Dish Network released its 2017 Corporate Citizenship Report Wednesday (June 6), and employees across the country showed their commitment to community by supporting disaster relief efforts, planting trees and helping the environment.

“Dish team members have been dedicated to customer service since day one, and Dish Cares is a natural extension of that mindset, connecting communities together through positive change,” said Dish CEO Erik Carlson in a statement. “As Dish TV and Sling TV continue to grow, we remain committed to improving the local communities our customers and our team members call home.”

Read More: #CableInTheCommunity

Among the highlights from 2017, Dish employees:

• Provided 110,000 hours of internet & TV service to disaster relief organizations and their workers at relief sites across the nation including Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.
• Logged 7,023 hours of service to nonprofits by Dish Cares teams.
• Planted 50,000 trees in partnership with customers and American Forests.
• Drove 2,220,468 alternative fuel miles in Dish tech vans.
• Donated 21,550 pounds of food to 35 communities.

The full report is available here.

Comcast said more than 100,000 employees, their families and friends, along with several community partners will participate in the 17th annual Comcast Cares Day, set for this Saturday (April 21).

Comcast noted that Comcast Cares Day, which started in 2001, will reach the 1 million volunteers milestone this year as it sets its sights on another goal -- 500,000 employee volunteer hours on environmentally-focused projects alone by 2020.

Since Comcast Cares Day started in 2001, volunteers have logged more than 5 million hours at 8,800 projects, and have contributed more than $22 million in grants to participating local non-profit community partners, Comcast said.

Related: #CableInTheCommunity

Comcast said participants at this year’s event will take part in more than 1,000 community improvement projects in about 20 countries around the world, including those focused on revitalizing neighborhood parks and schools and assembling care packages for U.S. military service members. This year’s event also includes a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation that will plant about 1,000 trees in parts of California, Florida and Texas impacted by last year’s wildfires and hurricanes.

Examples of other organization partners involved in Comcast Cares Day include UnidosUS, National Urban League, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, City Year, Easterseals, and The Arc.

Among activities with a special technology focus, machineQ, a Comcast-owned unit focused on enterprise Internet of Things services, will demonstrate the capabilities of its IoT network at Bartram’s Garden in south Philadelphia.

RELATED: Comcast’s MachineQ Unit Gets Down to Business

In addition to the work on cleaning up and beautifying the area, machineQ has deployed a network of 16 wireless, low-power sensors to monitor moisture, temperature and humidity throughout the gardens. That data will help staff at Bartrams’ Garden make informed decisions on when to water plants and warm up their greenhouses and, generally, help to conserve resources and money.

“Comcast Cares Day started as a way to give back in our hometown of Philadelphia, but I am so proud that our employees have embraced it beyond our imagination, growing it into an event that spans the country and around the world,” Brian Roberts, Comcast’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “This year, we will celebrate one million volunteers since Comcast Cares Day started, which really speaks to the heart of our employees and their passion for improving our communities.”

“We are thankful for our employees and community partners who volunteer their many talents – from painting and planting to teaching digital literacy skills and holding resume writing workshops – to make a positive, lasting impact on Comcast Cares Day and throughout the year,” added David Cohen, Comcast’s senior EVP and chief diversity officer, added. “Service as a tool to give back is a deep part of Comcast NBCUniversal’s culture, and Comcast Cares Day, along with our ongoing partnerships with Global Citizen and Red Nose Day, provide many ways to take action and make a difference.”

The PyeongChang Paralympics are a great example of how Comcast NBCUniversal unites content, distribution and technology to bring a truly unique experience to millions of people across the country, including viewers with disabilities.

From March 9 through March 18, NBC Olympics will cover all six Paralympic winter sports – alpine skiing, snowboarding, sled hockey, wheelchair curling, cross-country skiing, and biathlon – as part of its more than 250 hours of 2018 Winter Games coverage across NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app. 

For the first time ever, Paralympic broadcasts on NBC and NBCSN include video description. And on Xfinity X1, voice control, voice guidance and closed captioning are helping viewers access the planned 94 hours of Paralympics television coverage. It's the most ever for a Winter Games, nearly doubling that of Sochi 2014 (50 hours).

Based on recent research, we know these assistive technologies are helpful but they also suffer from low levels of awareness. To make accessibility options easier to enable on X1, we created a few shortcuts for customers; for example, saying “accessibility” into the X1 Voice Remote or tapping the “B” key to get to a menu with all of X1’s accessibility options. X1 users can also quickly jump into specific features by saying “captions,” description,” “SAP,” “voice guidance” or, to find any programs that are described, “shows with description.”

We also have made some improvements to our most popular accessible features. We were the first in our industry to launch voice guidance, a talking TV guide that reads aloud program titles, network names, and DVR and On Demand menus for people with visual disabilities. Now users can control the rate of speech by choosing “regular,” “fast” or “fastest” to navigate their X1 experience.

Tom Wlodkowski, who is blind himself, is Comcast's vice president of accessibility. He's pictured above demonstrating the MSO's new X1 voice remote features. Click here to watch a video about him and his work.

Puppy Bowl, Animal Planet’s annual showcase of young dogs playing football, returns Feb. 4, the same day as Super Bowl LII.

Once again, Team Ruff tackles Team Fluff in the big game, with both squads fighting for the “Lombarky” trophy.

In addition to providing alternative programming to the Super Bowl, Puppy Bowl also draws attention to animal rescue efforts nationwide. All of the pups are available for adoption. Puppy Bowl XIV features 90 dogs rescued from areas that were devastated by natural disasters in 2017, including Houston, Puerto Rico and Florida.

Related: ‘Puppy Bowl’ Takes Bite Out of Social Media on Super Bowl Sunday

The action starts at 3 p.m. ET. Puppy Bowl will be held at the new bone-shaped Geico stadium. Jokgu, the piano-playing chicken from Season 12 of America's Got Talent, will play “The Star-Spangled Banner” on the keyboard.

Animal Planet said the “tail-gaiting” starts with the pre-game show at 2 p.m., featuring “aww-nalysis and cuddly commentary from sports anchor James Hound with Rodt Weiler and Sheena Inu serving as pregame show analysts.” For the seventh consecutive year, Dan Schachner will “rufferee.”

Puppy Bowl is produced for Animal Planet by Discovery Studios. Simon Morris is executive producer and showrunner and Cindy Kain is VP of current production. For Animal Planet, Dawn Sinsel is executive producer and Pat Dempsey is producer. Watch video from previous Puppy Bowls here.

Expanding its anti-bullying campaign, Cartoon Network is teaming up with 826 National to launch the Inclusion Storytelling Project.

The project encourages youth to share individual stories about kindness and empathy in an effort to stop bullying before it starts.

As part of the collaboration, stories from elementary and high-school students will be compiled into eight illustrated publications. A book release event will be held by each of the 826 National chapters.

“Elevating kids’ voices is central to everything we do at Cartoon Network,” said Jill King, senior VP, marketing and partnerships, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang. “Equipping each kid with tools and resources to use their individual voice to speak up is a key goal of Stop Bullying: Speak Up.

“826 National is an organization that values children as a creative force as much as we do, and by developing the Inclusion Storytelling Project together, we are encouraging kids to use creativity to understand and spread kindness, compassion and empathy,” King added.

Read More: #CableInTheCommunity

The first chapter to release work will be in the Los Angeles Echo Park location on Thursday (Dec. 7). The releases by other chapters will continue into next year.

“Many of the students we serve at 826 come from traditionally under-resourced communities that are most affected by our changing political and cultural landscape,” said Laura Brief, CEO of 826 National. “We believe our students have the power and perspective to end a pervasive culture of bullying, and we are so excited to partner with Cartoon Network in sharing their stories and voices on a national scale.”

Comcast and NBCUniversal have committed more than $1 million in cash and in-kind contributions toward relief efforts for flooding and other devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey.

The commitment for those Houston-area relief efforts includes $500,000 in cash to be shared between Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund and the American Red Cross.

Related: Comcast Temporarily Suspends Operations in Houston

Comcast said it will also donate advertising time on its cable systems to those organizations to run public service announcements to help educate concerned citizens about how they can assist with flood relief efforts.

Its owned NBC and Telemundo stations also are implementing local phone banks and telethons to raise awareness of ways communities can help with the crisis in Houston, the company said.

Related: Verizon Commits $10 Million to Harvey Relief

Comcast, which had suspended operations in Houston as a safety precaution, has also opened 53,000 Xfinity WiFi hotspots in the Houston area to customers and non-customers to help residents and emergency workers there stay connected.

Communications companies continue to up the ante on help for Hurricane Harvey-related areas.

Verizon said late Tuesday (Aug. 29) that it was pledging $10 million to fund relief efforts through four non-profit organizations to meet short- and long-term needs.

Related: Verizon Offers Communications Help to Harvey-Affected Customers

In addition, the company is:

"Relieving postpaid customers of data, talk and text charges and giving prepaid customers an extra 3 GB to be used for data, talk and text from Aug. 26 through September 15.  The September 15 date reflects a one-week extension to what was previously announced.

"Deploying mobile equipment including Cells on Wheels (COWs), and Cells on Light Trucks (COLTS) to supplement service in areas of South Texas that need extra network capacity. Verizon has staged additional equipment and is prepared for rapid deployment as needed in hard-hit areas. This initiative is part of a network investment of nearly $1 billion in 2016 in the state of Texas.

"Working closely with several federal and local government agencies to help support first responders on the ground with much needed communications services.

"Staffing shelters with Verizon employees in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio to assist first responders and displaced residents with mobile charging, internet access and other communications needs.

"Along with its subsidiary Oath, the company is providing financial support to residents of Houston and South Texas with dollar-for-dollar matches of employees’ contributions to select relief-focused organizations. Oath also will match consumers’ contributions to select relief-focused organizations when they donate after visiting one of Oath’s web properties. More information can be found at https://yahoo.benevity.org/community.

"Offering emergency financial assistance to employees who have been affected by this tragedy though both its employee assistance program and its VtoV program where employees can donate funds to help fellow employees affected by a natural or personal disaster. In addition, to reinforce our long- term commitment to the communities we serve, Verizon will be offering it’s more than 10,000 employees who work in the states of Texas and Louisiana the opportunity to volunteer for the Harvey recovery effort over the coming months and receive up to a weeks vacation for their time."

Other cable and telecom companies assisting with relief efforts via services and donations include Altice USA, Comcast-NBCU, AT&T and T-Mobile.

