Latest news with #Spectrum
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
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Department of Acronyms Leunig's cartoon in Spectrum (June 26-27), made me smile. I remember laughing out loud in the 1990s when my boss at Skillshare handed me a 15-page booklet of acronyms for government departments. She did not find this amusing. Judith Rostron, Killarney Heights Bonded and better We might have lost a few young teachers with the bonded teacher system (Letters, June 26-27), but those who stayed in those remote locations became first class practitioners (they had no other choice). They understood the concept of community and went on to be educational leaders. Gus Plater, Saratoga
CNET
2 days ago
- Business
- CNET
An Internet Co-op for the People: How Ex-Spectrum Employees Are Making a Difference in the Bronx
In New York City, the vision of free, high-speed and community-owned internet was once more than just a dream. The People's Choice Communications, a worker- and community-owned internet cooperative, launched in 2020 -- and thanks to subsidies from the Affordable Connectivity Program, it successfully offered fast, cheap internet in the Bronx while the ACP was still active. "No one believed that we could actually build out the system," said Troy Walcott, president of People's Choice, "and then we built it." The city's decision to exclude the co-op from the Big Apple Connect program has led to significant staff reductions at People's Choice and put the organization at risk of shuttering. Still, the story of the co-op is an unlikely and rare tale of broadband connectivity in the US, one that begins with Spectrum workers going on strike in 2017. Building from the ground up In 2017, 1,800 Spectrum workers walked out because of unmet demands regarding health care and retirement benefits, after Charter Communications' acquisition of Time Warner Cable the previous year (which led to the creation of the Spectrum brand). Forty of those striking workers decided to take matters into their own hands by creating their own internet network, intending to prioritize equity over profits. Spectrum workers during the 2017 strike. People's Choice Communications "Instead of giving a lot of profits to, like, CEOs, etcetera," said Walcott, "we take those profits and reinvest back into the system to also help provide service to those areas that normally wouldn't be served by a strictly profit-motive driven ISP." Locating local internet providers The model is simple: Workers and subscribers mutually own the network. People's Choice employees build and maintain the network, and residents pay monthly fees and participate in governance. Wiring the community, one building at a time People's Choice used a mesh network to get buildings online, installing millimeter-wave antennas on rooftops to receive signals. The initial setup was similar to that of NYC Mesh, another provider of free internet service in the city. Since then, the co-op has expanded to fiber internet service for added reliability. The New York City Internet Master Plan, former Mayor Bill de Blasio's initiative to make internet more affordable and accessible, tapped People's Choice and other small ISPs to wire buildings overseen by the New York City Housing Authority, the city's government-run public housing agency, which was a significant source of funding for the newly formed co-op. "During the pandemic, we built out a network that served over 1,000 households in public housing and affordable housing and provided them with free, high-speed internet," said Erik Forman, People's Choice co-founder and a labor activist who also helped develop a worker-owned ride-hailing cooperative in the city. People's Choice currently offers 200 megabits per second of symmetrical download and upload speed for just $30 a month, with plans to expand to a 500Mbps tier for $45 monthly and a 1,000Mbps tier for $60 monthly. For context, Spectrum offers a 500Mbps tier for $50 monthly and a 1,000Mbps tier for $70 monthly, making People's Choice a viable competitor. The fight for accessible internet is an ongoing battle Since launching the service, People's Choice has faced several roadblocks, the biggest of which was the city's decision to cut the co-op out of the Big Apple Connect program. After a change in city administration, the Big Apple Connect program effectively replaced the Internet Master Plan. The initiative, launched in 2022 by Mayor Eric Adams and the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation, intended to bridge the city's broadband divide by offering free internet to 150,000 households in 220 NYCHA developments for three years. According to a spokesperson from New York City's Office of Technology and Innovation, the program serves approximately 330,000 New Yorkers. Which internet companies did the city choose to helm the Big Apple Connect program, instead of People's Choice? Spectrum and Optimum Internet. According to Walcott, the co-op's largest customer group was located in Melrose Houses, a New York City Housing Authority development with a People's Choice internet build-out that was 90% complete. Combined with progress in other NYCHA developments, the co-op was close to surpassing more than 5,000 units served. The city denied People's Choice a license to continue services in the Melrose Houses development, and the co-op was required to remove all equipment from the buildings. New York City's Office of Technology and Innovation "telling NYCHA to both remove us from the buildings we were in and not let us expand to any other buildings totally destroyed every area we had worked on to that point," Walcott said. Though People's Choice is still operational, Walcott told CNET that the workforce has been significantly reduced and that the co-op's focus now is on expanding fiber internet services. Echoes across the country Public-owned internet networks are an increasingly popular alternative to private incumbent internet service providers, and the nonprofit Institute for Local Self-Reliance records as many as 450 public-owned internet networks across the country, a number that excludes internet co-ops. Though internet co-ops are public internet networks, they're typically created by existing telephone and electric utilities, often in rural areas. They're relics of utility cooperatives formed during the New Deal. Some