Cablefax The Magazine - August 2021 - 29

OPERATIONS LEADERS
36. REGULATORY RULER
Catherine Bohigian | EVP, Government Affairs
Charter Communications
Years in Media & Broadband: 23
Education: BA, Duke University; JD, Harvard Law School
My personal superpower is: Identifying talent. It's allowed
me to build a smart, innovative, and adaptable team with
diverse perspectives and complementary strengths that
makes us highly effective.
With the government doling out an unprecedented amount of money
for broadband buildouts, Bohigian is making sure Charter gets its
fair share. She oversaw the operator's successful RDOF auction
bids, resulting in $1.2 billion awarded for more than one million customer
locations. She was recognized by Washingtonian magazine in
February as one of 250 experts and advocates outside of government
who will be shaping the policy debates in years to come.
Bohigian's reign extends far beyond Washington, as she oversees
all aspects of Charter's federal, state and local government affairs
activity across the company's 41-state footprint.
HOW DOES THE COUNTRY
NARROW THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE? Two-part solution: First,
government needs to prioritize subsidies
to areas that have no broadband at all
so 100% of Americans have access to
broadband-as we're doing through the
Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF).
Second, government should subsidize
service for low-income households and
provide them digital literacy training, too.
NUMBER OF TIMES FLOWN IN
THE PAST YEAR? 20 round trips - almost all of which have been
to our HQ in Stamford, Connecticut.
LAST PODCAST LISTENED TO: " Hidden Brain, " which looks
at the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior; almost every
episode is fascinating. ■
37. KEEPING IT GOING
David Ellen | Senior EVP
Charter Communications
Years in Media & Broadband: 24
Education: Harvard College, Cambridge University, Harvard
Law School
As the exec who oversees business and corporate functions for
Charter's HR, diversity, security and programming, it's a safe bet that
Ellen's been pretty busy. When the pandemic hit, he helped Charter
pivot immediately to 100% virtual
hiring, with the operator adding to
its payroll as many other businesses
were downsizing. Under Ellen's oversight,
Charter created a program that
gave employees additional paid sick
time for COVID-related illnesses and
flex-time for certain employees to
address other COVID-related issues.
Spectrum Networks also falls under
his purview, with Charter successfully
launching the Spectrum News App
last summer. It surpassed one million
downloads less than eight months
after launch.
HOW DOES THE COUNTRY NARROW THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE? There are really two separate issues when it comes to
narrowing the digital divide-affordability for low-income households
and service availability for rural households. Both have similar solutions
in my view, namely partnerships between local, state and federal
governments and experienced companies that know how to build
networks and provide state-of-the-art broadband at good prices. These
are companies that have been willing to risk substantial private capital
in the process (yes, like Charter).
LAST PODCAST LISTENED TO: In New York City, where I live,
we just had a mayoral primary that will have a lasting impact on the
city's recovery from the pandemic. True to its mission of informing and
educating the local community, Spectrum News service produced a
podcast called " You Decide with Errol Louis " in which Errol interviewed
all the top candidates. I'm have learned a lot (and really enjoyed the
depth of the conversations).
MY PREDICTION FOR THE FUTURE OF REGIONAL
SPORTS NETWORKS: Hard to know exactly given the complicated
dynamics with the teams and leagues and the ever-increasing cost
of pro sports (athlete salaries, TV rights, etc.), except the business
model will have to change. The current model is clearly under pressure.
Charter operates two regional sports networks itself, so this is a very
live issue for us. ■
Cablefax: The Magazine
August 2021
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Cablefax The Magazine - August 2021

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