Altice USA said it will provide customer support and employee assistance as part of the company’s Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

As part of that, Altice USA said it’s making a $50,000 donation to the Red Cross of Texas, and is providing the Red Cross with free advertising time across its Optimum and Suddenlink systems nationwide.

Altice USA, which acquired Suddenlink in late 2015, said it’s also in contact with local officials to determine how donations made by its employees may be utilized to help the affected communities.

Related: Comcast Temporarily Suspends Operations in Houston

Altice USA said it has also implemented the following measures:

-Customer accounts for those who have lost service due to flooding will be credited for equipment and services dating back to August 25.

-Suddenlink customers will not be charged for lost or damaged equipment.

-An Employee Disaster Relief Fund has been established to assist employees directly affected by Hurricane Harvey, and the company will match the employee contributions.

-Altice USA employee volunteers from around the country are traveling to assist the Company and its employees with customer restoration and recovery efforts.

Related: More Cell Sites Out, Cable Outages From Harvey

The operator said its employees are “working around the clock” where physical access has been permitted, including Victoria, Texas, to assist affected Suddenlink customers, local communities and employees.

Additionally, the Suddenlink retail store in Victoria (105 Industrial Dr.) is open and will provide free WiFi and charging stations for all residents, the company said.

Comcast said Monday that it is continuing to suspend operations in the Houston area until local emergency management agencies deem it safe to be on the roads as the region continues to grapple with the destruction and flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.

“Restoration crews remain on standby,” Comcast said, in a statement. “Once clearance is granted, Comcast's maintenance technicians will be dispatched to begin assessment and restoration efforts throughout the Greater Houston Area including Galveston, Liberty, Brazoria, Harris and Fort Bend Counties.”

Related:AT&T Deploys Portable Cell Sites, Charging Stations Following Hurricane Harvey | Verizon Offers Communications Help to Harvey-Affected Customers|T-Mobile Offering Free Data to Harvey-Affected Subs |More Cell Sites Out, Cable Outages From Harvey

 Comcast Houston’s Twitter handle noted that most service outages in the area are because of power outages:

Vast majority of our outages are due to power failures that affect our network. As power is restored our services typically are as well.

— Comcast Houston (@ComcastHouston) August 28, 2017

To help residents and emergency personnel stay connected, Comcast earlier this week opened access to more than 53,000 Xfinity WiFi hotspots in the Greater Houston area.

Comcast said it has extended open access to that WiFi network until September 8.

To gain access, Comcast high-speed internet customers need locate and select WiFi networks bearing the “xfinitywifi” SSID and then launch a browser.

Non-Comcast subs are advised to visit the “Not an XFINITY Internet Customer” section on the sign in page to get started.  Those non-subs will need to renew their complimentary session every two hours, Comcast said.

Producer Ryan Murphy is behind Half, an initiative within Ryan Murphy Television that aims to make Hollywood more inclusive by creating more opportunities for women and minorities behind the camera.

Less than one year after launching Half, Ryan Murphy Television’s director slate hired 60% women directors, and 94% met the minority requirement.

In collaboration with FX Networks and its chief, John Landgraf, the director slate increased from 12% female/diverse directors in 2015 to 51% in 2016 for the network.

“I love looking around my company and empowering inclusion in all departments,” Murphy said. “I recently led a production meeting and was proud to see that more than half of the people sitting at the table were women and minorities. That’s the way it should be.”

Murphy’s productions include American Crime Story, American Horror Story and Feud.

Related: More coverage of TV industry public service initiatives

Half launched a Directing Mentorship Program in which every director on every Ryan Murphy Television production mentors emerging directors through pre-production to post-production, along with offering a significant stipend for their commitment.

The Directing Mentorship Program had 29 participants in 2016 and has added 30 participants in 2017, providing more than $200,000 in financial aid to help cover travel, lodging and daycare for working mothers. Three participants in the Directing Program became first time episodic directors.

Related: Murphy Produces 'Scream Queens' Flood PSA

Half also has collaborated with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to create an internship program for under-represented youth in conjunction with the California Film Commission. Murphy joined Garcetti’s Advisory Board on the Entertainment Inclusion Fund.

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.

Kathryn Oakes, an operations manager for Cox Communications in Phoenix, has been named the most recent recipient of the Catherine Oakes Memorial Leadership Scholarship for Women.

The SCTE Foundation created the scholarship in 2013 to honor Catherine Oakes, the long-time SCTE executive who died suddenly on Nov. 16, 2013. 

RELATED: SCTE IDs First Catherine Oakes Scholarship Recipient

As the most recent scholarship honoree, Kathryn Oakes, who is no relation to the award’s namesake, was been awarded a grant of $3,500 to attend the WICT 2017 Rising Leaders Program for industry professionals at the manager or director level who have demonstrated their potential and their desire for leadership and career advancement.

Kathryn Oakes joined Cox as a residential services supervisor in 2003 and has served as an operations manager for the company’s business services unit for the past nine years.  Oakes leads a team of more than 30 employees and is a multiple winner of Cox’s Circle of Excellence Award.  An active member of WICT for the past eight years, she served two years as programming chair of WICT’s Southwest Chapter and currently is chapter president.  She received the Lucille Larkin Fellowship Award in 2014 for her contributions to the industry.

“Kathy holds her team accountable to metrics that allow us to exceed our customers’ expectations,” wrote Gayle Porterfield, director of operations for Cox Business Arizona, in a recommendation letter.  “She is respected among her peers and often volunteers to take on additional projects and assignments.  She’s implemented several process improvements that have saved our company thousands of dollars while simultaneously improving efficiencies. She holds her team and herself to the highest standards.”

“I enjoy learning about the technical aspect of our business,” said Oakes in her application.  “Attending the Rising Leaders Program will provide me new tools in my tool belt.  Winning this scholarship will help me to improve upon my technical knowledge of the telecom industry. Combining this essential knowledge with my current skill set will allow me to take the next step in my career.”

Kathryn Oakes’ scholarship application was among the submissions that were reviewed by past recipients of the Women in Technology Award, which is presented annually by the SCTE/ISBE, Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), and Cablefax.

To celebrate Black History Month, We tv is running a series of public service announcements (PSAs) featuring 10 African American members of Congress talking about who has inspired them most.

The PSAs will air on the network and be available on a microsite at WEtv.com. The site also features a photo gallery and alist of Black History Month events around the country.

The PSAs feature Senator Tim Scott and Representatives Alma Adams, Joyce Beatty, G.K. Butterfield, Yvette Clarke, Marcia Fudge, Robin Kelly, and Cedric Richmond. Also weighing in are Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. John Lewis.

Following a similar initiative that’s underway in the U.S., a group of Canadian  MVPDs and some of their key suppliers have inked a voluntary agreement that aims to improve the energy efficiency of set-top boxes.

The Canadian Energy Efficiency Voluntary Agreement (CEEVA) aims to reduce total annual energy consumption and avoid more than 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to more than 44,000 sub-compact new vehicles driving 15,000 kilometers per year.

On board with the voluntary program as signatories are Bell, Cogeco Communications, Rogers Communications, Shaw Communications, and Vidéotron, MVPDs that serve more than 88% of Canada’s pay TV market, along with two set-top makers – Arris and EchoStar Technologies.

Under the program, at least 90% of all new set-tops purchased starting this year are expected to meet the agreement’s energy efficiency standards, while also factoring in complementary measures such as the Energy Star program. That, they estimate, will reduce the total annual energy output of Canadian STBs from 3.4 terawatt hours in 2016 to 2.7 TWh in 2021.

They’ll keep track of the results via annual reporting and audit mechanisms.

Several other organizations and companies are also extending their support, including Natural Resources Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Energy, the BC Ministry of Energy and Mines, Quebec’s Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles, Manitoba’s Department of Growth, Enterprise and Trade, BC Hydro, Independent Electricity System Operator, Manitoba Hydro, SaskPower, and Hydro Québec, the Consumer Technology Association, CableLabs and CSA Group.

Several U.S. MVPDs forged a similar voluntary energy-saving agreement for set-tops in late 2012 and a cross-industry group announced the standards to be applied the following year. That was later followed by an agreement focused on routers, modems and other broadband equipment.

Great American Country on Dec. 13 will broadcast a benefit concert to aid those affected by the Tennessee wildfires, the network said Wednesday.

The three-hour telethon/concert, Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit For the My People Fund, will feature performances by Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers and Alison Krauss, according to GAC. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund, established by Parton in the wake of last week’s wildfires in Sevier Country, Tenn.

During the telethon, viewers will be asked to call 1-866-CARE MORE to donate to the My People Fund.

“My home in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee is some place special,” Parton said in a statement. “Wildfires have affected many of the people—my people—who live in those beautiful mountains. We want to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything in the fires. I know it has been a trying time for my people and this assistance will help get them back on their feet.”

Cartoon Network has created an advisory board to guide the channel's efforts to its promote STEAM education (STEM plus the arts) efforts.

As part of a three-year White House push to promote computer science education, Cartoon Network last January launched a $30 million initiative to get kids interested in computer codes and coding.

The network's new STEAM advisory board was billed as the latest initiative in that effort, others being teaming with MIT, DIY and Google to promote using computer coding to "express ideas, craft stories and make art."

Read more #CableInTheCommunity stories.

Named to the advisory board were DIY CEO Zach Klein; National Girls Collaborative CEO Karen Peterson; Mitch Resnick, a professor at MIT Media Lab; and Diana Skaar, head of business innovation for robotics at X (formerly Google[x]); and Mimi Ito, digital media professor at University of California Irvine.

“Cartoon Network’s unparalleled multiplatform reach uniquely positions us to meet kids where they are and find new ways to unlock their creativity through technology,” said Christina Miller, president of Cartoon Network, in announcing the board. “Now, with the leadership of this incredible group of dedicated visionaries, we will accelerate and expand our reach, fulfilling our goal of giving Plurals creative confidence to become the next generation of creators, animators and makers.”

Related > Distributor of the Year: Cox Communications

Cox Communications acted quickly when torrential rains drove massive floods that knocked out service and destroyed homes in its Louisiana service territory in August.

