Cablefax The Magazine - July 2011 - 28

INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY
SERVICE AWARDS
Knology
Let's face it: Knology competes against telecom giants with
fancy national ad campaigns, an arsenal of marketing muscle
and a seemingly endless funds to ight for customers. And
while Knology isn't exactly a Mom-and-Pop-it trades on the
NASDAQ and boasts nearly 2,000 employees across several
systems-the it might as well be one when compared to the
likes of competitors like Comcast, Time Warner Cable, DirecTV
and AT&T. " We try to make the case that we're the local company, "
says Knology VP, Marketing Tony Palermo. " It's not like
some kind of disconnected giant making
global decisions without connecting with
the community. " And yes, it's all good
business. " Working with good causes is
a key component to our local marketing
strategies, " he says.
That includes helping small charities
off-the-radar charities such as the Telesca
Foundation, which educates high school
students about safe driving. Work with
the foundation began at just two high
schools and has since expanded to eight.
And last Oct., Knology also sponsored the
irst annual Chattahoochee Valley Down
Syndrome Support Group Buddy Walk
in Columbus, GA, to coincide with Down
Syndrome Awareness Month. " We feel good about that, " says
Palermo. " That's the one that our employees get so much
from... so much love comes back the other way. " Such activities
are also an opportunity to strengthen ties with content
providers, as evidenced by Knology's recent partnership with
Outdoor Channel to host 13 clean-up efforts across seven
states. And so yes, again... it's all good business. " We don't
do it 100 percent out of the goodness of our hearts, " admits
Palermo. " But we see a value in it. We'd do it anyway. " ■
Laverne Branch Rep Rebecca Day (far right) presents
a check to Pauline Heinz of the Laverne EMS.
Each year PTCI donates over $8000 to EMS/Ambulance
services and Police and Fire departments
in its Oklahoma and Texas service territories.
Knology recently sponsored the first
annual Chattahoochee Valley Down Syndrome
Support Group Buddy Walk, one
of its many community activities.
connected to the residents of its OK-TX
Panhandle region. Whether cooking up
hamburgers to feed hungry municipal employees
across the region or donating money
to EMS/police/ire services or just simply
making sure that communities it serves can
access the latest cable/telecom services, PTCI consistently
sets a high standard when it comes to serving those who pay
money for its services. " This community has been good to
PTCI, and we want to do our part and give back to it, " says
CEO Ron Strecker. " You hope it is something a customer will
think about before they consider another provider who does
not participate in the community. "
Perhaps one of the best embodiments of PTCI's connecPTCI
Serving
rural areas with cable and telecom services has never
been easy-and it never will be. But PTCI proves the adage
that localism matters, especially when the locals all know each
other's names. But while PTCI serves its small communities
with a quad-play of wireless, cable, phone and data services
that rivals offerings in much larger markets, it takes home our
Indie Community Service award this year for all it does to stay
28
cablefaxmag.com
tion with customers is its Facebook page, which unlike the
half-baked efforts of some companies actually has become a
vibrant community with constant updates, helpful interaction
and community news. It's itting that many of the pictures
posted by PTCI include shots of its community activities,
with employees out and about with their local neighbors.
" Our company will pick up the dues and meals for any
employee who participates in our local civic groups, " notes
Strecker. PTCI is doing it right. ■
- Michael Grebb
July 2011
CableFAX: The Magazine
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Cablefax The Magazine - July 2011

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