TCA NEWSLETTER
Latest industry news in Texas and around the country.
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BROADBAND
BRINGS HOME
THE HOLIDAYS
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CABLE CARES
DURING THE HOLIDAYS
AND EVERY DAY
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CABLE ADVISES TO BE VIGILANT
ABOUT ONLINE
SAFETY
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BROADBAND BRINGS HOME THE HOLIDAYS |
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Broadband truly has been the invaluable asset that has kept us connected and functioning during a challenging 2020.
Now, as COVID-19 continues unabated across the country, broadband will play an important role to bring some semblance of normalcy to our holiday celebrations, from fulfilling wish lists with online shopping to hosting virtual family gatherings to keeping us entertained.
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CABLE CARES DURING THE HOLIDAYS — AND EVERY DAY |
‘Tis the season for individuals and companies to give back – the spirit of the holiday season always inspires a spike of end-of-year charitable giving, with one third of all nonprofit donations occurring in December. This year the pandemic has only increased both need and the desire to help others.
The Texas Cable Association’s (TCA) newsletter each month spotlights the generosity of the cable industry in Texas. Cable operators believe in giving throughout the year to support the communities where they do business and their employees live and work. This year cable went even further to get families connected to meet COVID-19 challenges.
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SPARKLIGHT ADVISES INCREASED PROTECTION THIS HOLIDAY SEASON |
With shoppers continuing to navigate COVID-19 concerns, online buying is expected to hit record levels this holiday season and Sparklight encourages consumers to be increasingly vigilant about their online safety.
“The ongoing health and safety issues in the United States have driven more and more people to do even their everyday shopping online – including groceries and meal delivery,” said Ken Johnson, Senior Vice President of Technology Services. “This increased activity gives cyber criminals more opportunity to access our personal information. Caution is always key when sharing personal information online, but in our current situation, it becomes even more critical.”
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NEW COMCAST REPORT FINDS CONSUMERS VASTLY UNDERESTIMATE HOW OFTEN HOME NETWORKS ARE TARGETED BY CYBER THREATS |
Internet users in the United States vastly underestimate how often their home networks are targeted by cyber threats. That’s one of the key findings of the first ever Xfinity Cyber Health Report, which combines data from a new consumer survey with actual threat data collected by the xFi Advanced Security platform.
“The cyber threats facing even the most lightly connected homes have grown so numerous and so complex, that ordinary people can barely keep track, much less protect themselves,” said Noopur Davis, Chief Product and Information Security Officer, Comcast. “That’s why it’s essential that we provide people with smart, powerful tools, like xFi Advanced Security, that can spot and stop threats before they ever make it inside the home.”
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CABLE CONTINUES TO CONNECT
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.
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Spectrum announces $10,000 Spectrum Digital Education grant for Girls Incorporated of San Antonio
Spectrum has announced Girls Incorporated of San Antonio has received a $10,000 Spectrum Digital Education Grant to help bridge the digital divide. This grant is part of the company’s multiyear, $6 million cash and in-kind national commitment to digital education in Spectrum communities across the country. The company doubled its original 2020 commitment to digital education, awarding a total of $1 million to 47 organizations providing broadband education, technology, and training. Read more.
Charter Spectrum announces $25,000 Spectrum Digital Education Grant for the Housing Authority of the City of Brownsville
Spectrum in November announced the Housing Authority of the City of Brownsville (HACB) has received a $25,000 Spectrum Digital Education Grant for its Buena Vida Choice EnVision Bibliotech program, as part of the company’s multiyear, $6 million cash and in-kind national commitment to digital education in Spectrum communities across the country. The company doubled its original 2020 commitment to digital education, awarding a total of $1 million to 47 organizations providing broadband education, technology and training. Read more.
Comcast Extends COVID Support Through June 30, 2021
Comcast announced Dec. 7 that it will extend its commitments to help people connect to the Internet during the COVID-19 pandemic as millions continue to stay home while many workplaces and schools operate virtually. Comcast will continue to provide free Internet service for the first 60 days for new Internet Essentials customers, and free access to more than 1.5 million public Xfinity WiFi hotspots, the largest network of its kind in the country, through June 30, 2021. The announcement marks the third time Comcast has extended these commitments. Read more.
Comcast and City of Houston partner to provide internet to qualifying families
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Health Equity Response (H.E.R.) Task Force has partnered with Comcast to provide Internet access to approximately 5,000 qualifying families in need. This agreement will ensure qualifying applicants can continue to stay connected to the Internet for education, work and personal health reasons for one calendar year. To qualify, applicants must reside in the City of Houston and have a Comcast serviceable address. Applicants must also meet additional criteria. Read more.
More Than 40 Black-owned small businesses in Houston are recipients of Comcast RISE awards
Comcast Business announced that 43 small businesses in Houston and surrounding areas were recipients of the first wave of Comcast RISE awards. The awards will allow these businesses to receive consulting, media and creative production services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, or technology upgrades from Comcast Business based on their specific needs.
Now the next phase of Comcast RISE, the multi-year, multi-faceted initiative launched in October to help strengthen small businesses hard hit by COVID-19, opens eligibility to include Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned, small businesses. Businesses can apply at www.ComcastRISE.com. Read more.
Sparklight invests $900,000 to enhance service in Southeast Texas
Sparklight is investing nearly $900,000 in Southeast Texas in order to continue providing the fastest and most reliable internet service to the communities it serves. Sparklight customers who will experience the benefits of these enhancements include those in Angleton, Manville, West Columbia, Pearland, Columbia Lakes, Sweeney and Palacios.
Work includes fiber and power supply upgrades, new electronics, and the installation of new Optical Transport Network, all of which will bring faster speeds and greater reliability and uptime, as well as the ability to expand and upgrade the network to meet the future connectivity needs of both residents and businesses. Read more.
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Sparklight hosting food and toy drives
Sparklight is hosting a non-perishable food drive as well as a toy drive to help coastal Texas residents during the holidays. The food drive through Dec. 20 will benefit local food pantries in Aransas Pass, Ingleside and Kingsville. Donations collected during the company’s Toys for Tots campaign will be delivered on Dec. 20.
Donations of both food and toys can be dropped off at Sparklight offices in Aransas Pass (1045 S Commercial, Aransas Pass TX 78336) and Kingsville (1629 S. Brahma Blvd, Kingsville TX 78363).
“Sparklight associates are out in our communities daily and see the need of our neighbors, families and friends,” said Sparklight Customer Service Manager Jamie Mosmeyer. “We are happy to do what we can to help bring some joy and happiness into the lives of those who have fallen on tough times during this year of unprecedented challenges.”
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Sparklight donates to Borger nonprofit
Sparklight made a donation to the Rainbow Room in Borger, which works to provide Child Protective Services caseworkers the additional resources, products and support necessary to accomplish their job as easily and effectively as possible. Associates also volunteered to assist in the organization’s annual gift wrapping day.
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Sparklight donates to the Hutchinson County United Way
Sparklight makes a $500 donation to the Hutchinson County United Way, based in Borger, which has a mission to mobilize financial and human resources to help meet local human service needs.
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