But it wasn’t the speed of restoring a downed headend or high-speed data service that impressed senior vice president and Southeast Region general manager Anthony Pope the most. That feeling would be reserved for the sacrifices and willingness to help others his employees showed during what some have called the biggest U.S. natural disaster since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

A stalled weather system dumped an unprecedented 31 inches of rain over parts of southern Louisiana from Aug. 11 to Aug. 14, causing massive flooding in about 20 of the state’s parishes. Numbers are still being tallied, but it’s estimated that in Baton Rouge alone, about 110,000 homes, 20,000 businesses and 300,000 people were affected by the floods. That’s in a community of about 850,000 residents.

Statewide, the damage toll has been estimated at about $20 billion. So far, 13 people have lost their lives as a result of the flooding.

Within two days of the flooding, Pope said Cox was able to get continuity and secure its employees, relocating those who needed it to hotels and helping workers get their lives back together so they could return to their jobs.

Those efforts spanned the Cox corporate family — Pope said Manheim, a wholesale vehicle auction company that is part of Cox Enterprises, came to the rescue when he mentioned that several employees had lost their vehicles in the flood and found it difficult to get to work. Within days, Manheim sent a trailer of vehicles to Louisiana, enabling carpools to get employees to and from their homes.

Pope also was able to get equipment that was slated for a Cox cable upgrade in California diverted to Louisiana to help in the repair efforts.

That team effort helped cut repair times. One headend that was under two feet of water and was estimated to be out of service for six weeks was back online within seven days, Pope said.

Cox was able to restore service to its customers within seven to 10 days after the floods. Every customer who has been able to return to their residence with power restored has cable service.

As Cox moved to repair its sunken plant, it also worked hard to give customers continued access to information — reaching deals with local broadcasters and cable networks to provide out-of-home access to programming via their phones and tablets. For customers who wanted to disconnect service while they waited to move back to their damaged residences, Cox offers a Storm Package, which gives them free continued access to their phone number and email addresses for up to 12 months.

Employees also found time to help each other out, too, Pope said.

Pope recalled one Cox employee who had been overseeing a group of technicians from the Central Region and mentioned, after one particularly long shift, that he was going home to work on his own home for the weekend. On the next day — their day off — about 10 Cox Central Region technicians showed up to remove drywall, rip out damaged carpet and make other repairs.

“They had worked six days, they were exhausted and tired,” Pope said. “They could have done anything they wanted to on their day off, and they chose to help a colleague that they didn’t know.”

Cox workers in need of financial assistance because of the disaster can tap into a relief fund started by employee contributions in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Cox has set aside about $1 million for this particular event, which can be used to help pay for personal items like toothbrushes, clothes and diapers for the kids (usually available within 48 to 72 hours). Grants were available for bigger-ticket items.

In the face of disaster, Cox employees continue to show dedication and resiliency, Pope added.

Timed with the back-to-school season, Comcast said Wednesday that Internet Essentials, the operator’s service for low-income families, now connects 750,000 families or about 3 million Americans.

Internet Essentials, originally a voluntary commitment linked to Comcast's acquisition of NBCUniversal and now entering its sixth year, provides high-speed Internet service (up to 10 Mbps downstream)  to those who qualify for $9.95 per month, plus subsidized computer equipment (less than $150 each) and free Internet training.

In July, Comcast inked a partnership with the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development’s ConnectHome initiative to expand Internet Essentials to about 2 million HUD-assisted homes within the MSO’s service territory. HUD says those homes account for about 40% of all its households.

David Cohen, SVP and chief diversity officer at Comcast, and Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, the new national spokesperson for Internet Essentials, announced the milestone Wednesday as they kicked off a multi-city tour that, over the next six weeks, will make stops in Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia, where it will also announce more than $2 million in grants to community organizations that provide digital literacy training and Internet access.

Comcast said it has invested more than $300 million in cash and in-kind support since the 2011 launch of Internet Essentials, including the broadcast of 8.5 million public service announcements, valued at nearly $110 million. It also estimates that it has distributed 54,000 subsidized computers and teamed with more than 9,000 community partners such as schools, school districts, elected officials, and businesses.

“In the last five years, we’ve learned that no single company or government program is ever going to fix the digital divide and that solving a big, difficult societal issue like this takes nothing short of a movement,” Cohen said in a statement. “We are so proud that thousands of community partners around the country have helped us make a meaningful dent in the digital divide.  With the recent announcement of our expansion to HUD-assisted homes, we look forward to bringing this essential connection to even more families over the next five years. There is still more good work to do.”

“I’ve dedicated my life to inspiring young people to have the confidence to succeed in both academics and athletics,” added Joyner-Kersee.  “At my foundation’s community center in East St. Louis, I’ve seen first-hand the kids who grow up without internet service at home and the impact it has on their futures.  I’m proud to represent Internet Essentials and help close the digital divide, so every child can have the chance to develop to their fullest potential and reach their dreams.”

The SCTE Foundation said it is accepting applications for the Catherine Oakes Memorial Leadership Scholarship for Women, which was created to honor the former SCTE SVP of operations who died in November 2013 and is awarded annually to provide educational opportunities for women “who aspire to become leaders in cable engineering or operations.”

The SCTE Foundation said it will award the grant of $3,500 to be used toward registration in an industry leadership development or executive education program, such as the SCTE/ISBE Leadership Institute at Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth or the SCTE/ISBE Leadership Institute at Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business.

Women applying for the scholarship must be members of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers or its global brand, the International Society of Broadband Experts (ISBE).  The application deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016.

Applications will be reviewed by past recipients of the Women in Technology Award. More detail about the program can be found here.

The inaugural recipient was Jeanie Warfield, product manager, video solutions for Time Warner Cable Business Class.

On Friday, June 17, during the Discovery Comunications“Discover Your Impact Day,” Adria Alpert Rommvisited four sites where employees in the Maryland area were volunteering their time to community organizations.

She started at the National Zooin Washington, D.C., where volunteers were cleaning habitats, and next went to a veterans’ home, where employees prepared a barbeque and cleaned World War IIera jets and tanks. “Then I went to a diaper bank,” she said, where Discovery folks helped package donated diapers that would later be delivered to needy families, and she visited an inner-city high school where employees helped to weed and prepare for planting a community garden.

MCN Slideshow: Photos From Discovery Communications's "Discover Your Impact Day"

“It’s always a great day for employees around the world,” Romm, the company’s chief human resources and global diversity officer, said of the seventh annual event, which draws about 4,200 employees into volunteer action.

Many end up doing a lot more with the organizations they get to know from their initial visit, and Discovery gives out grants of $3,000 to sites where an employee completes 30 hours of volunteer service. At the D.C.-area diaper bank, it was announced that a $9,000 grant had been awarded, which means three employees committed those 30 hours each. “It’s more than a day,” Romm observed.

Read more about Discovery's corporate social responsibility program and other companies' #CableInTheCommunity public service efforts.

Comcast says it is donating $1.5 million in airtime to run PSA's promoting the 2016 LGBT Equality Forum (equality.com).

Comcast is the lead sponsor of the three-day event, which is held during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia--Comcast is headquartered in Philadelphia.

The PSA is already airing across Comcast markets and will continue through the conference (the end of July).

The event includes legal and political panels, awards, and the dedication of two historic markers.

“We take great pride in our support of the LGBT community and of a diverse and inclusive workforce,” said David Cohen, senior Executive VP of Comcast as well as a special advisor to the Democratic National Convention (he is former top aide to former Philadelphia Democratic mayor (and later governor, Ed Rendell, who is chairing the 2016 Democratic convention. “Through the support of events like the Equality Forum, Comcast NBCUniversal continues to invest in creating a business culture where diverse perspectives and ideas help drive innovation.”

Cox Communications said it is backing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) ConnectHome initiative by extending the MSO’s Connect2Compete low-cost broadband offering to to any HUD-assisted household with school-age children in Cox's 18-state service area.

Cos said it’s the first ISP tied to ConnectHome umbrella to extend such an offering via its national footprint, estimating that the investment from Cox has the potential to help nearly 250,000 students who live in HUD-assisted homes. 

Cox said more than 160,000 people have been connected to the Internet through Cox's Connect2Compete plan since 2012. Connect2Compete service is $9.95 per month for eligible families, supporting downstream speeds up 10 Mbps, free in-home WiFi, free installation and free access to hotspots deployed by Cox and other members of the Cable WiFi consortium.

Cox president Pat Esser and HUD Secretary Julián Castro announced it today in Phoenix at the Phoenix Landing Apartments complex, along with Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and other community supporters. 

"Internet access is critical to education, job hunting, shopping and utilizing city services in the 21st century," said Mayor Greg Stanton, said in a statement. "I applaud this public-private partnership because we cannot afford to let any students and families in our community become marginalized because they lack access to the web."

"Technology and the Internet play an increasingly critical role in the education of our youth. Yet, students cannot take the Internet home in their backpacks," added Esser. "We are committed to staying at the forefront of the Internet adoption movement. Through strong partnerships in the communities we serve, we will build more bridges to enable all families to cross the digital divide, regardless of where they live."

"ConnectHome is expanding opportunity for our nation's next generation of inventors, CEOs and artists," Castro said. "Today's announcement will transform the lives of kids across the country, opening the door for students to live up to their full potential and not be limited in what they can achieve."

Comcast said it has opened the search for researchers and projects for the MSO’s Innovation Fund for 2016.

The fund, Comcast VP of Internet services Jason Livingood, noted in this blog post, applies a focus on broadband, security and open-source development.

During its history, Comcast’s Innovation  Fund (formerly called the Comcast Technology Research & Development Fund) has supported  62 projects from 10 countries, he noted. According to the 2015 annual report on the initiative, 19 grants were made last year for U.S.-based projects, and one each in France, Switzerland and Australia.

Livingood highlighted three 2015 projects in the post: The United States Telecommunications Training Institute’s (USTTI), which provides free information and communications technology (ICT) training to technology leaders in the developing world; TheFrench Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation’s (INRIA), which researches advanced trouble-shooting tools for home networks; and Georgia Tech, which is working to develop better firewall tools to help users spot and avoid malicious Domain Name System (DNS) activity.

“We specifically designed the fund to be a resource for researchers working on smaller projects that may not qualify for larger grant programs,” Livingood wrote.

The fund as backed by a $1 million commitment from several groups within Comcast in 2014 and 2015, and that level has been renewed for 2016, according to the annual report. Grants range from $3,000 to $100,000 or more, depending on the size and scope of the project.

Looking ahead, Livingood said the Innovation Fund is particularly interested in supporting projects that create or advance important open-source projects; address critical cybersecurity threats and issues; advance the deployment and adoption of IPv6, DNSSEC, and DANE; identify performance bottlenecks and other issues in home networks; explore the performance and security-related issues in home networks; and advance understanding of the Internet of Things.

