Cablefax The Magazine - August 2021 - 13

OPERATIONS LEADERS
7. MAKING NEW WAVES
Steve Simmons | Chairman of the Board
RCN/Grande/Wave
Years in Media & Broadband: 39
Education: BA, Cornell University; JD, Harvard Law School
Simmons shocked folks across the industry with the news of the
$8.1 billion sale of Astound Broadband to Stonepeak Infrastructure
Partners. The value of the deal has investors and executives more
excited about fiber than ever before, and has sparked M&A buzz
across the industry. Simmons and his Patriot Media team have spent
years building the Astound family through acquisitions and integrations,
and it now includes RCN, Grande Communications, Wave
Broadband and latest addition EnTouch Communications. But they
haven't slowed or settled since the announcement of the Stonepeak
deal. Wave Broadband acquired California-based commercial fiber
services provider Digital West in January.
MY PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT OVER
THE PAST 12 MONTHS IS... That our company's technicians, with
proper PPE, continued service calls and installations to several hundred
thousand homes to take care of customers throughout the pandemic.
8. WOW!ZERS
Teresa Elder | President & CEO
WOW!
Years in Media & Broadband: 25+
Education: BS, Business
Administration, Creighton
University; MS, Management,
Stanford University Graduate
School of Business
My personal superpower is:
Being optimistic while being fully
grounded in realism
The last few years have been anything
but predictable, but Elder isn't afraid to embrace change and flexibility
in WOW!'s long-term plans. She listens to what the customer
base wants and finds a way to deliver. That means helping video
customers craft their ideal lineup of streaming services as well as
introducing a new IP-based video service. WOW! tv+ was introduced
just before the world shut down last March, and it is now available
in 95% of the company's footprint. While WOW! actively participated
in federal programs to support residential subscribers, Elder also
found creative ways to support WOW!'s business customers. Under
her leadership, WOW! launched a new Fiber Flex data service that
was more cost-efficient for small- and medium-sized businesses,
and new business customers were offered free WOW!-produced
commercials that aired in the provider's local markets.
HOW DOES THE COUNTRY
NARROW THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE? Government funding
to help broadband in rural areas,
improve computer and internet
literacy, subsidize purchase of higher
speed broadband, and continue
individual company discounting
programs for low-income households.
WHAT SHOW/MOVIE
HASN'T BEEN REBOOTED
THAT YOU WISH WOULD
BE? " Homeland " on Showtime.
WHAT SORT OF
BROADBAND WILL THE AVERAGE U.S. HOUSEHOLD
NEED IN FIVE YEARS? A wired connection with multi-gig
downstream and at least a gig upstream.
MY COMFORT TV BINGE? " Earth Flight " - Apple TV; " Happy
Valley " - Netflix; " The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel " - Prime Video;
" Occupied " - Netflix.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
SUMMER? Being able to socialize with people without the pandemic
fear of last summer, and some great golf, tennis and kayaking! ■
MY PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT OVER
THE PAST 12 MONTHS IS... how our company has listened to our
customers and executed on our broadband-first strategy. This is a winwin
approach for our customers, our people and our investors as we rise
to meet the ever-increasing need for reliable high-speed internet.
WHAT HABIT ARE YOU KEEPING POST-PANDEMIC?
Although I'm looking forward to seeing and working with my teams
face-to-face, we'll continue to allow most employees the choice to work
remotely, coming into our offices as needed for certain meetings or
events. This will allow us to have the benefits of being face-to-face at
times while giving our valued employees the flexibility they desire.
HOW DOES THE COUNTRY NARROW THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE? The digital divide is something we as an industry must work
together to help resolve... Whether it be through supporting the FCC's
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, offering low-cost solutions
to households and schools, or having open discussions about how to
bridge the gap - we have the opportunity to help make a positive
impact and we are.
IF YOU COULD HOST A CLUBHOUSE CHAT WITH
ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE? Dr. Francis Collins. He's one
of the loveliest people I've ever met and is brilliant. He's done amazing
work on the human genome and has helped advance the research and
development of life-saving cystic fibrosis drugs and therapies.
NUMBER OF TIMES FLOWN IN THE PAST YEAR? Two (in
the last two weeks, post vaccination).
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
SUMMER? Seeing people in person that I haven't seen in 17
months! I'm especially looking forward to meeting some of our newest
employees. ■
Cablefax: The Magazine
August 2021
cablefaxmag.com
13
Cablefax The Magazine - August 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cablefax The Magazine - August 2021
