Archives for November 2023

Did you hear the news? Northcentral Connect is building a fiber network to bring you fast, reliable internet!

While we’re very excited about this news, we also understand that you may have questions about why your electric cooperative is getting into broadband. Today, we’re taking some time to answer those questions.

Read on to learn more about the history of electric cooperatives like ours—and why we view broadband as the right next step for our cooperative and community!

Electrifying—and Revitalizing—Rural America

It seems like a long time ago, but just 90 years ago, a staggering amount of homes in rural America were left out of the electricity boom that ignited cities and suburbs (and their economies) elsewhere in our country. Indeed, 90% of all rural households had no access to electricity. Rural America was essentially left behind as the rest of urban and suburban America plowed ahead.

But that began to change in the early-to-mid 1930’s. Beginning with President Franklin Roosevelt’s rural electrification initiative, the United States began prioritizing bringing the power and promise of electricity to more remote areas.

One of the most well-known (and largest) of these actions was the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in 1933. A vast public works effort, the TVA provided power to millions of Americans in seven states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

After the enormous success of the TVA in expanding economic opportunity and improving quality of life to the TVA service areas, other initiatives grew to replicate the revitalizing impacts of bringing electricity to rural areas. Among those was the Roosevelt Administration’s drafting of the model law known as the Electric Cooperative Corporation Act (ECCA). The ECCA helped states develop consumer-owned, non-profit electric cooperatives that help light up rural areas to this day.

Why Did Rural America Need This Extensive Investment and Coops In the First Place?

Nearly 100 years ago, it took a herculean effort to provide power to the rural regions of America. From the massive dam and reservoir and electric grid systems of the TVA to the intricate electric cooperative legislation that enables coops to exist to this day, a lot of work—and money—went into electrifying rural America.

Well, the reason why coops and other resources were needed to provide electricity also bears on why Northcentral Connect is now providing fiber internet. For both gargantuan efforts—electricity and broadband internet—massive amounts of capital investments are needed. And since rural areas naturally have a smaller number of customers to warrant that investment, larger private companies and banks just weren’t touching it.

For decades prior to the 1930s, it was this natural economic reality that prevented rural America from getting electricity that would enable proper development and advancement. And the same economic reality has been true for high-speed internet service today.

Electric Coops Provide Rural Broadband—and Hope for a Stronger Economy and Future

In the same way that large electric companies would not invest in rural America in the early 20^th century, most large internet service providers did not see the profitability necessary for them to invest heavily in infrastructure to provide high-speed internet to those same areas in the early 21^st century. History, it seemed, was about to repeat itself, leaving rural America behind.

But innovative thinkers realized that electric cooperatives could be the model for providing rural broadband across underserved regions of the country. Afterall, they already had the authority to provide similar essential services—namely electricity. And they had the legislative and regulatory frameworks in place to properly manage and operate the extensive capital efforts an advanced fiber network requires.

Thus, in a sense, it is perfectly natural that electric coops like Northcentral Connect are offering you high-speed internet! We are filling the same kinds of previously unfulfilled community needs that larger companies overlooked in the last century. And we’re doing it in the same consumer-owned, not-for-profit way that you and your neighbors have trusted for years.

To learn more about Northcentral Connect and our advanced fiber network—and how it can revolutionize your home or small business—feel free to reach out to our customer support specialists. They’ll be happy to explain our plans and get you on the path to high-speed internet.

If you have a gamer in your life, whether it’s your own kid or a family friend’s child, you likely know how much video gaming is integrated into their lives. But even beyond the meteoric success and outright appeal of video gaming to young people (and even many not-so-young people), gaming now provides tangible benefits to serious players: competitive esports and esports college scholarships.

Parents of college-bound gamers might want to pay attention below, as we discuss college level esports and the burgeoning ecosystem of esports scholarships. And don’t forget that the high-speed fiber internet delivered to smart TVs and gaming devices by Northcentral Connect may just give the budding esports scholar in your life the edge he or she needs to own the competition!