“We’ve begun funding projects for 2016, but still have a lot of opportunity to support good projects. And if we see a worthy project that we can’t fit in this year, we will put it up for consideration in 2017,” Livingood wrote. 

Dish Network, in a move that hints that there is nothing as lovely as an existing customer who selects paperless billing, has joined forces with conservation group American Forests to plant a tree for every subscriber who chooses that option during the month of April.

The initiative is part of the satellite TV service provider’s celebration of Earth Month. Dish’s eBill option allows customers to receive their bill online rather than in the mail.

"We look forward to working with Dish and its customers to plant thousands of trees together this year," said Lea Sloan, VP of Communications at American Forests in a statement. "This initiative helps minimize waste, and contributes to the restoration and preservation of forestland in the United States."

Through this campaign, Dish and its customers will help American Forests toward its goal of planting 2.5 million trees in 2016. In the coming months, hundreds of volunteers will take part in planting a variety of native species to restore forest ecosystems.

As of Dec. 31, Dish had about 14 million satellite TV customers.

"This initiative is a win for customers, Dish and the environment. Customers benefit from enhanced data privacy and a simplified billing experience, Dish reduces its paper use and billing costs, and trees are planted to help preserve important forest areas in the United States," said Dish chief operating officer Erik Carlson in a statement. "This is a wonderful opportunity to engage Dish customers in our sustainability efforts and make a positive impact on the environment."

The Earth Month campaign is part of the company's corporate citizenship program, Dish Cares and customers customers interested in signing up for eBill this month can do so by visiting mydish.com/mypreferences.

The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE), the SCTE Foundation, and Comcast have teamed with and Georgia Tech Professional Education (GTPE) on a pilot training program designed to bring cable telecommunications career opportunities to transitioning members of the armed forces.

They said Comcast has entered into a pilot training partnership with GTPE’s Veterans Education Training and Transition (VET2) program to recruit and train two initial groups of up to 20 participants each for cable telecommunications engineering careers.

The program, they said, is utilizing the training resources of SCTE and its global arm, the International Society of Broadband Experts (ISBE).  Training will be funded by a grant from the SCTE Foundation.

The seven-month process includes student selection and pre-certification, self-paced SCTE/ISBE online training, and an internship that combines academics and practical experience. Up to 40 participants with multiple years of military experience in communications or IT-related areas will be selected.

Initial student screening and pre-certification are being conducted by Georgia Tech Professional Education for service members residing in close proximity to Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart and Warner Robins Air Force Base. Beginning in Q2 2016, students in the first class will complete SCTE/ISBE online training and certification for one of two tracks:  Field Technician, which requires attainment of SCTE/ISBE Broadband Premises Installer (BPI) certification, or Headend Technician, which requires attainment of SCTE/ISBE Broadband TelecomCenter Specialist (BTCS) certification. 

Launched in 2013, VET2 maintains a 100% job offer rate for service members completing the program, they said.

Comcast is using the program to identify, engage and offer training and internship opportunities to high-potential transitioning service members, enabling new career paths for program participants and a source of highly trained individuals for the cable workforce.

“We are thrilled to partner with these respected organizations to connect with military talent early in the transition process,” said Carol Eggert, vice president, military and veteran affairs for Comcast and Brigadier General (R), U.S. Army.  “These highly motivated, talented participants will have the chance to explore exciting career paths in our industry, and we look forward to the opportunity to have them join our team.”

“Georgia Tech has a 130-year history supporting veterans in our community,” added Dr. James Wilburn, director of military academic programs at Georgia Tech Professional Education. “This program brings together a major employer that shares our commitment to veterans, industry-leading technical and workforce education, and the funding needed to streamline that process for participants.”

“Our military veterans represent a deep pool of highly skilled, well-trained talent that would be a tremendous asset to cable,” said Mark Dzuban, president and CEO of SCTE/ISBE.  “Our hat is off to Comcast for working with Georgia Tech Professional Education, the SCTE Foundation and SCTE/ISBE to show how the vast resources of our industry and its training partners can help these dedicated men and women transition their military training to new civilian careers.”

“As consumers depend increasingly on technology for all of their entertainment and communications needs, our need for world-class technical skills is growing,” said Mark Hess, president of the SCTE Foundation and senior vice president, business and industry affairs for Comcast Cable.  “The SCTE Foundation’s support for VET2 will help our industry meet that need while at the same time helping our military men and women to make the transition to civilian careers.”

Paramount Pictures will be promoting its upcoming film Zoolander 2 across NBCUniversal platforms with a campaign that spoofs NBC’s “The More You Know” PSA campaign.

Created by NBCU’s in-house Content Innovation Agency, the parody ads feature Ben Stiller, who plays male model Derek Zoolander in PSAs pushing the message “The Outside Matters,” emphasizing the importance of appearance.

The spots — tailored to fit each NBCU network’s audience — will appear on NBC, USA, Bravo, E! and Telemundo, as well as on those networks’ digital and social platforms.

“The combination of the renowned ‘The More You Know’ campaign and Zoolander’s cultural legacy were a natural fit and will make you think about this venerable campaign in wholly new ways,” said Steve Siskind, president of domestic marketing at Paramount Pictures.

Read more, and watch the #TheOutsideMatters video, at broadcastingcable.com.

An app that New York City, among other metros, should look into was named Fan Favorite in Verizon's fourth annual Innovative App Challenge. POP, designed with urban and suburban communities in mind, aims to "Protect Our Parks," enabling citizens to send real-time alerts to city park officials when they spot needed clean-ups, repairs or other issues.

Interested city governments would have to negotiate with a tough crew, however: a team of students from Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Wyandotte, Mich. The Fan Favorite developers (based on 150,000 votes cast) were recognized last week alongside eight Best in Nation teams for creating mobile app concepts that aimed to solve a problem (like dirty or unsafe parks) in their schools or communities.

The winning teams – selected by a panel of judges assembled by the Student Technology Association – now get to work with experts from the MIT Media Lab to bring their concepts to fruition. They also earned donations of $20,000 to their sponsoring organization from the Verizon Foundation, to be used for STEM-related programs. The 2016 Innovative App Challenge begins in August.

In another STEM-driven program announced by a media company last week, Cartoon Network said it is launching a $30 million initiative to get kids interested in computer coding. The network will create STEM-inspired storylines involving coders and coding for Powerpuff Girls and another series (to be named later) and will also produce coding tutorials for kids age 6-11 featuring the two series’ characters. Cartoon is creating the tutorials in partnership with Scratch, a project from the MIT Media Lab and the Scratch Foundation.

Cartoon’s initiative is among the privately funded projects surrounding a three-year White House push to promote computer science education. "We've been doing a large amount of work with Hollywood and other media around the portrayal of who does this [computer] work," U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith said. "Many young people are not aware that computer science was founded by a broad set of people..."

Like the creators of POP.

Separately, in a demonstration of the "local" in local systems, Comcast employees in Flint, Mich., have been distributing water filters and holding bottled water drives to provide clean drinking water to their neighbors affected by the community's lead contamination crisis. The MSO has about 127 employees working in Flint, including 58 who live in the city.

Since Jan. 25 the MSO's local Flint service center and some 80 field service technicians have been handing out state-provided water filters to residents; they collectively distributed about 600 filters within the first three days.

Additionally, in what Tom Collins, senior VP for Comcast's Heartland Region described in a blog post as a "full court press," Comcast is holding a bottled water drive among its 4,000 employees across Michgan, and company techs are delivering the donations to Flint. The hands-on efforts are being supported by special content on a newly created local On Demand channel called "Flint Water" as well as Comcast-produced PSAs.

As part of a three-year White House push to promote computer science education, Cartoon Network is launching a $30 million initiative to get kids interested in computer codes and coding.

As part of his new budget, being unveiled in early February, the President today (Jan. 30) unveiled a plan to provide $4 billion in funding to staes and another $100 million directly to school districts for training teachers and expanding access to instructional materials.

That will dovetail with Administration efforts to get high-speed broadband to schools and libraries.

But in addition to that funding, White House officials announced a number of private sector efforts to boost computer science education, citing Cartoon in a conference call with reporters.

Cartoon is putting its toons to work for the cause by adding working computer coding themes into two of its long-form series, Powerpuff Girls and a series to be named later.

The shows will include storylines and characters that encourage an interest in STEM education. "We've been doing a large amount of work with Hollywood and other media around the portrayal of who does this [computer] work," said U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith. "Many young people are not aware that computer science was founded by a broad set of people..."

In partnership with Scratch, a project from the MIT Media Lab, and the Scratch Foundation, Cartoon will also create coding tutorials that use characters from both series and targeting kids 6-11.

Cartoon will be building on its December launch of three coding tutorials featuring characters from its We Care Bears as part of Computer Science Education Week.

To help guide the effort, Cartoon is also forming an advisory board that will include Mitchel Resnick, LEGO Papert Professor of Learning Research and Director of the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab.

“This generation of kids is incredibly creative and inventive, and we're inspired by them every day," Christina Miller, president and general manager, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang, told Multichannel News. "Computer literacy and learning to code are vitally important skills that foster creativity and self-expression. With this long-term commitment, we will leverage our brands and platforms to drive awareness for coding and provide access to the necessary tools for kids everywhere. The result, we hope, is that we help inspire the next generation as much as they inspire us."

Comcast has quietly stepped up to the plate to help those affected by the contaminated water crisis in Flint, Mich., providing residents with water filters and holding bottled water drives to provide clean drinking water for homes in its service territory.

The city of Flint has been under a public health emergency after it was found that improper treatment allowed large amounts of lead from city pipes to leach into the water supply. Flint had switched its water source from Detroit’s water system to the Flint River in April 2014 in an effort to save money. Critics have pointed out that complaints from residents to the state fell on deaf ears for months, with some alleging that Flint’s high poverty rate and largely minority population was a factor in the state’s inaction. On Friday Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed a law approving a $28 million round of emergency funding to address the problem. It was the second round of funding since the state identified the crisis in the fall, with the total now reaching $39 million.

Comcast has about 127 employees working in Flint, 58 who live in the city. The company began handing out state-provided water filters to residents through its service technicians and its Flint service center on Jan. 25. About 80 Comcast vehicles are carrying the filters, and as of Jan. 28 about 600 filters have been distributed.

