August 2022 - Indiana Cable and Broadband Association

Spectrum Launches Gigabit Broadband, Mobile, TV and Voice Services in Rural, Previously Unserved Parts of Floyd County, Indiana

August 23, 2022

Spectrum Internet® With Starting Speeds of 300 Mbps Now Available to Nearly 450 Homes and Small Businesses

Network Buildout is Part of Spectrum’s $5 Billion, Multiyear Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Investment in Rural Broadband

Spectrum today announced the launch of Spectrum Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services to nearly 450 homes and small businesses in rural and previously unserved parts of Floyd County in Indiana. Spectrum’s newly constructed fiber-optic network buildout in rural Floyd County is part of the company’s approximately $5 billion investment in unserved rural communities, which includes $1.2 billion won in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) RDOF auction. The company’s RDOF expansion will provide broadband access to approximately 1 million customer locations as estimated by the FCC across 24 states in the coming years.

Spectrum Internet Gig, with download speeds of 1 Gbps, is now available throughout the buildout area. Spectrum Internet offers starting speeds of 300 Mbps, with Spectrum Internet Ultra providing download speeds of 500 Mbps. For small and medium-sized businesses, Spectrum Business Internet offers download speeds of 300 Mbps, 600 Mbps and 1 Gbps. Local residents and business owners should visit spectrumruralexpansion.com to learn more about when their home or business may be able to receinve Spectrum services.

“Through RDOF, Spectrum is making a multiyear investment to extend gigabit broadband networks to unserved communities across America,” said Tom Yates, Vice President, Construction FO Rural Build. “Our commitment is making it possible to deliver the high-value broadband, mobile, TV and voice services now available in previously unserved parts of Floyd County. We are providing superior connectivity to local residents and small businesses at highly competitive prices, backed by an organization committed to craftsmanship and service.”

Indiana State Senator Kevin Boehnlein says Charter’s efforts to expand its network to rural and previously unserved parts of Floyd County will be welcome news to those who have been eagerly waiting for broadband service.

“More rural residents across Floyd County will now have high-speed broadband access through Spectrum’s RDOF expansion. This is welcomed news for families that have struggled to work and learn from home, especially over the past two years,” he said.

Source: Charter Communications

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana’s Lake Station Club Receives $10,000 Grant From Comcast To Support Digital Skills Training And Make Technology Upgrade

August 8, 2022

Comcast announced today that it has awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana’s Lake Station Club a $10,000 grant to support digital skills training and new computers and other technology.

“Our mission is to ‘inspire and enable the youth of Northwest Indiana’s communities to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens,’” said Ryan Smiley, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana President & CEO. “What better way to help our members prepare for the future than to give them the tools they need to succeed academically and in their future workplace.”

The grants are part of Project UP, Comcast’s 10-year, $1 billion commitment to advance digital equity. One of Project UP’s centerpieces is Internet Essentials, a low-cost Internet service for low-income families, which has helped 560,000 people in Indiana connect to the Internet at home since it was launched in 2011.

“Through Internet Essentials, Comcast has helped hundreds of thousands of Indiana families get connected to the Internet at home,” said John Crowley, Comcast’s Regional Senior Vice President. “I’m proud that Comcast recognized the impact of the digital divide early on, stepped up and now continues to offer solutions that further our commitment to organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana and the youth the organization serves.”

Crowley also noted a federal government digital equity initiative, called the “Affordable Connectivity Program” (ACP), which provides eligible low-income households a credit up to $30 a month toward the cost of Internet and/or mobile services, including all of Comcast’s Xfinity Internet and Xfinity Mobile plans. The ACP would cover the cost of Internet Essentials or Internet Essentials Plus, making it free for eligible families. For more information, visit www.xfinity.com/acp.

More about Project UP, Comcast’s $1 Billion Commitment to Advance Digital Equity

For over a decade, connecting more people to the Internet and the technology they need to participate and excel in an increasingly digital world has been one of Comcast’s top priorities. Looking toward the next ten years, Comcast is building on that foundation and expanding its impact through Project UP, a comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities.

Backed by a $1 billion commitment to reach 50 million people, Project UP encompasses the programs and community partnerships across Comcast, NBCUniversal and Sky that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers and creators. For more information on Project Up, visit http://corporate.comcast.com/impact/project-up.

Next Level Connections Is the Best Solution for Bridging the Digital Divide In Indiana’s Rural Areas

August 3, 2022

State leaders and internet service providers will soon begin signing contracts to build high-speed broadband to 50,000 rural homes and businesses in Indiana as part of the Next Level Connections program. The goal of this program, shared by lawmakers and internet providers, is to ensure that every Hoosier, regardless of location, has access to a high-speed connection. That’s why Indiana is partnering with providers, like Comcast, in an open, transparent, and competitive process in hopes of finally closing the rural digital divide.

Governor Holcomb’s program will spend $270 million, deploying broadband to Hoosier homes and businesses in 83 counties. We live in an increasingly digital world, and an internet connection impacts everything from education and business, to relationships, agriculture and more.
While most Hoosiers have access to high-speed internet, the Next Level Connections program is thoughtfully crafted to drive investment to rural areas that don’t have broadband infrastructure. The program promotes public trust with transparency and accountability through an open bidding and selection process, evaluation criteria, progress reporting, build-out requirements, and deadlines.

As a result of the program, in this third round Comcast will partner with the state to serve over 10,000 addresses and invest nearly $30 million in private capital. The State of Indiana will contribute $13 million in funding towards these projects in 17 Indiana communities. Comcast will begin working immediately on the various steps of this multi-year expansion project, so that we can begin construction and ultimately bring our fast, reliable network to more Hoosiers.

Without a program like Next Level Connections, these projects would not be possible as building broadband infrastructure into rural areas can be financially prohibitive, sometimes costing upwards of $40 thousand per mile. The program helps to address this challenge by leveraging public funds to fill the gaps of private investment and helping ease the financial risk for providers to build additional, more remote, rural areas.

With over 150 applications received, around 75,500 new addresses to be connected, it’s clear that this program is working well. The NLC grant program is the result of several years of hard work by the Indiana Legislature under the leadership of House Utilities Chairman Ed Soliday.

Next Level Connections is already making a difference in helping to coordinate and provide infrastructure for generations of rural Hoosiers. We look forward to continuing our participation in future rounds of this program, and we hope other providers are inspired to serve rural areas that make sense for their business model, so we can meet the noble goal of connecting all Hoosiers in the foreseeable future.

Joni Hart is Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Indiana, Comcast.