Latest news with #Mediacom
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama officials demand stricter reporting on $400M broadband expansion progress
Mediacom technicians work on servicing existing broadband infrastructure Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in Silverhill, Ala. ADECA is overseeing over $400 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to expand Alabama's broadband infrastructure by 2026. (Mike Kittrell) State officials on Tuesday asked internet service providers tasked with building Alabama's broadband network to more strictly adhere to reporting requirements. During a series of project updates at the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority meeting in Montgomery, representatives from nearly two dozen companies provided details about their progress on state-funded internet projects. While most reported being on or ahead of schedule, others were cautioned for lagging reports and a lack of detailed progress. 'I feel like we are having good progress with some, and some that may not understand the system as to what we are asking for,' Kenneth Boswell, director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), said in a firm tone. 'We're happy to provide technical assistance, but we're not going to do it for you.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX ADECA oversees more than $400 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, with a significant portion of this funding aimed at building 'middle-mile' infrastructure, which provides the link from internet providers to local networks. An initial project, funded up to $85 million in 2022, is supposed to create a 3,000-mile fiber network across the state. A second, $245 million middle-mile effort will add another 4,287 miles of fiber infrastructure to specifically connect nearly 800 institutions like schools, hospitals and government facilities. ADECA is also managing a 'last-mile' broadband program that brings service directly to consumers, using up to $191.89 million in ARPA funds. The projects are expected to be completed by February 2026, though extensions are available until the federal spending deadline of December 2026. During the presentations, several companies that claimed they had progressed further than the data presented were asked to provide up-to-date information and schedule a meeting with the ADECA within 15 days to discuss their progress. 'What we would like to see at the next field meeting is this dashboard filled up to reflect what you're sharing with us verbally,' Boswell said to AT&T representatives, saying it's unfair to the other companies submitting the requested data. Cleo Washington, vice president of external affairs for AT&T Alabama, said that despite appearances on the dashboard, work was well underway, saying the planning phase for several projects would be completed by late summer and early fall. 'We are already constructing fiber in those areas, so we are building out to get to these areas,' Washington said. Boswell scheduled a follow-up meeting with the company within 15 days. Terry Metze, CEO of Alabama Fiber Network, said that its middle-mile network is '98% complete,' with only a single permit remaining. 'Our contractors are working heavily. This month, we had a couple of weeks of really heavy rain, kind of slowed this down a little bit, but we're back on track, and everything's moving forward right now,' Metze said. Providers pointed to several challenges affecting progress on specific projects. Several, including Coosa Valley Technologies and Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative, said they had delays in securing permits. Weather, including a couple of weeks of heavy rain, was also a factor. The meeting concluded with Boswell saying that 'time is ticking' and asking companies to be more diligent about ensuring projects meet the funding deadline. 'Sounds like we got a lot of time left, but we really don't. We don't know what kind of obstacle that you may run into,' Boswell said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Business Upturn
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Cable TV Pioneers Welcome New Class of 2025
NEW YORK, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Cable TV Pioneers will induct 33 new members in its Class of 2025 at its 59th Annual Banquet in Washington, D.C., Sunday, September 28, 2025. This year's class includes a variety of leaders and achievers from broadband, new media, content, technology, distribution and allied fields who have made a significant impact on the growth and prosperity of the industry. 'It's a spectacular class that reflects the innovation and commitment that makes our industry great,' said Pioneer Chairman Jim Gleason. 'This year we broke all the records with the greatest number of nominations resulting in one of our largest, if not the largest, class of new, distinguished Pioneers.' Inductee Name Company / Affiliation Joseph Appio Mediacom Dr. Anthony Basham Head-Netceed DK; CEO-DKT A/S; Pres.-SCTE (EU) Marty Carollo All West Communications Jeff Chen CableLabs Todd Eachus BCAP Chris Egan Evolution Digital John Egan Belden David A. Eng Comcast Sam Feist C-SPAN John Gdovin Astound Broadband Vernon R. Gill Multiple CATV Founder – POSTHUMOUS Lorenz Glatz Consultant Sheila Hall Mediacom Doug Hull Broadpeak SA Ken Johnson Cable One Jerold Lambert Mediacom Alfred Liggins TV One / Urban One Melinda Lindsley Comcast Kimberly Maki Influential Voices, LLC Kristin Malaspina Optimum Mike McCracken GTS Ron Orlando Comcast Chris O'Toole INVIDI Technologies Vic Pascarelli Optimum Dan Rice Comcast Geoffrey Shook Buckeye Broadband David Showalter CRS Recycling Services Jennifer Sims Power & Tel Jeremy Stern Stern Digital LLC Guy Sucharczuk Commscope Kevin Taylor Comcast Christine Whitaker Comcast Tom Wlodkowski Comcast Gleason also noted, 'It has been a long time, but we are glad our industry banquet is returning this year to Washington, D.C., a location that is a true reflection of the pioneering spirit of our organization and membership.' The 59th Induction will be held the night before the start of SCTE Expo, and it will take place at the historic Mayflower Hotel. Built in 1925, The Mayflower has hosted inaugural balls, presidential events and celebrity soirees. As in the past, the banquet is expected to be a sold-out event. Sponsorship and ticket information can be found at About the Cable TV Pioneers The Cable TV Pioneers was founded in 1966 during the NCTA convention in Miami, Fla. The original group of 21 entrepreneurs has grown to more than 700 men and women over the past 50 years. Photos, articles and videos of the prior anniversary celebrations and banquets, as well as member rosters, are available at the Pioneers' website, Contact: Jim Faircloth, Executive Director775-772-8721 [email protected]
