Another Way of Checking on Any Comcast Service Interruptions/Outages

August 29, 2011 by 2 Comments

So here’s an example of what a customer might say to himself or herself if there’s an interruption to their service: “I’m having a problem with my Comcast service. Are others having this same problem or is there a problem at my home/business? Should I call the company, or are they already working on a problem in my area?’

First of all, don’t hesitate to call and check. But lots of folks want something more automated. We here in Washington were working on a mapping system, but then something simpler came along. We were very pleased to announce a few months ago that you can subscribe to a text-messaging service that will tell you if you are affected by a Comcast outage. The catch to that service is you have to subscribe in advance and of course you need a text-messaging-capable phone. Signing up is still worth doing, by the way. You can also use text messaging to learn what your balance is, the location of the closest payment center, and a number of other convenient bits of information. See the full list here.

But there’s a new way to check, online, if there’s a service problem in your area. When you sign into your Comcast account at Customer Central, you should see a prompt in the upper right of the screen. The Comcast Service Health Status space is circled below.

You can now check online if there are any Comcast service problems or outages in your area here in Washington state.

So now you can use the Customer Service Health Status to check on your service. Between this and the text messaging service, we hope this helps. I’m sure there will even more tools along the way.

Filed under 2011 News Releases, 2011 News Releases, News Releases, Outages

Comcast Continues Support of Federal Way Youth Leadership Program

August 25, 2011 by

The Federal Way Advancing Leadership Youth Class of 2012

Comcast was a founding sponsor of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce’s wonderful youth leadership program. We’re honored to help sponsor Advancing Leadership Youth again this year. Though this yearlong program, the future leaders of tomorrow meet with the present leaders of today. Both groups emerge at the end of the year with many learnings from each other. The Federal Way Mirror acknowledged the program in this week’s Wednesday issue, and below you’ll find a news release from our community partner, the chamber. We’re delighted to be associated with Advancing Leadership Youth again

 
Federal Way, WA – 8/22/11 – The Federal Way Chamber of Commerce’s Advancing Leadership Youth (ALY) program kicked off its 2011-12 program year last week.  At the two-day opening retreat, 32 teens from seven schools identified their leadership styles, learned about economic development in Federal Way, went on a citywide scavenger hunt, met the mayor, heard from local business leaders, pitched their ideas for City of Federal Way tourism campaigns and talked about living their lives in ways that create a legacy for others.

Comcast in Washington State has renewed its partnership with Advancing Leadership Youth for the eighth consecutive year, contributing $7,500 to support ALY 2012’s One Day Federal Way (1DFW), a team project that focuses the students’ leadership training on helping a targeted population in a significant way.  The ALY 2011 1DFW brought out over 300 volunteers – mostly teenagers – to provide major upgrades to three low-income schools, including extensive cleaning, interior painting and exterior landscaping.  Comcast was the first company to partner with ALY, and thus far has contributed $172,000 plus donated media valued at $225,000.

GlobalScholar, a Bellevue-based education solutions company, is the newest ALY partner, contributing $5,000 to the program.  GlobalScholar learned about Advancing Leadership though it’s work with Federal Way Public Schools, and saw a clear alignment between the program and it’s corporate focus on supporting comprehensive, life-long learning that extends beyond classrooms.

Students in the ALY 2012 class will continue to meet monthly during the school year, addressing different topics each month, visiting different sites and working with over 100 leaders. For more information, visit www.advancingleadership.org.

 

Filed under 2011 News Releases, 2011 News Releases, Community investment, News Releases Tagged with ,

Comcast Neighborhoods video on Vashon Island now on YouTube

August 23, 2011 by

Be sure to check out our Comcast Neighborhoods segment on Vashon Island here. Neighborhoods host Sabrina Register had a blast compiling stories about this King County island, which some consider “the Staten Island of the Pacific Northwest.”

Some of the features and guests included:

-Eva Deloach, owner of Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie
-Deborah Richards, member of the Vashon Island Chamber of Commerce
-Captain Joe, keeper of Pt. Robinson
-Margaret Heffelfinger, owner of Silverwood Gallery
-Liz Lewis, artist
-George Kirkish, Vashon Air
-Linda Kirkish, Palouse Winery

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Filed under Comcast Neighborhoods Tagged with , ,

ArtsFund Helps Arts Groups Throughout Pierce and King counties

August 18, 2011 by

One of the highlights of the Neary year is sitting in on the Pierce County allocations committee of ArtsFund, the local corporate council for the arts. Comcast donates to the arts in both Pierce and King counties through this organization where our Senior Vice President Len Rozek serves on the board of directors. Because my focus includes Tacoma and Pierce County, I thought I’d brag on what they’re doing here; but the list below also includes King County, of course. You can find the King County news release here. The following news release comes direct from ArtsFund:

ArtsFund Grants to Pierce County Arts Groups Up Thirty Percent Over 2010

ArtsFund, the region’s central fundraising organization and a strong advocate on cultural issues, announced today that it will make grants to eight  Pierce County arts groups totaling $182,575, an impressive 31 percent increase over last year’s Pierce County grants.