Varsity Esports Are Exploding Across Colleges and Universities    

Following the 2010s and the exponential growth of video gaming and esports, it’s obvious now that collegiate esports are truly taking off as a legitimate competitive endeavor. This explosive growth is mostly due to advancing internet technology like [Northcentral Connect’s fiber network and apps that make gaming more social and more competitive, as well as increased talent among players. Indeed today, there are approximately 500 American colleges and universities offering esports scholarships.

Every year, more and more colleges and universities across the United States add varsity esports programs to their rosters. And yes, we did say “varsity”—as in intercollegiate competition, not just a club or diversionary dorm room duel. Robert Morris University was the very first college to create a varsity esports team back in 2014—and the trend has only ballooned since then. 

At the varsity and college level, schools typically create individual teams of players around particular games. This gives gamers the opportunity to advance and even excel at strategies and tactics suited to the complexities and skill needs of that title, enhancing the competitiveness of each game and of esports more generally.

Beyond enormously popular and well-known titles like Fortnite (played by untold millions of people around the world both casually and competitively), several other titles are most commonly played at varsity level esports in colleges and universities in North America. In particular, Call of Duty, League of Legends, Rocket League, Smash Bros, and Valorant are among the most frequently duked-out games in collegiate esports.

Other games are also increasingly popular, however. Overwatch is noted for its hero customization and intense fighting, requiring stout players and almost preternatural reaction skills to succeed. Additionally, Rainbow Six: Siege and its almost alchemical blend of gaming genres like strategy and tactical shooting has attracted legions of players to the game based around Tom Clancy’s novels. Both games are fielding more varsity teams and are increasingly seen at college level esports tournaments.

Collegiate Esports Give Rise to Generous Scholarship Opportunities

Because there are actual competitions and bragging rights to be bandied about, colleges are also competing for the best talent in esports. Thus, more schools are also providing scholarships for their best esports players. That means real dollars are increasingly available that the top gamers can put toward the costs of their higher education. Indeed, in 2017, Harrisburg University became the first college to offer full-rides to its leading esports competitors, including room and board!

Already, an estimated $16 million in college scholarships exist just for esports players—not a small sum for a sport that barely existed only a decade ago. And as collegiate esports continue to rise, we can expect more schools to establish varsity programs, as well as expand their existing esports teams, too.

All this burgeoning esports growth at the college level means that more scholarships—and even larger dollar amounts—are likely to be dedicated to esports gamers. Hence, for the truly talented and committed gamer, esports should be taken seriously, and gamers should consider taking steps to making themselves more competitive for esports scholarship opportunities.

The Esports Gender Divide

Despite the stunning growth in collegiate varsity esports, we hasten to note an important issue inside the gaming and esports community—the gender divide. Though females make up almost 50% of all video gamers (49% to be precise, according to one 2023 analysis), statistics show that men receive 90% of esports scholarships.

With patently lopsided statistics like that, the divide has not gone unnoticed. Arguments abound for this staggering disparity, but at least one likely reason for the imbalance is that most of the games more typically played by female gamers are less likely to be the games that comprise competitive varsity esports in colleges.

With that in mind, however, savvy female gamers with a keen interest in esports games that are played at the varsity collegiate level may want to be particularly on the lookout for scholarship opportunities that have too frequently landed in the hands of their male counterparts. Their unique backgrounds and talents may help give young women an edge over their compatriots in the coming years—and also help broaden and improve the sport as well.

To stay on top of the ever-changing and always-exciting esports scene, follow Northcentral Connect’s social pages. We’re confident that our high-speed fiber internet can improve any gamer’s experience and perhaps even help prepare them for competitive esports and the worlds of opportunity they open!

With the heat of summer waning and autumn’s crisper air approaching, it’s time for another much-awaited season of the year: football season! And with significant changes and moves among college football team conferences, and major newly-signed players joining the ranks of the NFL, the 2023 football season looks to be one of the most impressive in recent memory.

But in addition to the moving and shaking occurring in the sport itself, many football fans are perplexed—or even frustrated—by some other changes in the way they enjoy their game: the recent shake ups in broadcasting of live football games. Indeed, many fans are worried that they won’t be able to follow their favorite teams or catch the best games of the week.

