Much of the value of a conference lies beyond the sessions and this was clear at last month’s Independent Show in Indianapolis. Sure, the sessions provided great information on topics ranging from technology to new services to the regulatory environment, but, just as importantly, they sparked conversations between the attendees about how they could better serve their customers. And TIS17 gave attendees and their families plenty of opportunities to interact, share ideas and, even serve, the greater community.
The Value Is From the Members #TIS17
“This really reminds me of what the cable industry used to be,” states Matt Polka, president and CEO of the American Cable Association. Polka’s comment points to a time when the cable television industry was young and consisted of thousands of small operators building networks from scratch. Conferences in those days were exciting meet-ups where cable entrepreneurs could share best practices and ideas for advancing their rudimentary networks.
A Little Bit of Hidden Newsy #TIS17
At a superficial view, it’s easy to confuse which assets are part of Discovery Communication’s proposed acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI), given that SNI’s former parent, E.W. Scripps, also has some valuable online and cable television network properties. E.W. Scripps spun out SNI and its associated television channel in 2008, but has continued to build an online presence that is expanding into the traditional cable channel space. An example of one of E.W. Scripps’ assets is Newsy. Speaking at The Independent Show, Newsy’s General Manager, Blake Sabatinelli, indicates that Millennial generation is the target audience of Newsy.
It’s All About the Information Economy #TIS17
“It is all about the information economy and we have got to make sure that everyone in this country has access to the Internet,” states Representative Susan Brooks (R-IN). Speaking at The Independent Show, Brooks describes the diverse nature of her district which ranges from rural to suburban to urban and covers eight Indiana counties. She lauds the independent operators that are keeping their communities competitive by building out broadband in the rural areas they serve.
An Electrifying People Moving Alternative – Part 1
IDTechEx prjojects that within the next few years that electric buses will represent the largest market for advanced and post-Li-ion batteries. With orders from over 30 transit agencies, including many in rural areas, one of the driving forces behind the demand for electric buses is Proterra. In the part one of this two-part interview, Proterra CEO and president, Ryan Popple, discusses how electrifying a bus fleet cuts tailpipe emissions and positively impacts the energy grid, while reducing life cycle costs.
Some Tweets and Short Thoughts:
- Homework assignment from @shellypalmer l
#TIS17 learn#blockchain distributed ledger will help automate contracts & management & get a github account. - Proving the pen is mightier than the sword –
#AutonomousVehicles fooled by graffiti – hopefully sensor fusion & modern signage will solve. #Autonomous Vehicles Projected To Drive In-Car Advertising – More evidence of why Alphabet is keen on autonomous vehicles.- Project Loon: This seems like a potential partnership opportunity for rural providers to extend their service to difficult to reach places, such as National Parks.
The Korner – A Conference Activity That Helps Bring Good News to those in Need #TIS17
A wise Church youth director once suggested that one can learn a great deal by helping those who live in faraway locales. In a sense, working in a shelter or a food bank in another town or state provides an opportunity to see things in a different light and, to some extent, benchmark and bring new ideas to one’s community. And the Sportsman Channel provided leaders from independent broadband providers with an opportunity to participate with an organization that has helped those in need in Indianapolis for 67 years.
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