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cable TV Pioneers Welcome New Class of 2025
33 To Be Inducted in Washington, D.C. NEW YORK, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Cable TV Pioneers will induct 33 new members in its Class of 2025 at its 59th Annual Banquet in Washington, D.C., Sunday, September 28, 2025. This year's class includes a variety of leaders and achievers from broadband, new media, content, technology, distribution and allied fields who have made a significant impact on the growth and prosperity of the industry. 'It's a spectacular class that reflects the innovation and commitment that makes our industry great,' said Pioneer Chairman Jim Gleason. 'This year we broke all the records with the greatest number of nominations resulting in one of our largest, if not the largest, class of new, distinguished Pioneers.' Inductee Name Company / Affiliation Joseph Appio Mediacom Dr. Anthony Basham Head-Netceed DK; CEO-DKT A/S; Pres.-SCTE (EU) Marty Carollo All West Communications Jeff Chen CableLabs Todd Eachus BCAP Chris Egan Evolution Digital John Egan Belden David A. Eng Comcast Sam Feist C-SPAN John Gdovin Astound Broadband Vernon R. Gill Multiple CATV Founder – POSTHUMOUS Lorenz Glatz Consultant Sheila Hall Mediacom Doug Hull Broadpeak SA Ken Johnson Cable One Jerold Lambert Mediacom Alfred Liggins TV One / Urban One Melinda Lindsley Comcast Kimberly Maki Influential Voices, LLC Kristin Malaspina Optimum Mike McCracken GTS Ron Orlando Comcast Chris O'Toole INVIDI Technologies Vic Pascarelli Optimum Dan Rice Comcast Geoffrey Shook Buckeye Broadband David Showalter CRS Recycling Services Jennifer Sims Power & Tel Jeremy Stern Stern Digital LLC Guy Sucharczuk Commscope Kevin Taylor Comcast Christine Whitaker Comcast Tom Wlodkowski Comcast Gleason also noted, 'It has been a long time, but we are glad our industry banquet is returning this year to Washington, D.C., a location that is a true reflection of the pioneering spirit of our organization and membership.' The 59th Induction will be held the night before the start of SCTE Expo, and it will take place at the historic Mayflower Hotel. Built in 1925, The Mayflower has hosted inaugural balls, presidential events and celebrity soirees. As in the past, the banquet is expected to be a sold-out event. Sponsorship and ticket information can be found at About the Cable TV PioneersThe Cable TV Pioneers was founded in 1966 during the NCTA convention in Miami, Fla. The original group of 21 entrepreneurs has grown to more than 700 men and women over the past 50 years. Photos, articles and videos of the prior anniversary celebrations and banquets, as well as member rosters, are available at the Pioneers' website, Jim Faircloth, Executive Director775-772-8721JKFMedia2@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNET
24-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
The Average Monthly Cost of Internet Is $78. Here's How to Lower It
If you've been with the same internet provider for a while, it probably seems like it gets more expensive by the year. In fact, 63% of adults are paying $195 more on average for internet than they did last year, and high prices are the no. 1 reason people choose not to have a home internet connection at all. After analyzing over 150 plans from the country's biggest internet providers, I found that the median price for internet in the US is $63 per month for all speeds available, with autopay discounts applied. That price doesn't include the cost to rent equipment, which, on average, adds another $15 to your monthly bill. So the actual total comes to around $78 per month for home internet -- which is below the $89 monthly that US News & World Report found when it surveyed approximately 2,500 people in 2024. That's a large expenditure, to be sure -- especially when you factor in price increases that many internet service providers build into their plans -- but the price for broadband has risen more slowly than overall inflation. According to an FCC analysis, the inflation-adjusted price for the internet declined by 19% between 2009 and 2023. To find out the real cost of internet service in the US, I turned to CNET's database of ISPs, which is updated regularly by inputting addresses around the country for 35 of the largest providers. There's an enormous range of prices available. Astound, Mediacom, Xfinity and Ziply Fiber all offer plans starting at just $15 to $20 monthly. Ziply also has the most expensive (and fastest) internet plan in the country by a mile: $900 a month for an absurdly over-the-top 50Gbps plan. Locating local internet providers For many people, $78 per month probably sounds like a pretty good deal. Consider this a wake-up call if you're paying significantly more than that. You can take steps to lower your costs, like negotiating your bill, purchasing your own equipment or downgrading to a cheaper plan. But the best option might be to switch providers altogether or find a low-income internet plan. There are also newer technologies like 5G home internet, which tends