Community Connections

Community Connections
Cable companies in Virginia are integral parts of the communities they serve. They invest in important community projects, and they are active and conscientious corporate citizens.

Statewide, the industry has several programs in which all its members participate. One that they are particularly proud of is their partnership with Virginia schools.

The members of the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association continue to support these valuable community partnerships and develop new ones.

The Cable Industry's Impact on Virginia
In the Economy
Employees Gross wages Franchise fees State taxes	3,000 $80,000,000 $30,000,000 $4,000,000
In the Community
Public, education and government programming:	5,200 hours monthly
In the Classroom
Educational programming: Free cable connections:	500 hours monthly 2,200 schools

Cable in the Classroom
This is the industry’s educational centerpiece, providing commercial-free programming to students and teachers in classrooms.

Local cable companies have wired, connected and provided programming to schools and public libraries throughout the commonwealth. One million Virginia school children receive cable service that provides 500 hours of educational programming per month and totals 2,200 free school connections.

Virginia’s Future —
Building Up the First Generation of the New Century
In conjunction with Attorney General Mark Earley, cable companies through the VCTA are active participants in this youth mentoring program. Virginia’s Future aims to prevent youth violence by providing mentors and constructive outlets to help kids in Virginia choose the right path.

Voter Education Project
This first-of-its-kind program informs Virginia’s voters about key issues and the importance of participating in the electoral process. This year, members of the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association (VTCA) gave both the Democratic and Republican parties the opportunity to create four, 30-minute programs to be aired in the months leading up to the election.

Cable Reports From the General Assembly
On a regular basis, the VCTA produces "Cable Reports From the General Assembly" in which delegates and senators are interviewed for 30 minutes. The VCTA also produces monthly shows with the governor plus quarterly programs with the lieutenant governor and the attorney general.

VCTA Scholarship
In November of 1999, Donald A. Perry, treasurer of the VCTA board and long-time board member from First Commonwealth Cablevision, announced that the Donald A. Perry Foundation would be setting aside $100,000 to fund a scholarship for Future Leaders of Virginia in the name of the VCTA. The VCTA board at their November 1999 meeting in Williamsburg, praised Perry for his generosity and foresight and appointed a committee to oversee the details of this award.

The 2000 scholarship application will ask applicants to write an essayon why they are one of Virginia’s Future Leaders and send this to their local cable operator by February 1. A recipient will be chosen in February 2000 for a $4,000 award.

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