These Pierce County grants were part of ArtsFund’s overall $2.374 million in grants to 63 Pierce and King County arts groups.* This $2.3 million grant total for 2011 is 13 percent higher than ArtsFund’s 2010 grant total.

In making the announcement, Jim Tune, President  & CEO, said, “ArtsFund is delighted it was able to increase grant amounts this year. Even though the economy in general is pulling out of the Great Recession, that recovery is slow to reach the arts. Overall, arts groups are managing extraordinarily well. They are effectively concentrating resources on the artistic product, but many continue to have furloughs and many other cutbacks particularly on the administrative side. Since ArtsFund grants are general operating support, organizations can use the money where it’s needed most.”

Jim Duncan, Chairman and Principal of Sparling and Chair of the ArtsFund Board of Trustees, commented, “On behalf of all the arts, we are deeply grateful to the 300 businesses and foundations and 2,000 individuals who contributed to this year’s campaign and to our Board and members of our volunteer Associates program for their tireless fundraising efforts.”

The campaign was led by ArtsFund trustees Stellman Keehnel, Partner, DLA Piper and Sandy McDade, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Weyerhaeuser.

In addition to support from annual contributions, this year’s grants were funded with an exceptional allocation of earnings from the ArtsFund Foundation. The current balance of funds in the ArtsFund Foundation is $14.4 million.

Since it was founded in 1969, ArtsFund has made grants of more than $63 million to King and Pierce County arts groups. In addition to raising and distributing funds, ArtsFund also supports the cultural life of this region through such research as its recently released economic impact study of cultural organizations and their patrons, through extensive advocacy on important arts issues and through capacity building work such as its Board Leadership Training Program.

2011 ArtsFund Grants                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Charter Members                                                                                         

King County

5th Avenue Theatre……………………………………………………………………………………….. $82,868

ACT Theatre………………………………………………………………………………………………… $118,772

Henry Art Gallery………………………………………………………………………………………….. $102,508

Pacific Northwest Ballet…………………………………………………………………………………. $211,005

Seattle Art Museum……………………………………………………………………………………… $261,117

Seattle Children’s Theatre………………………………………………………………………………. $137,820

Seattle Opera………………………………………………………………………………………………. $270,311

Seattle Repertory Theatre……………………………………………………………………………… $157,418

Seattle Symphony………………………………………………………………………………………… $178,416

Village Theatre…………………………………………………………………………………………….. $108,143

King County Subtotal………………………………………………………………………………….. $1,628,379

Pierce County

Broadway Center for the Performing Arts…………………………………………………………… $63,324

Northest Sinfonietta………………………………………………………………………………………… $9,557

Tacoma Art Museum………………………………………………………………………………………. $54,735

Tacoma Opera……………………………………………………………………………………………….. $10,631

Tacoma Symphony…………………………………………………………………………………………. $19,470

Tacoma Youth Symphony………………………………………………………………………………….. $8,875

Pierce County Subtotal………………………………………………………………………………….. $166,592

Total Charter Members Grants……………………………………………………………………… $1,794,971

 

Continuing Members & Members

King County

Artist Trust……………………………………………………………………………………………………. $18,553

ArtsWest……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. $3,123

Auburn Symphony Orchestra…………………………………………………………………………….. $2,250

Bellevue Arts Museum……………………………………………………………………………………… $3,820

Book-It Repertory Theatre……………………………………………………………………………….. $35,440

Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas…………………………………………………………………. $5,040

Early Music Guild of Seattle………………………………………………………………………………. $13,720

Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle……………………………………………………………………………. $5,967

The Esoterics…………………………………………………………………………………………………… $2,096

Experience Music Project………………………………………………………………………………….. $7,255

Federal Way Symphony…………………………………………………………………………………….. $1,340

Frye Art Museum…………………………………………………………………………………………….. $1,820

Giant Magnet………………………………………………………………………………………………….. $7,235

Jack Straw Productions……………………………………………………………………………………… $8,162

Kirkland Performance Center…………………………………………………………………………….. $1,720

Nordic Heritage Museum…………………………………………………………………………………. $18,605

Northwest African American Museum…………………………………………………………………. $3,355

Northwest Film Forum…………………………………………………………………………………….. $10,225

Northwest Puppet Center…………………………………………………………………………………. $9,383

On the Boards……………………………………………………………………………………………….. $31,628

Pratt Fine Arts Center……………………………………………………………………………………….. $5,405

Richard Hugo House…………………………………………………………………………………………. $8,625

Seattle Arts & Lectures……………………………………………………………………………………. $17,144

Seattle Chamber Music Society…………………………………………………………………………. $21,181

Seattle Choral Company……………………………………………………………………………………. $2,470

Seattle Men’s Chorus/Seattle Women’s Chorus…………………………………………………….. $9,531

Seattle Pro Musica………………………………………………………………………………………….. $11,095

Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra………………………………………………………………………… $8,003