The cable company also has made Public Service Announcements available explaining where residents can get resources and information; established a special On Demand section on its cable system in the area called "Flint Water" that includes a video on how to install the filter and a PSA so customers have easy access to valuable information.

Comcast also is holding its own bottled water drive for its 4,000-plus Michigan employees and company techs are delivering donations to Flint. The company also has opened up its WiFi hotspots in Flint for the next 30 days to allow emergency personnel and volunteers to use the network to communicate with each other and to track any necessary data.

In a blog posting, Comcast senior vice president for the Heartland Region Tom Collins called the efforts a “full-court press.”

“Part of what makes Comcast such a special place to work is our employees’ unwavering commitment to their communities,” Collins said in the blog post. “They exemplify this every year during our Comcast Cares Day when we all come together with our families, friends and community partners around the world to volunteer and make change happen in our local communities.

“Just as importantly, when our communities need us the most Comcasters rise to the occasion to make a difference,” he continued. “We’ll continue to look for opportunities to help out in Flint.”

Diversity organization Emma Bowen Foundation is teaming up with TLC on the cable’s network’s fifth annual Say Yes to the Prom initiative, which provides a full prom experience to high school girls around the country.

TLC will offer internship opportunities to college-aged students of color participating in the Emma Bowen program as part of its Say Yes To The Prom program.  In 2016 the network will conduct its SYTTP initiative in five cities around the country, with Discovery employees pairing up with high school girls to help them prepare for their proms, said TLC executives.

“Welcoming the Emma Bowen Foundation as a national partner for this year’s Say Yes to the Prom initiative is an extension of a long-time partnership that Discovery has had with the organization and something that will ultimately further our commitment to diversity and inclusion and make an even greater and longer-lasting impact on this year’s deserving prom participants,” said Adria Alpert Romm, Chief Human Resources and Global Diversity Officer, Discovery Communications.

Added Emma L. Bowen Foundation President and CEO Rahsaan Harris: “We applaud Discovery’s commitment and look forward to working alongside them to tap into this diverse pool of talented program participants to create an inclusive and innovative workforce.”

Time Warner Cable said it plans to reduce its carbon intensity by 30% by the end of 2016.

Tied in, the MSO said it measures all three emissions scopes laid out by Greenhouse Gas (GHG) protocol, a broadly used international accounting tool to manage greenhouse gas emissions. TWC will assess its carbon intensity starting early 2015 and focus reduction efforts on fleet management and energy efficiency.

Earlier this year, TWC said it had achieved a 38% carbon intensity reduction, surpassing a 15% two-year goal set in 2012.

The new goal includes a plan to invest in fuel efficient vehicles and continue strategic partnerships such as EPA Clean Cities Clean Fleets. In addition, the company will aim to reduce cooling power consumption, pursue LEED elements in all new buildings and seek new renewable energy opportunities.

Also by 2016, TWC plans to complete its first Water Footprint Analysis with the goal of developing a water-usage reduction plan.

"TWC had great results in our previous goal to reduce carbon intensity so we’ve doubled our goal to 30 percent for 2015 through 2016,” said David Flessas, Time Warner Cable’s SVP of network operations and executive lead of TWC’s Go Green initiative. "TWC is committed to making a positive impact on our environment and will continue to raise awareness about sustainability and environmental issues. We’re excited about the new goal and look forward to bolstering our efforts in the green space.”

Separately, the SCTE’s Energy 2020 initiative has established targets that include a 20% reduction of power consumption a unit basis, a 25% reduction in energy costs on a unit basis, a 10% reduction of grid dependency and an optimization of technical facility and data center footprints by 20%

USA Network has awarded 10 individuals with its annual 2015 USA Unites Awards for improving lives and strengthening their communities, the network said Monday.

The awards, sponsored by USA Network and local cable operators, are given to individuals who are working within their communities to confront the social injustices and cultural divides still prevalent in our society, according to network officials.

“From confronting social justice issues, to providing youth and adults with greater opportunities to learn and succeed, each of the unsung heroes being recognized is working diligently to make their communities safer, stronger, and more unified,” said Mac Budill, President, NBCUniversal TV Networks Distribution. “We are proud to continue our partnership with our distributors to recognize all of the incredible work these leaders accomplish.”

Each honoree will be acknowledged during hometown award ceremonies and will receive $5,000 grants from USA and participating distributors to support their projects or related nonprofit organizations. USA and distributors will also pay tribute to the Award winners on-air in a public service announcement, online at usaunites.com and on social media, according to the network.

The 2015 USA Unites Award Recipients, including hometowns and local cable company sponsors, are as follows:

--Kevin Cameron, Sacramento, CA (Comcast), the founder of Alpha K9, an organization that trains service dogs to assist veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

--Emersyn Harris, Alexandria, MN (Charter), the founder of Cards for Kids, which help comfort children suffering from an illness through visits to nursing homes, volunteering at local hospitals and pet shelters and ringing the bell for Salvation Army during holidays.

--Todd Lipa, Farmington, MI (Bright House Networks), Program Director, City of Farmington Hills After School Youth Center Program, an organization which now oversees five youth centers servicing more than 300 youths each day.

--Elia Moreno, Canyon, TX (Suddenlink), Community Engagement Manager for Cal Farley’s, one of America's largest privately funded child and family support providers specializing in both residential and community based services.  She also serves as the Director of Community Outreach for the No Excuses University Network of Schools, a growing network of 250 schools that promote college readiness for all students, especially those living in poverty, and has also authored Living Intentionally, a book that depicts her own personal journey.

--Janet Peery, Oklahoma City, OK (Cox Communications), CEO, YWCA Oklahoma City where she has been instrumental in establishing the YWCA as a leading provider of domestic violence and sexual assault services in Oklahoma.

--Jamie Raab, Springfield, MO (Mediacom) Director of Community-Based Services, GEM’s-Greene County Juvenile Office, which looks to promote healthy relationships, to focus on gratitude and positive community engagement, and to boost self-esteem in girls who are participating in services through the office, and to invoke a sense of hope into young girls in the community.

--Pastor Charlie Muller, Rensselaer, NY (Time Warner Cable), Founder, CURE Foundation and ENOUGH Initiative, an anti-gun violence program that was launched after the death of a young girl in his community. More than 450 guns were collected after Muller offered every teen a gift card to local malls to relinquish their weapon, leading to a severe drop in the occurrence of gun violence in Albany.

--Kathy Riddle, Larchmont, NY (Cablevision), President/CEO and Co-Founder, Outreach, a non-profit agency deeply committed to making a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities affected by substance abuse.

--Kayla Dawn Begay, Navajo, NM, Founder, Dził Ditł'ooí School of Empowerment, Action and Perseverance, a charter school focusd on college and career readiness through an indigenous core of Navajo empowerment, experiential learning through agriculture, wellness, community leadership, and service learning.

--Kirk Johnson, Phoenix, AZ, Executive Director and Founder, SOUNDS (Students Opening Up New Doors with Strings) Academy, which mentors and provides musical experiences and opportunities for underserved youth in Phoenix.

Voting began this week to select the American Humane Association's American Hero Dog for 2015 after 1 million online votes winnowed a field of about 170 courageous canines down to eight finalists this spring.

The finalists will be featured in a Hallmark Channel special this fall; Hallmark has been a sponsor of the event since it launched in 2011.

Each of the eight dogs has an animal-related charity partner that was awarded $2,500; the winner's charity will also receive an additional $5,000.

You can vote for your favorite four-legged finalist once a day through Sept. 7 to help choose this year's Hero Dog. The winner will be announced at a red carpet gala for the finalists on Sept. 19 (which Hallmark Channel will cover in its special).

If you can read the stories of these eight dogs without feeling compelled to cast a vote, well, more power to ya. From a puppy mill dog that lived in a cage until it was 10 years old and then became an effective "spokesdog" for animal rescue to the "battle buddy" who helps a veteran suffering from PTSD manage his daily life, they all surprise and inspire. Check them out -- and vote -- at www.HeroDogAwards.org.

Following is the American Humane Association's descriptions of the eight finalists, listed by category. The Lois Pope LIFE Foundation is the initiative's presenting sponsor.

Arson Dogs: Glory (Charity Partner: Project Paws Alive; Sponsor: State Farm)
Glory, Evansville, Wisc., is a certified accelerant detection canine, trained to sniff out minute traces of hydrocarbon-based accelerants and combat the growing problem of intentionally set fires. While her team does the majority of their work around their home base in Beloit, Wisc., they are also called to investigate fires anywhere within the state, neighboring states and around the country. According to her team, Glory's keen senses go far beyond detecting accelerants. With firefighters and paramedics dealing with situations that affect them emotionally, she has the ability to sense who is having a rough day and will spend time with them, which helps relieve their stress. Public education is also a large part of the job, and Glory and her handler visit schools, clubs, and organizations, to teach people about fire safety, fire prevention, and arson awareness.

Emerging Hero Dogs: Harley (Charity Partner: New Leash on Life; Sponsor: Merial)
Harley, Berthoud, Colo., spent 10 years living in a small cage in a puppy mill before he was rescued and found a loving home. His journey of physical and emotional healing inspired a campaign called "Harley to the Rescue," which has raised the funds to save (and provide medical care for) more than 500 dogs from puppy mills over the past two years. Harley personally goes on these rescue missions; and there is no doubt Harley is keenly aware of what is happening! There is something indescribable in the way he communicates with the sad and scared dogs. As a spokes-dog against puppy mills, Harley has educated thousands of people, of all ages, about the horrors of the commercial dog breeding industry.  Harley makes public appearances at events and schools where he gladly accepts love and attention from everyone. Harley's grizzled appearance is a testament to the care and nurturing that he had never received. He had issues: a diseased heart, a mouth filled with rot, a fused spine, a broken tail, gnarled toes, and legs that were deformed. And then there is the missing eye as the result of his cage being power-washed with him in it (an all too common practice in puppy mills). All of these conditions were the result of years of horrendous neglect and abuse. Harley is a voice for the thousands of breeding dogs still living in puppy mills, and by winning the Emerging Hero Dog Award it will draw attention to help further his mission.