to be a bit cheaper and usually includes equipment in your total cost. If you haven't evaluated your options in a while, you might be surprised to find some new internet providers on the block. Internet cost by connection type How much you pay for internet is heavily impacted by the connection type you're using. This analysis confirms what many rural internet customers have known for years: Rural providers are the most expensive, with the slowest connections too. DSL and satellite internet -- often the only options in rural areas -- were the slowest connections by far. DSL was particularly sluggish, with median download speeds of just 40Mbps, which doesn't meet the FCC's minimum definition for broadband internet. Satellite internet was prohibitively more expensive than other connection types. Satellite providers had a median price of $110 per month for download speeds of 100Mbps. Prices for cable internet tend to start pretty low, but these providers are most likely to raise their prices after a year or two (or both). Fiber internet was also on the pricier side, but plans don't typically come with price increases. The median price for fiber internet was $75 per month in the first year and $83 in the third -- much less severe than cable's $28 jump from the first year to the third. Which ISP has the lowest monthly starting costs? The cheapest internet plans are typically an ISP's slowest internet plans -- though sometimes ISPs will slash the prices of faster plans to get you interested in signing up (before driving the price up after a year). As a result, most of the cheap internet plans presented here are the ISP's starting tiers, excluding low-income plans. Frontier and Starry tied for the cheapest internet plans, but ISPs often offer promotional pricing, so I wouldn't be surprised to see some of these plans switch places over time. Additionally, nearly all the internet plans listed below have a price increase after the first year. In most cases, that price increase is only $10 to $15 a month. The most egregious offenders were Kinetic and Consolidated Communications', with $25 and $20 price increases, respectively. Note: The prices presented here include auto-pay discounts and exclude taxes and other regional, variable fees. Source: CNET analysis of provider data. Which ISP has the highest monthly starting costs? As noted in my overall analysis, satellite internet providers have the highest monthly starting costs. Satellite equipment is expensive and typically requires an up-front payment, as is the case with Starlink. Nomad Internet, a fixed wireless rural internet option, came in second place, as it also requires a steep up-front equipment payment and high monthly costs. In fact, with the exception of Google Fiber, most of the providers listed here are rural internet providers and are likely the only option (besides a local fixed wireless provider) for rural communities trying to get online. Note: The prices presented here include auto-pay discounts and exclude taxes and other regional, variable fees. Source: CNET analysis of provider data. Equipment fees About half the internet plans I looked at included a monthly fee for equipment, but you always have the option to keep your monthly broadband bill lower by purchasing your own modem and router instead of renting them each month from your ISP. The median equipment fee was $15 per month. Rise Broadband, Spectrum, WOW and Astound have the lowest equipment costs, at $10 per month, while Starlink has the highest, with a required up-front equipment purchase of anywhere from $349 to $2,500. The following providers don't charge extra for equipment: Some providers jack up prices after a year or two Skyrocketing bills are one of the most frustrating parts of being an internet customer, and this analysis revealed just how much your bill will grow in the second (or third) year. In fact, in a recent survey I conducted, I found that 63% of adults are paying $195 more for internet this year than they did last year -- likely due to price hikes. Though the median price in the first year (not including your equipment rental) was $63 per month, it rose to $76 in the second year and to $80 in the third year. Some of the providers with the steepest price increases were Mediacom ($45 in the second year), Sparklight ($31 in the second year) and Spectrum ($20 to $30 in the third year). Here are the average price increases associated with each provider: Source: CNET analysis of provider data. Junk fees These are the extra charges internet providers tack on to your bill for vague purposes like "network maintenance" or "technology service." Thankfully, these are largely a thing of the past. Altice, the company behind Optimum, was forced to pay $15 million in a class action lawsuit in 2023 for these kinds of charges. I found only a handful of providers that currently impose junk fees. That noted, I wouldn't be shocked to hear about internet providers adding on fees after you enroll that weren't listed while you were shopping. A Consumer Reports analysis from 2022 found 13 ISPs that had junk fees in their bills. How to lower your internet bill If you're paying too much for internet, there are several steps you can take to reduce your monthly costs. Here's what you can do: Buy your own modem and router: This is the low-hanging fruit of lowering your internet bill. If your provider is charging you for equipment, purchasing your own modem and router will almost always pay for itself within the first year. I learned this myself the hard way when I spent almost $1,000 renting equipment from Xfinity for six years. You can usually get both for a little over $100. CNET's pick for the best Wi-Fi router is currently available for $75, and you can get a decent modem for around $50. Just make sure it's compatible with your internet provider before you go that route. As an added bonus, you might also see a nice boost in internet speeds. This is the low-hanging