Fortunately, with the advanced fiber network of Northcentral Connect, you can find and stream college and NFL football games live—and with a sharp and pristine picture, too! Below we discuss where you can stream both college and NFL football this season. We’ll walk you through all you need to know so you can keep up with your favorite teams and enjoy all the action!

Streaming College Football

College football fans face no shortage of outstanding face-offs this season. While the traditional networks—ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC—air many marquee matchups, you’re going to need additional providers to get the most out of this year’s college football gameplay. And at first glance, finding channels for college football can seem downright byzantine!

Some networks have special deals with individual conferences and schools for many of the year’s prime showdowns, including Fox (Big Ten), CBS (SEC), and NBC (perennial broadcasting home to Notre Dame football). However, it’s ESPN and its affiliated channels that provide the most coverage of college football.

That means it’s critical to have access to ESPN2 and ESPNU as well as to ESPN (and the networks). For even more college games, you’ll also want to check out CBS Sports Network and FOX Sports 1 (FS1), as well. Beyond these options, don’t forget about channels devoted to specific college football conferences, including the Big Ten and SEC, which also have their own networks, as do the ACC and PAC-12.

But you don’t need a cable cord to enjoy it all, thanks to high-speed fiber internet from Northcentral Connect! For cord cutters and streamers wishing to capture as many of these channels as possible, selecting a live streaming TV app is your best first step.

For starters, Hulu + Live TV is an outstanding option for a few reasons, including its deal with Disney and ESPN. You’ll get streaming access to all the college football games available on ESPN’s channels plus most live network channels too.

Many fans also rave about fuboTV, a streaming service originally tailor-made for sports that brings you a ton of college football every week. And Sling TV’s Orange + Blue package includes a suite of channels for many games, as well. You’ll want to make sure that the teams and conferences you care most about are covered by the streaming apps and channels in any of these three options, but for most fans, any of them will suit.

NFL Football Streaming Options

For pro football fans, there are also a wide range of ways to watch your preferred team—while also keeping an eye on rivals, too! Like with college football, networks like CBS and Fox cover AFC and NFC games on Sundays. However, viewers are subject to local market games (and potential blackouts, as well), severely curtailing their options.

Fortunately, streaming technology and high-speed internet like Northcentral Connect’s fiber network have opened a whole new way to follow the entire season without the drag of cable subscriptions! Indeed, NFL fans have several options (and price points) that may suit their professional football preferences perfectly.

Let’s begin with the big kahuna in live football streaming today: NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV.  Though expensive, NFL diehards will find it indispensable, as you can watch just about any NFL game you want. And yes—that means you can follow your favorite team (and its arch-nemesis to boot) whether you are in that team’s broadcasting market or not! Or if your team is just not cutting it on any given Sunday, you can use NFL Sunday Ticket to easily flip to another game in progress. It’s a phenomenal way to keep track of the NFL this year.

Of course, not everyone needs the breadth of NFL football coverage that YouTube TV’s NFL Sunday Ticket provides. Even with Sunday Ticket, to enjoy every NFL game this year, you’ll still need access to other streaming football apps and channels, including Prime Video’s streaming-exclusive Thursday Night Football. And don’t forget that the NFL action on Sunday doesn’t end with the afternoon games. You can catch Sunday Night Football on NBC’s streaming app, Peacock, too, making your day of rest (and football!) complete.

Like with college football, you’ll want to have a live streaming TV app for even basic viewing. The previously lauded YouTube TV is one option, as are Fubo and Sling TV’s Orange + Blue package. And again, Hulu + Live TV and its ESPN connections is another superior choice, particularly with its easy access to Monday Night Football.

We hope our guide to streaming college and professional football will help you better navigate the sometimes-tangled web of options available today. And for more tips on making the most of Northcentral Connect’s high-speed fiber network, follow our social pages!

In early September 2023, millions of Spectrum customers turned on their TVs and discovered that some channels, including ABC and ESPN, were suddenly missing from their television lineup.

The reason for the blackout? A contract dispute between two giants in the entertainment and communications industries: Disney and Spectrum.

