REP. SENFRONIA THOMPSON
Texas Rep. Senfronia Thompson – affectionately known around the Capitol as “Mrs. T” – is serving her 24 th  term in the Texas House of Representatives and is considered “Dean of Women” at the Legislature. An attorney, she represents District 141, which includes northeast Houston and Humble. Thompson is a trailblazer on many fronts, but her work on behalf of women, and as an early woman in public office, make her an obvious choice to feature in this Capitol Q&A during Women’s History Month. 

A member of the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, Thompson has championed scores of reforms to benefit women and families, including laws on alimony, protective orders, sexual discrimination in the workforce, contraceptive parity, the Sexual Assault Program Fund, minimum wage, the National Domestic Violence Hot Line, insurance coverage of 3D mammograms, and much more.
WICT GREATER TEXAS EMPOWERS WOMEN
WICT Greater Texas  is an affiliate of the national  Women in Cable Telecommunications , an organization created to help women leaders blaze new trails. Founded in 1979, and now over 10,500 members strong, WICT is the largest and oldest professional association serving women in cable media. WICT Greater Texas is one of several chapters across the world. 
CABLE LEADERS: MEET NIKIA FARRIA GREEN OF COMCAST, PRESIDENT OF WICT GREATER TEXAS
Nikia Farria Green, director, business assurance for the Comcast Houston Region, could not be a more ideal choice to lead  WICT Greater Texas ,  the state’s chapter of an industry group to create and empower women leaders. Her own resume is full of both professional and personal leadership experience.

A 22-year veteran of cable, including 15 years with Comcast, the company recognized her talents, work and accomplishments in numerous areas of the company by honoring her as a 2014 Comcast/NBC Know Your Value recipient and again as a winner of Comcast’s 2018 Circle of Success team award. Green also serves as co-lead of Comcast’s National Finance Diversity and Inclusion Team. 

In addition to WICT, Green also is very active in the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), where she was a founding member of the Houston chapter and served as president for three years.

Hear more from Green about why she thinks membership in WICT Greater Texas is beneficial and what advice she has for women starting out in the cable industry or considering it as a career. 
CABLE IN THE COMMUNITY
In cities and towns across Texas, local cable operators and their employees make their communities a better place to live. Cable companies not only make financial and in-kind donations to numerous civic and charitable organizations, but employees volunteer thousands of hours of their time each year. Check out the latest cable industry community initiatives below.

Altice USA sponsored the annual Black History Knowledge Bowl in Tyler
Members of the company’s  Black Employee Affinity Network (BEAN)  joined community members in a trivia-style challenge to test their knowledge of black history. Suddenlink was proud to participate in this celebration of diversity and bring messaging about black innovators and STEM careers to students throughout Texas and the nation.
 
C-SPAN partners with Altice USA on Texas visit
C-SPAN partnered with Suddenlink in Bryan-College Station for its next national spotlight as a part of the “Cities Tour” series. The Tour was welcomed by both Mayors Karl Mooney of College Station and Andrew Nelson of Bryan and local leadership at the George H.W. Bush Library and Museum, where the community celebrated the opportunity for Bryan-College Station to share its rich history. While in town, C-SPAN recorded segments that will air April 18-19 featuring local notable landmarks, interviews with historians, and a dive into the rich tradition of Texas A&M. 
  
Sparklight and Hallmark Channel team up for shelter pets
Sparklight has joined forces with Hallmark Channel to help local shelter animals find forever homes of their own at special adoption events being held this month in cities including Sherman and Aransas Pass in Texas. Sparklight will donate $1,000 to each rescue organization sponsoring an event as well as cover adoption fees for a number of pets at each event. Read more .
 
Sparklight feeds firefighters
When Sparklight called the City of Odessa Fire Department recently, it wasn’t to report an emergency – it was to offer up a taco bar. Sparklight’s Odessa team had leftover food from a launch party and offered it to a local fire station, which quickly arrived in a fire truck to pick up the unexpected feast. “It was so rewarding to be able to thank our first responders with a meal, courtesy of Sparklight,” said Sally Gore, Sparklight’s customer service manager in Odessa.
   
Charter makes $10 million commitment and launches Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund
  Charter Communications, Inc. recently announced the creation of the Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund. The Loan Fund focuses on making loans through community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to small businesses whose goods and services help meet core needs in underserved communities within Charter’s 41-state operating footprint. Texas received one of Charter's first two investments - $1 million in  PeopleFund , a CDFI based in Texas.  Read more .
 
Charter Communications celebrates the launch of Spectrum services in Springtown
Charter Communications, Inc. joined State Rep. Phil King, Mayor Greg Hood, Springtown officials, business owners and residents on Feb. 18 at the Springtown Senior Center to celebrate the completed launch and availability of the full suite of Spectrum residential and commercial services in Springtown. Spectrum is now delivering advanced services to the town, offering TV, internet, home phone and mobile services in the area. Read more .
  
Comcast leaders discuss Women’s History Month and life as a woman in technology
  March is Women’s History Month, and Comcast is using this opportunity to celebrate a few women leaders in the company, by sharing their views about the role of women in technology. Learn what it’s like to be a woman in the technology industry, their life’s motto, and their favorite part about their job. Read more .
 
Comcast and Smithsonian Channel hosted advanced screening for Black History Month special
Comcast in partnership with the Smithsonian Channel hosted an advanced screening of “Black in Space: Breaking the Color Barrier” at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Hermann Park. The event was attended by close to 500 community leaders, partners, parents and students. The evening kicked off with a reception in the Grand Hall, followed by the screening and panel discussion moderated by Mia Gradney of KHOU Channel 11 News. Gradney was joined by producer and director Laurens Grant, astronaut candidate Captain Edward Dwight, and curator for the department of space history at the National Air and Space Museum Dr. Cathleen Lewis. Read more .
 
Comcast partners with City of Houston Mayor Turner to celebrate Black History Month
In celebration of Black History Month, Comcast announced it partnered once again with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to honor community volunteers at the third annual Mayor’s History Makers Awards. Held at the Post Oak Hotel, the honorees will be recognized for their commitment to making a difference in the community through volunteerism, mentorship, advocacy and civic engagement. In addition to being recognized, Comcast will also donate $1,000 to the nonprofit organization of the honoree’s choice. Read more .
CABLE IN THE NEWS
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