Message from Dave Koren, Executive Director,

OCTA – Ohio’s Broadband and Cable Association 


Welcome to April's edition of The OCTA Connection, the monthly newsletter from OCTA – Ohio’s Broadband and Cable Association.


We are happy to bring the latest in broadband news to your inbox each month and hope that you find this newsletter informative and insightful. Read on to see updates from OCTA members, important industry news and announcements from our national partner, NCTA.


Be sure to follow OCTA on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You can also visit our website at www.octa.org.

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House Budget Proposal Creates $50M Ohio Broadband Pole Replacement & Undergrounding Program to Support Faster Broadband Expansion

The Ohio House of Representative’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget (Substitute House Bill 33) includes a key new provision creating a $50 million Ohio Broadband Pole Replacement and Undergrounding Program. Creation of a fund to support efforts to expand broadband through pole replacements and undergrounding has been a priority for OCTA for several years, and we look forward to working to ensure this program remains in place as the budget moves to the Senate. Read More

OCTA Bill & Issue Tracking

On behalf of Ohio's broadband cable industry, OCTA monitors a wide variety of public policy issues and participates in policy discussions at the local, state and federal levels. Visit our website to learn more about the legislation and issues OCTA is actively monitoring at the Ohio Statehouse and beyond.

Buckeye Broadband



Charter Communications





Comcast






Cox Communications



Diversity Is an Industry Priority Every Month of the Year

Fostering and embracing diversity within and outside of the workforce has long been a priority for the cable industry, and there's no better time to reflect on the importance of these efforts than during Diversity Month, which runs throughout April.


The cable industry is a leader when it comes to its efforts towards increasing the representation of women and people of color on screen and across its workforce. Highlighted below are initiatives and industry-based organizations that are making an impact across the media and entertainment landscape. Read More

Q&A: A Big Year For Wireless Spectrum

The continued growth of wireless connectivity and IoT, spurred on by post-pandemic digital habits, has resulted in a renewed need for more wireless spectrum and new rules surrounding its management.

NCTA spectrum expert, Vice President & Associate General Counsel Becky Tangren, shares a glimpse into what the coming year holds for the future of the airwaves. To learn even more about wireless spectrum, visit the NCTA website.

Read More

The Last Mile, Explained

Cable broadband networks are critical infrastructure that connect the vast majority of the United States. In fact, 99% of homes in cable's footprint have access to gigabit speeds. But what many don't realize is how crucial the "last mile" portion of those networks is to connecting the millions of Americans who benefit from broadband today, and those who will be reached in the near future.

Digging deeper: With federal broadband funding efforts on the horizon, and as cable providers continue to build out their networks, it's worth understanding how the "last mile" works and how it serves as a crucial link to the digital world.

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America’s Expanding Cable Broadband Networks: The Midwest

As America targets efforts towards closing the digital divide and awaits the distribution of federal funds for broadband deployment and adoption, cable providers continue to do what they have always done: build out their networks to reach as many Americans as possible.


Here is a small sampling of broadband projects by cable ISPs underway as they prepare to deliver fast internet speeds in Midwest communities.


Ohio

Charter has recently extended its network to approximately 2,350 homes and businesses in Guernsey County, OH. The new fiber network is just one example of how the ISP is bringing gigabit speeds to previously unserved parts of the state.


Minnesota

Comcast has expanded its network in Minnesota. South Rogers, for example, had 400 homes connected in 2021, while the next phase of the project is set to begin this spring.


Indiana

Charter has expanded its footprint across Indiana, with a particular focus on bringing broadband to previously unserved parts of the state. In Floyd County alone, the ISP connected nearly 450 homes and businesses to gigabit speed networks, extending its next-generation network to more Americans and working towards universal connectivity.


Wisconsin

Communities in Winnebago and Fond Du Lac counties have been connected to Charter’s gigabit broadband. The fiber-optic network extension across these two counties is connecting more than 1,500 homes and businesses.


Michigan

At the end of last year, Charter broke ground for a new network in Wexford County, Michigan. The project is expected to bring gigabit service to over 4,700 homes and businesses that were previously unserved.


Missouri

As of last fall, residents of Pike County now have access to Charter’s gigabit network. This new fiber network connects nearly 470 homes and businesses that were previously unserved.


Read More

Broadband Stats: Connecting More People in More Places


America is home to next-generation broadband networks that connect millions of people and businesses each day. Cable’s networks connect major cities as well as places like Unalaska in the Aleutian islands. Powered by smart engineering and future-proofed designs, these networks deliver gigabit speeds to a large majority of Americans, with more networks getting built every day. Read More

TV Stats: Audiences Warm to Springtime TV Events

As spring rolls in, a slew of eagerly awaited TV shows and sports tournaments have drawn big audiences, set records, and are getting viewers ready for what are shaping up to be epic TV seasons. Here are a few examples of what people have been enjoying on screens this April. Read More

About OCTA
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In 1966 a group of cable pioneers banded together, forming a new association to represent them before the Ohio General Assembly. For more than five decades, OCTA - Ohio's Broadband & Cable Association has built a strong record of success in the legislative and regulatory arenas.


Today, our members look to the OCTA with confidence in its ability to represent the industry before the Ohio legislature, PUCO, Congress, and the Courts.