Guide/Hearing Dogs: Chara (Charity Partner: Guide Dog Users Inc.)
Chara, Waynesboro, Va., was originally trained as a signal service dog. However, due to a work accident in 2008, her handler developed a neurological condition known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy type II with Dystonia. Thanks to the bond between handler and dog, Chara has trained herself to depict impending myoclonic dystonic attacks (15-45 minutes before episodes). This newfound "alerting" skill was formed not just with her handler. Two weeks after her handler gave birth to her son, he developed a severe cold. Unknown to his mom (who is also hearing impaired), he stopped breathing. Chara alerted her that something was terribly wrong and if it was not for her quick response and love for her newest pack member, the boy would have succumbed to a condition known as SIDS. Chara has gone beyond her original skills of hearing dog and is now considered by her family to be their furry guardian angel who watches over everyone and everything.  

Law Enforcement Dogs: Dax (Charity Partner: K9s4COPS)
Dax, Ashland, Mass., saved his human partner, Officer Chris Alberini, from being shot by climbing into an attic where a suspect was hiding with a shotgun. On July 2, 2013 the team was called to assist in the search for the suspect, who had an active arrest warrant. Officer Alberini called into the house the suspect had entered and told him to come out or he would send in Dax. When no one responded, they started to search the house. Dax found a ceiling hatch leading to an attic and alerted his companion, who yelled up to the suspect to come down. The man did not respond. Officer Alberini hoisted Dax into the attic, where he bit the suspect's leg. Officer Alberini followed, carrying a flashlight and found Dax fighting with the suspect. When the man started reaching for a shotgun by his left side, Officer Alberini began fighting for the weapon and then drew his service weapon and shot the suspect twice. The man would have likely fired at Officer Alberini immediately if Dax had not gone into the attic first. Investigators later learned that the suspect had texted his attorney and girlfriend about killing police.

Military Dogs: Rambo (Charity Partner: America's VetDogs, the Veteran's K-9 Corps; Sponsor: Zoetis RIMADYL K-9 Courage Program®)
Rambo, Converse, Texas (also known as Sgt. Rambo), served in the Marine Corps from January 2011-April 2012 as an explosive detection MWD based out of Cherry Point, N.C. While on active duty, Rambo conducted 994 hours of training and 622 missions on base and in his local community. Rambo was medically retired due to a left shoulder injury and in November 2012 had to have that limb amputated. Rambo has gone on to be Alamo Honor Flight's mascot, accompanying countless World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., and even having the honor of meeting Senator and Mrs. Bob Dole, serving as the official ambassador for the Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act, and attending press conferences with both Congressman Walter Jones of North Carolina and Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Rambo is currently the mascot for Gizmo's Gift, a Texas nonprofit that offers financial support to families who adopt a retired working dog. While visiting local nursing homes he is able to bring love and life to the residents who suffer with dementia. He visits youth groups during the summer and brings hope to children with special needs.

Search and Rescue Dogs: Glory (Charity Partner: National Search Dog Alliance)
Glory, Sun Valley, Calif., is an eight-year-old Bloodhound who has been trained and certified to track lost pets. During her long and successful career, she has helped bring closure to hundreds of families. Glory works in extreme temperatures and under difficult conditions and is devoted to her work, as several relieved pet owners can attest: "We were terrified," said Stephanie, the owner of a lost cat, Pistol. "Pistol was gone from our front yard and we had no idea where to look. When Glory led to the freeway and wanted to cross, I couldn't believe it. But Glory was right, and we had Pistol back that same afternoon – Pistol had crossed the 101 freeway and was right across from where Glory indicated." "How does one even put words to an experience of knowing we may never have seen Paisley again?" said the owner of a Yorkshire lost for three days. "Without Glory's devotion to her work, we wouldn't be sitting here with Paisley tonight." "When I received the devastating news Goldie was missing, I spent six nights walking through the area and calling into a megaphone, put up 300 posters and offered a $1,000 reward," said Derek, the owner of a lost Pomeranian. "Goldie was lost 60 miles away with no food or water – it was more than my family could bear. Our hearts were broken. At nine days missing Glory found Goldie alive under crates in an outdoor factory."

Service Dogs: Axel (Charity Partner: Dogs on Deployment; Sponsor: Modern Dog magazine)
Axel, Fredericksburg, Va., three years ago changed the day-to-day life of retired Marines Captain Jason Haag. In 2010, Captain Haag was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury after returning from two combat tours in the Middle East. When he finally made it home, he was in a constant state of severe depression and mental agony. He struggled with alcohol abuse and took more than 30 medications to deal with his debilitating symptoms. In 2012, his wife urged him to reach out to K9s for Warriors, an organization that provides veterans with service canines, which is how he met who he calls his "lifesaver," a German shepherd named Axel. On deployment, every soldier is paired up with a battle buddy, and these days his battle buddy is not another Marine, but Axel. Day in and day out, Axel is by his side, ensuring that he is in a constant state of peace and not fear. Sometimes all it takes is a little nudge from Axel to remind him that he is out of the combat zone. Other times, Axel goes into full activation mode, using his training to remove Captain Haag from an environment when a severe panic attack has begun. When he met Axel, the dog was one week away from being put down, sleeping on a shelter floor while Captain Haag was sleeping in his basement with a gun under his pillow. Now Captain Haag shares a bed with his "big, furry security blanket."

Therapy Dogs: Hudson the Railroad Puppy (Charity Partner: Hand in Paw)
Hudson, Castleton, N.Y.,  at just three weeks old, was found with two of his siblings nailed to the railroad tracks in Albany, N.Y., and his paw had been cut off. After lifesaving treatment for Hudson and Pearl (sadly, their sister Carina did not make it) they became known as the "Railroad Puppies." After several surgeries it was decided that Hudson was a great candidate for a prosthetic limb, and he became one of the first dogs in New York State to be fitted with a prosthetic paw. After being adopted, Hudson's family knew he was special, and could do great things and spread awareness about animal cruelty; they had him trained to be a therapy dog. Now he visits schools, hospitals and adult day care facilities. Hudson and his humans are also now hospice volunteers, visiting with patients and their families. The team teaches children and everyone they meet that just because you are different, you are still special in your own "Wooftastic" way. Hudson the Railroad Puppy brings smiles to everyone he meets and is changing hearts and minds about the pit bull breed one person at a time.

Meg Lowe, an industry veteran of 20-plus years with positions in affiliate sales and marketing at both Viacom and most recently Discovery/OWN, suffered a terrible cycling accident over Memorial Day weekend. She sustained a fracture to her C5 and C6 vertebrae as well as serious injuries to her face and jaw, friends helping her with her recovery said.

After seven weeks of hospitalization and rehab, friends say, Lowe is making progress, although her road to recovery will continue to be long and challenging. Donations to help support her ongoing care can be made, and updates on her recovery received, at http://www.gofundme.com/megstaystrong. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than $17,000 had been donated.

Cable network Destination America will host Fourth of July celebrations this weekend in the communities of Waveland, Miss., and Oroville, Calif., which were selected from a pool of 2,600 entrants in the network's third annual Red, White and You contest.

The network created the holiday-linked public service initiative in 2013 as its contribution to Discovery Impact, Discovery Communications's corporate social responsibility program, which challenged each of the programmer's networks to come up with their own community service efforts.

For both communities the weekend will mark the return of Independence Day fireworks following years of difficulties.

Waveland is a Gulf Coast beach town that just barely survived 1969's Hurricane Camille (which Southerners along the coast still speak about in hushed tones) only to become the ground zero of 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

Ten years later, Waveland, with a population of less than 6,500, is still recovering from the devastating storm, having just reopened its iconic pier on June 20. The Waveland Police Department said it was preparing for a crowd of 15,000 to 30,000 people for the $50,000 July 4th spectacular, according to local news reports.

"I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of rebuilding since Katrina than to have this celebration,” said Mayor Mike Smith of Waveland. "Our people are very resilient, but this will help in the healing process."

Oroville, dubbed the City of Gold for its role during the California Gold Rush, today is one of the leading water sources for the entire state but is at only 44% capacity, according to a photo essay at the San Francisco Chronicle's website. With the still ongoing statewide drought and other local economic challenges, fireworks traditionally displayed from atop the Oroville Dam have been canceled the last several summers.

Destination America's Red, White and You initiative will restore that grand tradition in the seat of Butte County, where personal possession and use of fireworks are banned outside the city limits, in unincorporated areas of the county, according to the local Gridley Herald.

"[T]he California drought has been difficult for everyone, including us," said Oroville Mayor Linda Dahlmeier. "This 4th of July celebration will encourage our community and remind us of our rich history.”

The two communities' "stories of recovery and resilience" piqued the network's interest, Marc Etkind, Destination America GM, said, adding, "[T]heir incredible display of hometown pride and American spirit are what makes them especially deserving."

Communities that have won the Destination America contest in the past include 2014 grand prize winners Prescott, Ariz., a town still recovering from the wildfires that claimed the lives of 19 firefighters, and Hamtramck, Mich., a city making a comeback from economic hard times. The inaugural 2013 winners were Union Beach, N.J., a Jersey Shore town hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, and Fayetteville, N.C., a community that enthusiastically supports its military partners at Fort Bragg.

“Independence Day is a time to bring communities together," Etkind said, "and Destination America is privileged to support these towns as they honor their pasts while working hard to ensure a bright future.”

Destination America launched this year's contest in March. The winning submissions came from residents of each community; they are reprinted below.

Waveland, Miss. – Nominated by Donna Estopinal
It's been almost 10 years since Hurricane Katrina attacked Waveland, MS leaving our beautiful city in ruins.  She did not attack a few, the entire city was affected.  Not only did she put people out of work, she also put them out of their homes.  Many people were forced to move away leaving their dreams behind to start over somewhere else.  Those who stayed were determined to rebuild not just their homes but our beautiful city as well.  Waveland is coming back stronger and better than before.  Our pier will be open soon, our veterans' memorial is more beautiful than before and on and on.  We are recovering and moving forward slow but sure.  Everyone in the City of Waveland works hard everyday.  What better place to show off our determination in rebuilding than Waveland, Ms by having a "Red, White and You" celebration, fireworks and all!

Oroville, Calif. – Nominated by Deliah Robison
Oroville, CA deserves a wonderful 4th of July celebration. Oroville, named the City of Gold, is a historical point for the gold rush. Oroville is home to one of the largest dams. Many retired military Veterans reside here. It means a lot to those families and their community to celebrate and remember what their service was for. In the past, our town hosted a large fireworks show from the dam, but the costs have become too high in many previous years. Last year, they ran many fundraisers to host the fireworks show. It would mean a lot to our town to be able to celebrate without cutting back or having to run numerous fundraisers. We have many access points and can even host neighboring towns by opening our state parks and marinas for more places to watch the fireworks. Please consider our town.

