November 2023 - Indiana Cable and Broadband Association

Free Sparklight Internet Available Through FCC Affordable Connectivity Program

November 29, 2023

As part of its ongoing commitment to bridge the digital divide and ensure affordable internet access to the communities it serves, Sparklight® today announced a free internet service for qualifying households through the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Eligible households can now take advantage of fast and reliable internet at no cost.

Available to individuals who qualify for ACP, Sparklight customers can sign up for internet service that includes 100 Mbps download speed, unlimited data and a modem, free after the government’s ACP credit is applied. All Sparklight internet plans up to 1 Gig qualify for ACP, so those in need of a higher level of service can select the speed best suited for their needs and the $30/month (up to $75/month in Tribal Lands in Oklahoma) ACP benefit will be applied to the selected tier of broadband service.

“Our participation in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program reflects our deep commitment to addressing digital equity across our footprint and ensuring families stay connected to reliable internet service at an affordable cost,” said Matthew Armstrong, Sparklight Senior Vice President of Residential Services. “Through this program we can reach low-income households across our footprint and ensure cost is not a barrier to reliable connectivity.”

New and existing Sparklight customers can visit www.sparklight.com/acp for more information, to determine eligibility and sign up.

Source: Sparklight

Notre Dame and NBC Sports Continue Historic Football Partnership, With Games to be Presented on NBC and Peacock Through the 2029 Season

November 18, 2023

The University of Notre Dame and NBC Sports have agreed on a multi-year extension of their historic football partnership, through the 2029 season. The agreement extends the landmark partnership – the longest college media relationship dating to 1991 – to nearly four decades (39 seasons).

“We are thrilled to continue our historic collaboration with our partners at NBC Sports,” said University of Notre Dame Vice President and James E. Rohr Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick. “In the next generation of this partnership, we will collaborate to provide our fans even more Notre Dame content through a variety of NBCUniversal’s distribution channels while continuing to put our student-athletes and their stories at the heart of our messaging.”

“There is no better tradition than Notre Dame Football in South Bend, and we are thrilled to keep that tradition within the NBC Sports family as we extend our relationship as the exclusive home of Fighting Irish home games through the end of the decade,” said Rick Cordella, President, NBC Sports.

“With enhanced rights that allow us to present Notre Dame Football on NBC as well as across Peacock and additional platforms, we look forward to bringing the Fighting Irish to fans in more ways than ever before.” -Rick Cordella, President, NBC Sports

NBC Sports retains global media rights on all platforms to all Notre Dame home football games. It also allows for select games to stream exclusively on Peacock, which has been the exclusive home of one Notre Dame Football game each season since 2021. Peacock will also be the exclusive home of a new, annual documentary series on Notre Dame Football, debuting in 2024.

NBC Sports’ Notre Dame Football games are averaging 5.1 million viewers this season – the largest audience through five game broadcasts since 2005 and up 86% from last year at this point. The Fighting Irish’s Sept. 23 primetime thriller against Ohio State averaged 10.6 million viewers across NBC, Peacock and NBC Sports Digital, ranking as NBC Sports’ second-most watched regular season college football game of all-time, behind only then-No. 2 Notre Dame’s “Game of the Century” 31-24 defeat of No. 1 Florida State on Nov. 13, 1993 (22 million viewers).

The new agreement also extends to other events on the Notre Dame Football calendar, including the annual Blue-Gold Game and Notre Dame’s Pro Day.

In 2023-24, NBC Sports also marks its 11^th season presenting Notre Dame hockey coverage, as Peacock is exclusively live streaming the entire hockey 21-game home schedule.

Last November, NBC and Peacock presented the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s college basketball team against Cal — marking the first-ever live presentation of a women’s college basketball game on NBC and Peacock. The series continued earlier today with the Notre Dame-Illinois women’s basketball game presented live on NBC and Peacock from Washington, D.C.

Revenues from the NBC partnership have played a key role in Notre Dame’s financial aid endowment since the start of the relationship in 1991 when University officers allocated a portion of the football television contract revenue for undergraduate scholarship endowment (not athletic scholarships). To date, Notre Dame undergraduate students have received over $100 million in aid from revenue generated through the NBC contract.

Source: Comcast

Comcast NBCUniversal Tops ‘Best for Vets’ List, Celebrates Milestone in Military Hiring

November 8, 2023

Ahead of this weekend’s Veterans Day celebrations, Comcast NBCUniversal is proud to announce our recognition as the nation’s leading telecommunications company and second overall employer in the Military Times’ “Best for Vets” rankings.

Now in its 14th year, the “Best for Vets: Employers” list by Military Times continues to honor top-tier companies and institutions that consistently prioritize the hiring, retention, and support of military community members. This marks the eighth consecutive year Comcast NBCUniversal has earned a spot on this prestigious list.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by Military Times as a top company for veterans and their families,” said Mona Dexter, Vice President of Military and Veteran Affairs.

Our position on the ‘Best for Vets’ list is more than a badge of honor—it’s an affirmation of our commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for our military-connected teammates. – Mona Dexter, Vice President of Military and Veteran Affairs

Together with this award, Comcast NBCUniversal is also celebrating a significant milestone in military hiring. Since launching our Military Engagement initiative in 2015, we have welcomed more than 21,000 veterans, military spouses, and National Guard and reserve service members into our ranks.

“At Comcast NBCUniversal, we don’t merely measure our success in numbers. While achieving our hiring targets is essential, it’s the incredible diversity and undeniable talent of the military community that helps propel our company forward,” Dexter said. “We didn’t just add to our workforce. We gained 21,000 problem solvers, leaders, and innovators.”

Comcast’s commitment to serving those who have served began with our founder, World War II U.S. Navy veteran Ralph Roberts. Today, we honor his legacy by supporting military community-serving organizations and veteran-owned small businesses, creating special experiences for our military customers, and providing meaningful employment opportunities to our nation’s heroes and their families.

Beyond hiring, we are committed to building an empowering workplace and providing holistic support for our military-connected teammates. Recognizing the unique challenges many face due to service obligations, we proudly offer a suite of tailored benefits and programs, such as our Military Concierge, Guard and Reserve Leave, and Military Spouse Transfer Assistance.

Our Veterans Network (VetNet) Employee Resource Group is another great example of how our connection to the military community has influenced our company culture. With over 9,000 members, this group serves as a vital support system for our military-connected teammates, providing mentorship, peer-to-peer support, and professional development opportunities. VetNet members also participate in several veteran-related service projects, like Wreaths Across America and Operation Old Glory.

In addition to the latest “Best for Vets” ranking, Comcast has been named a Gold-level Military Friendly Employer and a 5 Star Employer by Vets Indexes.

Source: Comcast