fruit of lowering your internet bill. If your provider is charging you for equipment, purchasing your own modem and router will almost always pay for itself within the first year. I learned this myself the hard way when I spent almost $1,000 renting equipment from Xfinity for six years. You can usually get both for a little over $100. CNET's pick for the best Wi-Fi router is currently available for $75, and you can get a decent modem for around $50. Just make sure it's compatible with your internet provider before you go that route. As an added bonus, you might also see a nice boost in internet speeds. Negotiate with your current provider: Internet providers used to be willing to work with customers when prices got out of control, but that's changed somewhat in recent years. Still, sometimes getting a better price is as simple as calling your ISP and asking for one. Before you call, research what prices they're offering new customers and what plans are available from competitors in the area. And if there's a store in your area, go visit in person. Many customers have had better luck talking face-to-face than getting an actual human on the phone. Internet providers used to be willing to work with customers when prices got out of control, but that's changed somewhat in recent years. Still, sometimes getting a better price is as simple as calling your ISP and asking for one. Before you call, research what prices they're offering new customers and what plans are available from competitors in the area. And if there's a store in your area, go visit in person. Many customers have had better luck talking face-to-face than getting an actual human on the phone. Lower your plan: Many of us are likely paying for more internet speed than we need. The median internet plan offers 600Mbps download speeds -- enough to stream Netflix in 4K on 40 TVs at once. The speeds advertised by providers are for a wired connection Many of us are likely paying for more internet speed than we need. The median internet plan offers 600Mbps download speeds -- enough to stream Netflix in 4K on 40 TVs at once. The speeds advertised by providers are for a Switch providers: If all else fails, the best way to get a better price on internet is to switch ISPs altogether to take advantage of first-year pricing. You can see exactly which providers are available to you by entering your address on the FCC's broadband map. From there, you'll have to input your address on each provider's website to find details on their plans and prices.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mediacom Communications Ready to Connect Customers in First Phase of Construction in Runnells, Iowa
RUNNELS, Iowa, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mediacom Communications announced the completion of the first construction phase of a fiber-to-the-home broadband network in Runnells, Iowa. Upon full completion, the project will bring high-speed internet, mobile, and phone services to more than 600 homes and businesses in the community. Completion of phase one connects 231 homes and businesses in Runnells and construction for most of the remaining homes will be completed in the next few weeks. Mediacom was awarded a broadband grant through the State of Iowa's NOFA008 funding round, which helped offset some of the costs associated with the Runnells project. This initiative is part of Mediacom and Iowa's ongoing effort to bridge the digital divide and ensure that rural communities can access reliable broadband infrastructure at their homes or businesses. 'Mediacom is proud to partner with the State of Iowa to bring world-class broadband technology to Runnells,' said Richard Conger, Senior Director of Operations for Mediacom Communications. 'This project will have a lasting impact on families, students, remote workers, and small businesses throughout the community.' Residents and businesses in the completed area can now access a variety of service offerings, including broadband plans with download speeds up to 2 gigabits-per-second, low-cost landline phone plans, and Mediacom Mobile. Mediacom also offers Xtream Connect, a low-cost broadband plan for qualifying households. A public open house will be held on Thursday, May 22 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Runnells Community Center (108 Brown Street) to introduce Mediacom's services to the community. Residents and business owners are invited to meet with Mediacom representatives, learn about available services, and how to pre-register for a fiber drop to their home at the open house. Additionally, Runnells residents can now access Mediacom's new online resources designed for communities where the company is expanding its broadband services through grant partnerships. Mediacom's newly launched grants website allows residents to track construction progress and sign up through the pre-order form to have a fiber line pre-installed from the street to their home at no cost. Residents are also encouraged to follow Mediacom's broadband grants Facebook and Instagram pages for ongoing construction updates, service launch announcements, and public events. ABOUT MEDIACOM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION Mediacom Communications Corporation is the 5th largest cable operator in the United States and the leading gigabit broadband provider to smaller markets primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. Through its fiber-rich network, Mediacom offers high-speed data, video, phone, and mobile services to over 3 million households and businesses across 22 states. The company delivers scalable broadband solutions to commercial and public-sector customers of all sizes through Mediacom Business and sells advertising and production services under the OnMedia brand. More information about Mediacom is available at Contact:Phil SkinnerVP, Government & Public Relations(515) 318-2558pskinner@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
