NCTA - The Internet & Television Association

Game-changing ideas take more than vision—they take investment, infrastructure, and collaboration. From its launch in 1979 to around-the-clock sports programming, ESPN didn’t just launch a network—it redefined sports television. A new docufilm explores how that early gamble reshaped the modern sports media landscape. 📽️ See the story unfold in the upcoming premiere of "Sports Haven: The Birth of ESPN." https://bit.ly/4dg4nmV

Many of the same spectrum policy challenges are emerging across markets worldwide. That was a key takeaway from NCTA's time at #MWC26 — where our team exchanged perspectives with policymakers and industry leaders from around the globe. Among the policy discussions gaining attention: ➡️The growing demand for mid-band spectrum ➡️The continued importance of regulatory frameworks that support both licensed and unlicensed spectrum innovation More insights from NCTA’s Traci Biswese: https://bit.ly/4bExrTI

Last week, we were proud to host the National Urban League's Urban Leaders Awards Reception as part of the 2026 Empowerment Summit. The evening celebrated affiliate leaders and members of Congress driving change in their communities — including Cynthia Mitchell-Heard of the Los Angeles Urban League and Senator Ben Ray Luján, both honored for Leadership in Technology & Telecommunications. Congratulations to all this year's Urban Leaders Award honorees, and thank you to the National Urban League for a meaningful event.

America's cable providers continue to connect communities from coast to coast and close the digital divide in Alaska. 📍In the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, fiber connectivity and 2.5 gig speeds were brought to five remote communities 📍In Southeast Alaska, projects strengthened network resilience 📍On the Alaskan Peninsula, fiber connectivity is now in 13 communities Despite vast distances, extreme weather, and remote terrain, cable providers are building out their networks to reach as many Americans as possible. https://bit.ly/4t2wc6E

By leveraging Wi-Fi to carry 90% of mobile data, cable providers have expanded wireless competition, increased consumer choice, and driven down prices. https://bit.ly/3MWR547

AI depends on the connectivity infrastructure that underpins it. That's been my argument since I introduced NCTA - The Internet & Television Association's CORE AI principles at State of the Net earlier this year — and Comcast and Charter Communications are proving just that. Both recently announced partnerships with NVIDIA to run AI workloads at the network edge. This means deploying AI processing power milliseconds from customers across America. The goal: unlock faster, smarter, and more responsive AI experiences at scale. Not from a distant data center. But right at the edge of the network, where people actually live and work. The future of AI relies on the best next-gen networks. What Comcast and Charter are building with NVIDIA isn't just a partnership announcement — it's a blueprint for how the AI era gets delivered across America. More on the news: https://bit.ly/3PvAO71

AI-enabled network operations, automation, and optimization took center stage at this year’s #MWC26. A few things our team heard while on the ground in Barcelona: ➡️ AI is moving inside the network — shifting from applications running on networks to capabilities embedded directly within network infrastructure. ➡️ That shift enables networks to dynamically manage traffic, enhance performance, and support the next generation of digital services. More key takeaways from NCTA's Rikin Thakker, Ph.D.: https://bit.ly/47lQhwu

Demand for faster, more reliable connectivity isn't slowing down. Wi-Fi 8 is designed to support the next generation of connected experiences: 🛜 More consistent performance across devices/apps 🛜 Lower latency to support real-time use cases 🛜 Greater reliability in high-demand environments Explore what's next: https://bit.ly/4uU3FlK

America’s farmers are leveraging real-time data, smart sensors, and autonomous equipment to transform how they grow and harvest. Wi-Fi is the invisible infrastructure that makes this possible: 🛜 Drones navigate terrain, coordinate with other systems, and perform precise tasks. 🛜 Smart sensors deliver up-to-the-minute information on soil moisture and plant health. 🛜 RFID tags and real-time location systems track equipment, monitor inventory, and oversee harvests. This #NationalAgDay, we're celebrating America's farmers — and the connectivity powering their work. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3NU3YfC

Wi-Fi is the workhorse of the internet — powering factories, hospitals, schools, and homes. As device growth continues to soar, more unlicensed spectrum is essential for Wi-Fi to keep up with demand. https://bit.ly/4bBFUqK