examples include the RS Fiber Cooperative in Minnesota and the Central Virginia Electric Cooperative's Firefly Fiber Broadband. "Pure play broadband cooperatives are quite rare," said Christopher Ali, a telecommunications expert and professor at Penn State. "There's only a handful of them." Starting an internet co-op from scratch is no cheap or easy feat. According to Ali, telephone and electric co-ops are much easier to create because they already have a business model and resources to draw from. "Having employees be at the table, having labor be at the table, and the origins of the company, will go a long way to ensuring that the customers are satisfied with high-quality, low-cost broadband, but that employees are also able to make a meaningful, dignified, living wage," said Ali. Initially, People's Choice considered a municipally owned network they could help maintain and presented a plan to the city, but it never came to fruition. Instead, a combination of grants, private funding and subsidized funds from the Affordable Connectivity Program allowed the co-op to start in the Bronx, which, according to a report from the NY State Comptroller, is one of the worst-connected boroughs in the city. "I think folks really saw that we were solving an important social problem. In fact, multiple important social problems," said Forman. "Our goal was not just to bring folks affordable or free internet service, but also to create jobs for the strikers and to get to a different level of scale." Employees of People's Choice at a community event for one of the co-op's serviced buildings. People's Choice Communications "When we were up and running at the highest, and we had installed in the Bronx and NYCHA developments," said Walcott, "we were able to hire digital stewards that were working with the company to help sign up their friends and neighbors for a service, as well as some basic digital literacy training." People's Choice also offered members discounted laptops for $11 -- another perk from the ACP -- and Walcott said that eventually the plan would introduce participatory budgeting to the co-op. What happens next? "So while programs like Big Apple Connect provide [internet] temporarily for free to NYCHA, what happens when it stops?" said Walcott. "And also, what happens to all the surrounding buildings and the community that are in the same position ... but are still unable to access service at those low rates?" OTI has not announced an extension option for the Big Apple Connect Program. Shortly after being cut from the initiative, People's Choice submitted a request to OTI, under New York's Freedom of Information Law, for information about the Big Apple Connect contract. According to Foman, the city has requested multiple extensions in the years since that initial request. The co-op has since filed an official complaint regarding the FOIL request with the city. "We reached all NYCHA developments within a year of the program being publicly announced," a spokesperson from OTI said to CNET in a statement, "a major win for our students, older adults, families and jobseekers who suffered the negative impacts of our city's digital divide during the pandemic." Despite the massive loss in subscribers and revenue afforded by the Big Apple Connect decision, Walcott and Forman remain optimistic about the future of People's Choice. "These are David and Goliath struggles," Forman said. "So if you don't have as much money or power, you've got to be smart and strategic. But the key is to just don't stop."
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Charter restores Disney-owned cable channels for Spectrum customers
Charter Communications is returning the Walt Disney Co.-owned cable channels that were dropped from its Spectrum TV service in 2023 after the two sides negotiated new terms for carrying ESPN and ABC. The companies announced Thursday an 'expanded distribution agreement' that will give Spectrum TV Select customers the ad-supported version of streaming platform Hulu and eight linear TV channels: Disney Jr., Disney XD, Freeform, FXX, FXM, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Mundo and BabyTV. They will be added at no additional cost for subscribers. The cable channels were dropped in 2023 when the companies were unable to agree on terms for carrying ESPN and ABC, which led to a 10-day blackout for Spectrum customers.. The standoff kept tennis fans in Spectrum homes from seeing ESPN's U.S. Open coverage and threatened access to the season premiere of 'Monday Night Football.' At the time, Charter resolved the dispute by agreeing to pay higher fees to keep the rights to carry the main engines of Disney's TV lineup — including ESPN and ABC — but had to sacrifice some of the company's smaller channels. Charter had sought to get free access to Disney's streaming channels for its customers as well. The terms of the expanded deal to return the dropped channels and add Hulu were not disclosed beyond saying it was 'financially net positive for both companies.' It's likely Disney needed to maintain the distribution of the channels to Charter's nearly 15 million cable homes to keep them viable for advertisers. 'These channels expand Spectrum's entertainment offering and create meaningful value for both companies by boosting advertising reach and strengthening audience engagement across platforms,' Charter said in its announcement of the deal. The Disney-Charter pact is a sign of how both programmers and cable and satellite services are being more flexible as they contend with the steady decline of pay TV customers. Pricing is a key reason consumers have abandoned traditional TV for streaming. Separately, satellite TV provider DirecTV announced Thursday it will offer a new slimmed-down package of channels called MyKids, designed for younger viewers. The package offered for $19.99 a month will provide access to kid- and teen-oriented channels from Disney, Paramount Global, Warner Bros. Discovery and Weigel Broadcasting. MyKids, which includes Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network and MeTV Toons, is one of the newest lower priced genre-based packages DirecTV is offering to customers. In addition to MyKids, DirecTV customers can select packages with news, entertainment, sports and Spanish-language channels, all priced well under the monthly cost of subscribing to the entire channel lineup.