Though the quarreling has abated, and the blackout is now over, millions of viewers remain uneasy about the dispute and its impact on their lives—especially football fans, some of whom lost ESPN access right in the middle of watching a game! And many are wondering what, if anything, they can do to give themselves more agency to prevent such a dispute from disrupting their lives.

Below we briefly explain the dispute between Disney and Spectrum. We also discuss how switching to streaming television by utilizing Northcentral Connect’s high-speed fiber network can help viewers avoid losing their favorite shows in the next corporate clash.

The Combatants: Spectrum vs. Disney

Let’s begin with the players in the dispute. Spectrum, owned by Charter Communications, is one of the biggest cable television providers in America.

Disney, which controls far more than just Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, and a host of other beloved Disney characters, is a media powerhouse. The brand owns ABC and ESPN, as well as FX and many other television channels. That means Disney is ultimately responsible for some of the biggest, most profitable brands and titles in all of entertainment and sports, including Monday Night Football.

And when the two couldn’t come to an agreement on their contract, it looked like no one would win—especially television viewers.  

What Caused the Disney-Spectrum Dispute?

Contract negotiations are usually dull affairs, even when the stakes are high. But the Disney-Spectrum dispute was different, and not just because millions of people lost their content. At the heart of the dispute is what every cable provider must pay annually to provide their customers with channels: carriage fees.

Carriage fees are paid by cable companies to the content producers—in this case, Disney, and its ABC, ESPN, FX, National Geographic and other affiliates. Disney was demanding a higher carriage fee than Spectrum was willing to pay.

When neither company was willing to bend, Spectrum lost the ability to bring those channels to its customers, leading to a blackout for customers across 41 states.

The outrage was immediate, as viewers and fans realized they were blocked out of content they’d been waiting for all year, especially major sports events and tournaments. “College football season is just starting—where are the games?”  “What happened to the U.S. Open?” “What about Monday Night Football?”

And the anger wasn’t just limited to living rooms at home. Sports bars and other restaurants contended with furious customers, who had planned to watch marquee matchups live and amongst a lively crowd, just as they always had, before realizing they couldn’t, thanks to the corporate squabbling. 

In the end, after more than 10 days, the two sides had a “meeting of the minds,” and settled their dispute. ABC, ESPN, FX, National Geographic, and the other Disney-owned channels returned to Spectrum cable channel lineups. But cable viewers have not forgotten. And cable may not be quite the same again.

The Rise of Streaming

The ten-day blackout may be over, but the core issue extends beyond just these two companies and their dispute. With the rise of streaming TV platforms and services, which give more power to consumers to choose the kinds of content they actually want to pay for and view, cable companies and their longstanding tradition of “channel bundling” are facing a reckoning.

Cable’s channel bundling and its inherent inefficiencies are symptomatic of a broader problem in the cable television industry. These days, cable packages are just too bloated—and too expensive—for most customers. And those customers now have the option to stream TV, which gives them much more control over their content choices and their home entertainment budget at the same time.

Understanding, customers are jumping ship and leaving cable behind. Indeed, according to some market analysts, five million people end their cable subscriptions every year as they make the switch to streaming services.

Streaming Gives Consumers More Control

One popular misunderstanding is that cutting the cord means you’ll only have access to on-demand content (like Netflix). But streaming actually allows you to subscribe to services that give you just about any television content you want—including live TV.

That means you can enjoy live sports action, breaking news and analysis, network comedies, prestige dramas, documentaries, lifestyle-themed shows, and almost everything else you liked with cable. And you’re far less dependent on the whims and market maneuverings of a massive company and its team of legal eagles to make decisions that cut you off from your favorite programming.

If nothing else, the Disney-Spectrum debacle should remind consumers of two radically different but interconnected realities: their utter powerlessness in carriage fee disputes as a cable customer, and their power to bypass those shenanigans through the freedom of streaming TV.

And with the reliability and pristine picture quality fiber internet from Northcentral Connect delivers, consumers can feel in control of their home entertainment once they cut the cable cord and switch to streaming.

Keep following Northcentral Connect’s social pages to stay on top of more streaming entertainment news!