The Gift of Knowledge

By Cathy Wilson

The holidays bring opportunities to give. The familiar jingle of Salvation Army bells are a staple of the season and a reminder that this time of year is about more than shopping or making end-of-year deadlines.

It’s easy to get so caught up in running errands and wrapping gifts that year-end calls for charity blend into the background noise of a hectic season.

December is filled with holiday activities, sentimental “Auld Lang Syne,” and spending time with family and friends. We also embrace or fear retail holiday madness that begins the day after Thanksgiving. Have you forgotten about the frenzied competition that is shopping at those big malls or perhaps you prefer Cyber Monday, a more relaxed shopping experience. But no matter how you holiday shop, remember to add yourself to the gift list and give yourself a “gift that keeps on giving” — the gift of knowledge that continues to benefit you long after the holiday season.

The theme of this winter issue of Broadband Library is the many gifts that broadband gives. To continue our holiday tradition, we welcome back as our guest author, the renowned technologist and father of the cable modem, Rouzbeh Yassini, who expands on the gift of knowledge given through cable broadband that enriches the lives of individuals not only socially but electronically in the interactive sense with the internet of things, automotive self driving, healthcare biofeedback, safety through surveillance, virtual reality, energy saving and the cloud.

Broadband Library will continue our commitment to the future by opening the door of opportunity through education to the 25,000 members of SCTE/ISBE. Our authors, the best in the business, will continue to captivate by telling the story of broadband that only they can tell.

When I was recently honored at Cable-Tec Expo and inducted into the SCTE/ISBE Hall of Fame, I gave my acknowledgements to my authors, staff and my supportive advertisers. I have learned through my many years that if you surround yourself with amazing, grade-A talent, you will be successful.

And speaking about a success… Cable-Tec Expo was certainly that!  If you missed the #1 technical conference dedicated to broadband cable you can get a complete recap from the award-winning, SCTE legend, Ron Hranac in his informative but personal take on the show!

During this time of inspiration and thankfulness, I want to introduce you to the newest member of the Broadband Library staff, my daughter Ashley Wilson Szor, pictured below. Ashley is no stranger to the cable industry, growing up with the magazine and graduating with an MBA at Daniels Business College at DU and then pursuing a career in cable. She moved up the ranks quickly at Charter Communications in Dallas and stayed 6 years where she was recognized as one of the top salespeople for Charter Business. She has extensive experience in sales, marketing and social networking. She is in charge of managing the group Broadband People Network on LinkedIn and invites you to join. By joining a group with colleagues specific to your industry, you can expand your horizons not just by learning through discussion postings but also by connecting on a personal level for future opportunities. There are over 3,000 members to help strengthen the commitment to our industry through this exclusive group of broadband professionals.

I would like to take this moment to wish Mark Dzuban, President and CEO of SCTE/ISBE, a continued speedy recovery. Our industrious leader recently went through heart surgery but is making a comeback stronger and healthier. He will soon be back in the saddle completely planning for an exciting Expo 2017 in Denver. Welcome back partner! Looking forward to working with you next year, and beyond.

Cathy Wilson, Publisher

A cable industry veteran of 38 years, Cathy is founder and 20 year publisher of Broadband Library, recipient of the SCTE’s 1998 Chairman’s Award. She holds a B.A. and M.A. from Purdue University and the University of Arizona, respectively. Cathy is a member of the Cable TV Pioneers Class of 2000. She was honored in 2007 by NCTA with the prestigious Vanguard Award and was inducted into the SCTE Hall of Fame in September, 2016.