Techday NZ
3 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Spectrum appoints Marty Bennett to lead new era of growth
Spectrum has appointed Marty Bennett as its new Country Manager, marking a shift towards stability, governance and renewed focus for the IT services company in New Zealand. The move introduces a leadership change aimed at reinforcing Spectrum's service to essential sectors across the country. With over two decades of technology sector experience, Bennett brings a background in operational oversight and a clear understanding of the local market. The company, based in Auckland, has positioned this appointment as a reset for its direction and priorities. Bennett commented on his appointment, highlighting the history and aims of the company. He stated, "I am incredibly honoured to lead Spectrum into what is a new chapter for our company. Spectrum has a proud 24-year history as a Kiwi business started out of a tiny office in west Auckland. My plan for Spectrum's immediate future is to build upon this strong heritage with renewed vigour we will continue to operate with the highest standards of governance, champion our 'People First' approach, whilst remaining agile and innovative. We have a compelling story of resilience that has brought us to this point. Our journey started building and managing 'big tin' infrastructure for some household names; banks, trains, power companies, manufacturers & government agencies. Whilst we've had a few bumps along the way, and who in IT hasn't in the last 18 months? Things at Spectrum are going from strength to strength. In terms of the details of the bumps, I am 100% focused on looking forward, so I'll leave it to our owner, Paul Tomlinson, to elaborate in the coming weeks." Spectrum's new leadership seeks to assure stakeholders of its strategic continuity, commitment to local operation and investment, and continued focus on staff and clients. Bennett made clear the company's ownership status and future plans, saying, "Regardless of what you may have heard, Spectrum is unequivocally not for sale. We are a proudly Kiwi-owned and operated company, and we are making significant investments in our future here in New Zealand. A key part of this investment is in our people, having met all our staff and clients over the last few weeks, I'm delighted that we are built on an incredibly talented, dedicated and hard-working foundation. Our team has stuck with us through the recent changes and continue to give our clients their all. We have embarked on a significant hiring drive, seeking talented individuals, especially engineers, to join our exceptional team as we gear up for growth and new projects. From a client perspective it was heartening to hear first-hand such positive feedback, considering the challenges this business has faced. Looking forward, we'll focus on our key pillars: Platform-as-a-Service, Network-as-a-Service, Data Protection, Systems Engineering, and IBM Power/AIX. Keep an eye out for more announcements; our new CTO will soon elaborate on the exciting technological opportunities this expansion will support." Governance and people Bennett has announced plans to strengthen the company's board and advisory structures, aiming to maintain best-practice corporate governance. The Country Manager noted a particular emphasis on Spectrum's continued commitment towards data stewardship. He restated, according to the company's ethos, that data would continue to be treated "with dignity and respect," and described data as a taonga (treasure). The management team recently involved all employees in planning the business's strategy for the coming year, using what they refer to as Group Wisdom and Radical Candor, an approach that Bennett indicated would be expanded upon at a later date. He commented, "Last week during our all-hands day we set our Strategy Initiatives for this year using Group Wisdom [all staff voted] and Radical Candor [more about that later]. We are looking forward with great optimism. Our team is energized, we are expanding, and we are ready to deepen our partnerships across New Zealand." Future direction Spectrum stated it is focusing on five core technology pillars: Platform-as-a-Service, Network-as-a-Service, Data Protection, Systems Engineering, and IBM Power/AIX services. The company has begun recruiting for several roles, with a particular focus on engineering capabilities. "Spectrum has a proud 24-year history as a Kiwi business started out of a tiny office in west Auckland. My plan for Spectrum's immediate future is to build upon this strong heritage with renewed vigour we will continue to operate with the highest standards of governance, champion our 'People First' approach, whilst remaining agile and innovative. We have a compelling story of resilience that has brought us to this point." Bennett's approach is underlined by optimism for the future, underpinned by new governance mechanisms, a focus on key service pillars and ongoing engagement with both staff and clients.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
AT&T vs. Spectrum: Which internet provider should youchoose?
