Storming Ahead

A nasty winter storm bearing down on the Northeast created minor hiccups on Wed but few major issues. Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cablevision Systems reported no major disruptions while Cox was bracing for a stormy Wed night. "New England expects to be hardest hit tonight," said a rep. "Right now, we are experiencing driving rain and sleet. Conditions are expected to worsen tonight as the precipitation freezes." Cox’s RI system has already had some problems related to drivers hitting telephone poles (Cox technicians were working on 3 downed poles when we checked in with the MSO). In the D.C. area, the NCTA, CTAM and Discovery Communications followed the federal govt’s lead by opening 2 hrs late (D.C.-based National Geographic Channel kept normal office hours, with employees allowed to telecommute if they couldn’t make it in safely). NCTA pres/CEO Kyle McSlarrow stuck to a round of appointments on Capitol Hill despite the weather. D.C.-based C-SPAN had no major troubles but did need to rearrange some Hill events. It also had to cancel a taping of "After Words" because a guest couldn’t make it into the city. The FCC got a reprieve from appearing before the House Telecom subcmte for a hearing Thurs, but the cancellation wasn’t because of the weather; it was postponed for the funeral services of Rep Charlie Norwood (R-GA). No word yet on its new date.