Discovery Communications CEO David Zaslav has received many honors and financial rewards during his tenure at the programming giant. Yet this past week (June 24), during a Discovery 30th-anniversary celebration at New York’s Paley Center for Media, Zaslav received a unique honor, courtesy of Discovery’s Australian first family of wildlife conservation, the Irwins.

The family of late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin said it will name the largest crocodile it captures after Zaslav as part of its annual crocodile research excursion, during which the family captures and tags the creatures to get a closer look at their habits.

Irwin’s wife, Terri; their 16-year-old daughter, Bindi (who starred in Bindi the Jungle Girl on Discovery Kids) and their 11-year-old son, Robert, told a crowd of luminaries, Discovery executives and reporters about their plans during a panel session hosted by On the Case host Paula Zahn.

“We’re going to catch the biggest and most incredible crocodile and we’re going to name the crocodile David Zaslav,” little Robert Irwin enthusiastically stated.

Added Terri: “We’ll know what [crocodile David] has been eating and how long he holds his breath.”

Joining the Irwins on the panel were Stacey London, star of TLC’s Love Lust or Run, and Sig Hansen, star of Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch. Hansen discussed Discovery’s big risk in giving a platform to high-stakes crab fishing, and the celebrity that the show has brought him and his crew.

Hansen recalled a chance meeting with a New York insurance company CEO earlier that evening outside of the Paley Center who was enamored with meeting the veteran fisherman. “He asked if he could come fish with us and I said get the hell out of here,” Hansen said, igniting a roar of laughter from the crowd.

London, who helped spearhead the fashion makeover genre with TLC’s iconic reality series What Not to Wear, was less than enthusiastic when posed with a request from Hansen to give makeovers to him and his grizzled fishing crew. London jokingly adding that their wardrobe was “not that bad.”

Later that evening, Zaslav expressed to The Wire his personal thoughts on Discovery’s 30th anniversary, saying that he entered the cable business “because of Discovery and [Discovery founder] John Hendricks. Thirty years later I’m at the helm of, I think, the greatest brand on cable.”

— R. Thomas Umstead

Searching for a Hero To Wear a Bandanna In Crowther’s Honor

American Heroes Channel will look to live up to its name by saluting everyday heroes as part its Red Bandanna Hero Award competition, in partnership with USA Today and the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust.

The competition, which launched earlier this month, will span America in search of an everyday hero who exemplifies the American spirit, in recognition of Welles Remy Crowther, a 24-year-old equities trader who saved as many as 12 people before dying during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center.

The 60 million-subscriber channel and its partners will honor the ultimate winner of the Red Bandanna Hero Award with a $10,000 donation to the charitable organization of the winner’s choosing, as well as a trip for two to attend the Boston College Red Bandanna Game on Sept. 18.

The game was created to honor Crowther, who attended the university and played lacrosse there, wearing a bandanna under his helmet.

Along with the charitable donation, AHC will create a “Hero Moment” video about the winner that will air on the network and online at ahctv.com.

AHC kicked off its search for America’s Red Bandanna Hero Award winner at the Country Music Awards Festival in Nashville June 13-14. The network transformed the streets of Nashville with giveaways of #WhosYourHero red bandannas, network officials said.

The network has also teamed with select minor-league baseball teams to host special “Red Bandanna” games, where attendees will receive a #WhosYourHero bandanna.

“It’s with great humility and gratitude to their service that we create the Red Bandanna Hero Award in Welles’ memory, to provide Americans everywhere with the opportunity to recognize those like him who answered the call despite insurmountable odds,” Kevin Bennett, general manager of American Heroes Channel, told The Wire.

— R. Thomas Umstead

FCC Briefing Schedule Is Like Feuding Cats With a Lot to Say

Put feuding cats in a legal sack and you get a briefing schedule. Or something like that.

Both sides of the legal challenge to the Federal Communications Commission’s new network-neutrality rules — more like three or four sides — have gotten together to propose a briefing schedule they say would allow for oral argument before the end of the year.

Those self-described “separate and conflicting” challengers included Internet service providers challenging Title II reclassification but not the bright-line rules; a voice-over-IP pioneer who is challenging the bright lines; and government officials defending both. Then there is the group challenging the rules because they did not go far enough, as well as the “multiple amici with divergent views and interests to file on all sides of the case.” Sounds like they might need another sack.

It was admittedly a forced marriage of the minds. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit agreed to expedite the case and asked the parties to get together to propose a briefing plan of action.

They did so, telling the court that their proposal “accommodates the divergent interests of the various parties to this complex, consolidated proceeding” — that’s legal-speak for the sackful of battling cats — and said that if the court complied, the case could be fully briefed by October, only four months away, and oral argument scheduled by year’s end.

But just to show you can’t take all the spat out of the battling cats, they also pointed out each petitioner separately proposed a word allocation for their opening brief on which the others took no position.

Jointly, USTelecom, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, the American Cable Association, the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, AT&T and CenturyLink have asked the court for 18,000 words. Why? Well, we’ll tell you. Here’s their estimate of how many words it will take:

(A) “The Commission’s reclassification decision is contrary both to the plain text and any reasonable reading of the statute (4,000 words);

(B) “Departs from prior precedent without sufficient identification of changed facts or consideration of reliance interests (3,000 words);

(C) “Was adopted without sufficient notice of the rules or legal authority the Commission ultimately promulgated and relied upon (1,500 words);

(D) “Violates other statutes (500 words).

(E) “Impermissibly impose common carriage duties (750 words);

(F) “The Commission’s decision to extend Title II regulation to broadband Internet access service providers’ Internet interconnection arrangements, independent of the arguments regarding the reclassification of the service itself (1,500 words);

(G) “The new Internet conduct standard and the clarifications of the transparency rule [requiring more info] adopted in the 2010 Order reviewed in Verizon are unlawful independent of the Commission’s assertion of authority under Title II (2,000 words together);” and

H) Background and other required boilerplate — issues statement, summary of argument (4,750 words).

Some cats really have a lot to say.

— John Eggerton

Mediacom Communications held a reception Wednesday honoring recipients of its 2015 Mediacom Entrepreneur of Tomorrow Awards.

The awards were presented to graduating seniors from 14 different Orange County, N.Y. high schools and are based on their work ethic, academic performance and personal accomplishments. Each student received a $1,000 college scholarship and a special plaque commemorating their achievement.

At the ceremony, Mediacom chairman, CEO and founder Rocco Commisso gave a brief history of the company highlighting its entrepreneurial roots.

“The scholarships I received graduating from high school were fundamental to my pursuit of a college education,” Commisso said in a statement. “In creating the Mediacom Entrepreneur of Tomorrow Award, it was my goal not only to recognize Orange County’s next generation of entrepreneurs but also to assist them, in a small way, in covering their college tuition.”   

Commisso has committed significant personal and corporate resources into funding educational opportunities for young people.  Through Mediacom’s World Class Scholars Program, September 11th Memorial Scholarship Fund and Entrepreneur of Tomorrow Award, the company has provided college scholarships to more than 1,300 students nationwide since 2001.  In 2014, Commisso established the Rocco B. Commisso American Dream Fund at Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx, NY, to ensure his high school alma mater can continue to recruit and educate deserving young men for generations to come.

The recipients of the 2015 Awards are: Stephen Cushing (John S. Burke Catholic High School), John Lunden (Valley Central High School), Brittany Milz (S.S. Seward Institute), Erin Proctor (James I. O’Neill High School), Jessica Peredes-Espinoza (Newburgh Free Academy), Elizabeth Davis (Cornwall High School), Courtney Baxter (Minisink Valley High School), Cierra DeVeaux (Middletown High School), Casey Krauss (Goshen Central High School), Lauren Lacroix (Washingtonville High School), Christy McCoy (Monroe-Woodbury High School), Kayla Shevlin (Port Jervis High School), Alexandria Whitmore (Warwick Valley High School), Adrian Fernandez (Mount Saint Michael Academy and current Rocco B. Commisso American Dream Scholar), Jazmin Savigne (Chester Academy), and Imanol Fernandez (Mount Saint Michael Academy and current Rocco B. Commisso American Dream Scholar). 

Turner Classic Movies has joined up with the non-profit Women in Film on a multi-year partnership aimed at raising awareness concerning the lack of gender equality in the film business and to celebrate the achievements of women in film.

Beginning in the fall of this year, TCM will kick off a three-year commitment each October with an on-air programming initiative created to raise awareness about the historical contributions of women working behind the camera, shining a spotlight on the current lack of women in positions of power in the film business, and promoting resources that empower them to more fully participate in the industry.

In an interview, TCM vice president of brand activations and partnerships Genevieve McGillicuddy said the initiative will run for the entire month of October on TCM and will highlight women in the industry from the early pioneers up to the present day. The specific women and films to be highlighted will be announced closer to the October premier date.

McGillicuddy said TCM had highlighted women directors in the past, but this is the first time the network has done something with a partner on this scale.

“The timing seemed right,” McGillicuddy said, adding that the partnership allows TCM to “bring context to the programming in terms of what TCM does, [and] join forces with Women in Film to highlight what is out there in the zeitgeist right now in terms of women in film and the challenges we face in the industry today.”

Women in Film Los Angeles will also partner with TCM throughout this programming initiative to offer research and resources that illuminate the current roles women play in the film industry and promote tools to assist women filmmakers in furthering their careers and the art form. 

“The issue of gender inequality in the film industry is both timely and immensely important to shine a light on, and through this programming effort TCM is proactively taking a deeper look at the role of women in our industry as well as providing insight and resources to inspire more women filmmakers,” said TCM general manager Jennifer Dorian in a statement. “We’re thrilled to partner with such a well-respected organization as Women in Film in order to address and promote the empowerment of women in our industry.”

Women in Film is a non-profit organization founded in 1973 and dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for women, encouraging creative projects by women, and expanding and enhancing portrayals of women in all forms of global media. Given that women comprise 50% of the population, WIF’s ultimate goal is to see the same gender parity reflected on and off screen. WIF focuses on advocacy and education, provides scholarships, grants and film finishing funds and works to preserve the legacies of all women working in the entertainment community.

“Women In Film is honored to have TCM as our partner,” said WIF President, Cathy Schulman in a statement. “For years, I have dreamed of having a network reach out to our organization with a true interest in our advocacy and the ability to collaborate on programming that will reach audiences everywhere. Now, thanks to TCM, that dream is real.”