Both AT&T and Spectrum offer a variety of internet plans at relatively affordable prices. Deciding between AT&T vs. Spectrum can be difficult since they're both reputable home internet providers. That said, if you live in an ultra-connected home and need a high-speed internet connection, AT&T may be a better bet since there are more fiber internet options available. But on the other hand, Spectrum is more widely available, offering coverage in 41 states. AT&T Fiber plans are only available in 21. Here are the main differences between AT&T Internet and Spectrum Internet, as well as a closer look into each provider's plans, prices, fees and other considerations to help you decide which provider to go with. AT&T vs. Spectrum: A guide AT&T Fiber vs. Spectrum plans vary mostly in internet speed, pricing and bundling options. Spectrum cable internet is available in 41 states, while AT&T fiber coverage is limited to only 21 states. AT&T does offer other plans with greater availability, but AT&T Fiber might not be a guaranteed option depending on where you live. Spectrum Internet pros and cons Spectrum outpaces AT&T in the following categories: Pros: Cons: Read our full Spectrum Internet overview. AT&T Internet pros and cons In an AT&T vs. Spectrum showdown, AT&T benefits include: Pros: Cons: When evaluating Spectrum Internet vs. AT&T, it's important to remember that most of the 'wins' for AT&T relate to its fiber service. Read our full AT&T Internet overview. AT&T vs. Spectrum speeds AT&T Fiber plans offer equal download and upload speeds. Upload speeds impact how quickly you can upload attachments, videos and pictures. If you are a content creator or need to upload large files frequently, then fast upload speeds will be an important factor in your internet plan. Both AT&T and Spectrum offer medium-speed tiers, but Spectrum doesn't offer anything over 1 GB. AT&T fiber plans on the other hand go up to speeds of 5 GB, or 5,000 Mbps. Still, 1 GB internet from either provider is more than enough speed for most households. AT&T's multi-gig internet speeds can be beneficial if you have an ultra-connected home or do high-bandwidth tasks on multiple Wi-Fi devices. AT&T vs. Spectrum pricing Spectrum and AT&T have similar starting rates for plans with download speeds of under 1 GB, give or take $5 to $10. Spectrum does have a $10 monthly router rental fee. Overall, the main pricing difference of AT&T vs. Spectrum Internet is that AT&T does not raise prices after the first year, whereas Spectrum usually increases its rates after 12 months. AT&T vs. Spectrum Internet plans You can find a complete list of the speeds and prices for both AT&T and Spectrum Internet plans here. Besides the similar pricing structure, both companies include these benefits with their internet service: AT&T internet plans The following table compares AT&T Fiber, AT&T Internet Air and AT&T Internet, including pricing, download and upload speeds. It's important to point out that AT&T Air is a 5G internet / fixed wireless connection, and AT&T Internet is the brand name for AT&T's copper lines. Spectrum Internet plans Find Spectrum's three internet plans and speeds in the following table. Keep in mind there's a $10 monthly charge for a router with Advantage and Premier unless you provide your own. To qualify for the Spectrum Assist plan, you must meet certain income-related qualifications, like being enrolled in SSI. AT&T vs. Spectrum deals Both AT&T and Spectrum offer internet deals that vary seasonally. AT&T is more likely to offer reward cards, while Spectrum typically includes free streaming or mobile services for a limited time. Both providers have discounts for customers who bundle internet and mobile services. Where are Spectrum and AT&T available? Spectrum's 41-state, 29% nationwide coverage area offers more availability than AT&T Fiber. However, while AT&T Fiber is accessible to just 11% of the country, AT&T home internet covers an area about four times that size when you factor in AT&T's copper line and Internet Air regions. Spectrum's primary markets span the East Coast, particularly New York and New England, including the western half of Connecticut. AT&T Fiber is primarily available in the Southeast, including Mobile, AL, New Orleans, LA and Atlanta, GA, as well as the West Coast around San Francisco and San Diego, California. Cities where you will find both Spectrum and AT&T include Charlotte and Raleigh, NC; Tampa, FL; Cleveland, OH; Milwaukee, WI; Los Angeles, CA; and Dallas and Fort Worth, TX. Does AT&T or Spectrum have extra fees? Spectrum has more add-on fees than AT&T. Neither Spectrum nor AT&T requires contracts or ETFs, and both providers offer unlimited data, meaning there are no charges for overages. Here's a rundown of other fees from Spectrum vs. AT&T: Spectrum fees: AT&T fees: Can you bundle with AT&T or Spectrum? Both AT&T and Spectrum Internet offer various combinations that can include internet and TV bundles or mobile services. AT&T: Spectrum: Frequently asked questions If you want high-speed, reliable internet with a high bandwidth, then fiber is a safer bet than cable. This is because fiber has equal download and upload speeds, and also runs on a fiber-optic network. This leads to a faster connection than cable. Whether AT&T is better than Spectrum depends on your internet use, the number of devices in your home and which provider is available in your area. Both AT&T and Spectrum are top internet providers. Both AT&T and Spectrum are good internet providers, with AT&T offering more fiber plan options. Spectrum is more widely available. Contributing: Lisa Iscrupe, Hannah Whatley, Allconnect Our team of editors independently makes all recommendations. When you buy a product or subscribe to a service through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