The Association of Cable Communicators (ACC) at a dinner ceremony last night (June 4) announced the winners of the 2015 Golden Beacon and Beacon Awards, honoring excellence in cable communications and public affairs. The Golden Beacon, the association’s highest honor, went to Univision Contigo's Semana de la Salud 2014, a Latino-focused health and wellness campaign by Univision Communications Inc.

The campaign also won a Community Relations Beacon, while Univision's Contigo's Pequeños y Valiosos - Accioìn por los Niños campaign won a Beacon for Integrated Communications. Stephen Keppel, Univision's enior director, empowerment initiatives (pictured), accepted the awards.

ACC also presented 49 Beacon Awards representing work by MSOs, cable systems, programming networks, and cable associations in categories such as community relations, public service announcements and social media communications, the association said in a release. The Beacon Awards Ceremony rounded out Thursday events during ACC’s annual conference FORUM 2015: Innovation and Disruption: Telling Cable’s Story in Times of Change, in Silver Spring, Md.

“This year’s Beacon Award winners have affected change by using cable as a tool to provide access and education, not only empowering the communities they serve, but showcasing the power of cable on a national platform” Chris Albert, 2015 Beacon Awards chair and senior vice president, communications worldwide and talent relations, National Geographic Channels, said in the release. "The Beacon Awards celebrate the significant role cable communicators play in our industry’s success and recognize the best of those efforts."

The 2015 Golden Beacon honors a communications or public affairs initiative that has made an impact within the cable industry and enhanced cable’s image nationwide. 

Here's what ACC had to say about the campaign and other Beacon honorees:

Univision is the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country, reaching 96% of U.S. Hispanic households. As the heartbeat of Hispanic America, Univision has earned a special trust and unequalled connection with this community. Hispanics today have higher rates of high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity, compared to their Caucasian counterparts. In 2014 for example, one-in-four Hispanics in the U.S. lacked health insurance, the highest rate of any racial or ethnic group in the country. In an effort to reverse these trends, the company held its second annual week-long health and wellness effort “Semana de la Salud 2014” (Health Week 2014), a weeklong multiplatform campaign under the health umbrella of the company's Univision Contigo empowerment initiative. In partnership with The California Endowment, Covered California, and the Ford Foundation, “Semana de la Salud 2014” took place between August 23-30, aimed to inform the U.S. Hispanic community about important health and wellness topics, give access to exclusive health-related online and mobile tools, and empower the community by providing free health screenings and other valuable resources in markets across the nation.

ACC members chose the 2015 Beacon Award winners during an extensive two-round judging process. The high-quality Beacon Award entries submitted this year continue to demonstrate the cable industry's commitment to communications and public affairs and represent company initiatives implemented over the past year in areas such as events and observances, integrated communications and Web sites.

The 2015 Beacon Awards Winners listed by category are:

Best Use of Twitter

Cox Virginia WiFi Scavenger Hunt

Cox Communications – Chesapeake, VA

Cause Marketing

Cox Las Vegas -- Proud To Show Our PRIDE!

Cox Communications – Las Vegas, NV

Community Relations

Studio21 – Music to the Community’s Ears Charter Communications – Newtown, CT

Time Warner Cable "Capital Region Science Festival 2014"

Time Warner Cable – Schenectady, NY

Physics Behind Skateboarding

Time Warner Cable – El Segundo, CA

STEM in Sports with the Anaheim Ducks

Time Warner Cable – El Segundo, CA

Univision Contigo's Samana de la Salud 2014 Univision Communications Inc. – Miami, FL

Say Yes to the Prom

Discovery Communications – Silver Spring, MD

Education Comprehensive Campaigns

Encuentro STEM

Time Warner Cable – El Segundo, CA

MSG Classroom 2014 Fall Semester

MSG Networks – New York, NY

National Geographic Channels Comprehensive Education Campaign National Geographic Channels – Washington, DC

Educational Materials

Developing Impactful Afterschool STEM Programs Time Warner Cable – El Segundo, CA

STEM to Story with 826 National

Time Warner Cable – New York, NY

Remembering the Great War: WWI Centennial Education Outreach

A+E Networks – New York, NY

Events/Observances

Time Warner Cable CAMM Celebration

Time Warner Cable NYC – New York, NY

Bright House Networks Launch Event Announcing Free Wi-Fi for Tampa Riverfront Parks Bright House Networks, Central Florida – Maitland, FL

Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge Discovery Communications – Silver Spring, MD

Time Warner Cable’s Earth Month 2014

Time Warner Cable – New York, NY

Events/Premieres

The 48th Annual NAACP Image Awards VIP Screening Cox Louisiana – Baton Rouge, LA

American War Generals Premiere

National Geographic Channels – Washington, DC

Government Relations

"Fighting for Fort Polk"

Suddenlink Communications – Central Louisiana

Cox Las Vegas 2014 Community Development Report Cox Communications/Las Vegas System – Las Vegas, NV

Internal Communications

Internet Essentials Ambassadors Program

Comcast – Washington, DC

NBCUniversal Corporate Leadership Values Campaign Hispanic Enterprises and Content, NBCUniversal – Hialeah, FL

Integrated Communications

2014 Austin Image Campaign

Time Warner Cable – Austin, TX

Time Warner Cable Places Great Value on Diverse Perspectives and Experiences Time Warner Cable – El Segundo, CA

Univision Contigo's Pequeños y Valiosos - Accioìn por los NinÞos Univision Communications Inc. – Miami, FL

Look Different

MTV – New York, NY

Mobile Apps

DIG Mobile Apps Activations - Snapchat and DIG Decoder USA Network – Universal City, CA

Virginia Cable Show App

Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association – Richmond, VA

Multicultural Public Relations

Suddenlink Celebrates Black History Month with TV One Suddenlink Communications – St. Louis, MO

C-SPAN's Historically Black Colleges & Universities Tour C-SPAN Networks – Washington, DC

Media Relations Programming Publicity

LSU Gameday Live

Cox Louisiana – Baton Rouge, LA

COSMOS: A Spacetime Odyssey Media Relations National Geographic Channels – Washington, DC

Media Relations-Technology/Product

Cox Launches Gigabit Internet in Las Vegas Cox Communications – Las Vegas, NV

Charter's Road to All-Digital: A Spectrum of Success Charter Communications – Stamford, CT

WatchESPN

ESPN, Inc. – New York, NY

Public Service Announcement

Connect2Compete “Local New Orleans PSA Campaign”

Cox Louisiana – Baton Rouge, LA

Cablevision & The Lustgarten Foundation’s curePC Campaign – The curePC Courage Project Cablevision Systems Corporation – Bethpage, NY

Look Different

MTV – New York, NY

Programming Series

Studio21

Charter Communications – Newtown, CT

LSU Gameday Live

Cox Louisiana – Baton Rouge, LA

ESPN Films "30 for 30"

ESPN, Inc. – Bristol, CT

Programming Special or Miniseries Event

History: Sons of Liberty

A+E Networks – New York, NY

Reputation/Brand Management

The Midway/Cox Legacy: From America’s Greatest Generation to Future Generations Cox Communications - California – San Diego, CA

Taking Back the Gigabit Narrative

Cox Communications, Inc. – Atlanta, GA

The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for Freedom Exhibit

A+E Networks – New York, NY

Social Media Integrated Communications

TLC Loves Canada

Discovery Communications – Silver Spring, MD

Website

Internal - Transformation Hub Website

Cox Communications, Inc. – Atlanta, GA

Two communities -- one hard hit by Hurricane Katrina a decade ago, another suffering through drought and an economic downturn -- will see Fourth of July fireworks celebrations restored this year after their selection as Destination America's "Red, White and You" contest.

This is the third year the Discovery-owned network, in tandem with USA Today, has asked communities across the country to make a case for why their hometowns deserve to have a big patriotic party thrown for their populaces. Out of 2,600 entries, the winning communities are:

• Waveland, Miss., on the Gulf Coast, which will celebrate its recovery and rebuilding accomplishments with the first July Fourth fireworks celebration in a decade;
• Oroville, Calif., which will restore a past tradition of a fireworks display at the 770-foot-tall dam that provides the leading water source for the entire state -- but which has seen the lake dwindle in paralyzing drought conditions and suffered economic hardships that have pre-empted the pyrotechnics in recent years. (See photo, via ABCnews.com; credit Paul Hames/California Department of Water Resources via Getty Images|Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.)

“Waveland and Oroville captured our attention with their stories of recovery and resilience while their incredible display of hometown pride and American spirit are what makes them especially deserving of the Red, White and You grand prize celebration,” Marc Etkind, general manager of Destination America, said in a release. “Independence Day is a time to bring communities together, and Destination America is privileged to support these towns as they honor their pasts while working hard to ensure a bright future.”

“I am delighted that Destination America and USA Today have chosen the beautiful City of Waveland for a July 4th celebration," mayor Mike Smith said in the release. "Our people are very resilient, but this will help in the healing process to recover from a devastating hurricane such as Katrina. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of rebuilding since Katrina than to have this celebration.”

“We are so honored to receive the Red, White, and You celebration hosted by Destination America and USA Today," Oroville mayor Linda Dahlmeier said similarly. "Oroville has grown through the gold rush, the logging industry, and the monumental build of the Oroville Dam. Oroville is the beginning of the State Water Project and the California drought has been difficult for everyone, including us. This 4th of July celebration will encourage our community and remind us of our rich history.”

Last summer, the festivities were held in Prescott, Ariz., in recovery from deadly wildfires that killed 19 brave firefighters, and in hard-hit Hamtramck, Mich.

The first Red, White and You parties, in 2013, took place in Union Beach, N.J., a coastal town recovering from Hurricane Sandy, and Fayetteville, N.C., a community that enthusiastically supports its military partners at Fort Bragg, as Destination America noted.

Comcast is donating $1.5 million in public service airtime to promote the National LGBT 50th Anniversary Celebration in Philadelphia this July. Comcast is the lead marketing sponsor of the event, according to its organizers.

The PSA is airing this month and next.

The celebration, July 2-5, marks the anniversary of a Fourth of July 1965 demonstration by LGBT activists in front of Independence Hall.

This year, the celebration will include exhibits, concerts, a wreath laying ceremony and a street festival, plus a ceremony at Independence Hall July 4 hosted by comedian Wanda Sykes (Chris Rock Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm), who hosted the White House Correspondents Association dinner in 2009.