Seattle Shakespeare Company…………………………………………………………………………. $37,224

Seattle Theatre Group…………………………………………………………………………………….. $22,033

Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras……………………………………………………………………. $6,955

SIFF……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… $12,088

Spectrum Dance Theater…………………………………………………………………………………… $7,235

Taproot Theatre Company……………………………………………………………………………….. $15,259

Three Dollar Bill Cinema…………………………………………………………………………………….. $4,255

Town Hall Association……………………………………………………………………………………… $23,631

UW World Series at Meany Hall………………………………………………………………………….. $9,555

Vashon Allied Arts……………………………………………………………………………………………. $3,655

Velocity Dance Center………………………………………………………………………………………. $4,215

The Vera Project……………………………………………………………………………………………… $2,555

Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience………………………………… $35,469

Wing-It Productions…………………………………………………………………………………………. $3,835

King County Subtotal…………………………………………………………………………………….. $462,156

Pierce County

Museum of Glass…………………………………………………………………………………………….. $5,360

Tacoma Musical Playhouse………………………………………………………………………………. $10,623

Pierce County Subtotal……………………………………………………………………………………. $15,983

Total Continuing Members & Members Grants………………………………………………….. $478,139

 

Special Grants

 

ArtsFund Plestcheef Design and Decorative Arts Grants:

Bellevue Arts Museum……………………………………………………………………………………. $10,000

Henry Art Gallery…………………………………………………………………………………………….. $5,000

Museum of Glass…………………………………………………………………………………………… $10,000

Tacoma Art Museum………………………………………………………………………………………… $5,000

Subtotal……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. $30,000

 

Kreielsheimer Remainder Foundation Grants……………………………………………………… $66,157

 

Designated Workplace Giving Funds to Non-beneficiaries……………………………………… $5,046

Grand Total 2011 ArtsFund Grants…………………………………………………………………. $2,374,313

*Note that of this amount, $72,326 was from individuals directly designating to specific arts organizations.          

# # #

Filed under 2011 News Releases, Community investment Tagged with , , , ,

An Honor to Serve TVW, the Network that Serves All Washington

August 16, 2011 by

Washington's public affairs network TVW is where you can hear firsthand from state policymakers, elected officials, interest groups and citizens about what's going on in the state capitol and beyond. Click the screenshot to go to their website where you can also watch programming.

Many of us who work here enjoy following news about politics and public policy; and of course TVW, the Washington state public affairs network, is a primary source for firsthand information of what’s going on in Olympia and the rest of the state. So it was thrilling to have them sign up as one of the first customers of our Metro Ethernet solution (which you last heard about when we and the city of Seattle announced the Pioneer Square iniative) Here’s a news release about the project.

 

 

 

TVW Upgrades with Comcast Business Class Ethernet

for Reliable Internet Connectivity and Cost-Effective Solution

 

– Scalable 30 Mbps Metro Ethernet Solution Provides a High-Capacity Connection

and Saves TVW $12,000 a Year –

 Comcast Corporation, one of the nation’s leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services, today announced that TVW, one of the oldest and most respected state public affairs networks in the country, has upgraded its infrastructure with Comcast Business Class Ethernet.

TVW, often called the Washington state version of C-SPAN, provides unedited television coverage of state government, elections and public policy events to more than 3.5 million viewers.  From its state-of-the-art media center in Olympia, TVW sends a television signal to a satellite service at the University of Washington’s main campus in Seattle, which transmits the signal for distribution to cable television households statewide. 

 TVW is leveraging Comcast’s Ethernet Private Line Service for a secure, high-capacity fiber connection between its Olympia media center and the University of Washington satellite service.

 “Our viewers trust TVW to bring them not only unbiased but uninterrupted legislative programming. A network outage would take us off the air, and we would lose credibility with our viewers,” said Greg Lane, President of TVW.  “As a previous T1 customer, we began looking for a new point-to-point solution.  With Comcast, we found a reliable, cost-effective solution with scalable bandwidth that can be easily ramped up when we need it in the future.”

TVW made history in 1995 with the first televised state court proceeding – a death penalty case being heard by the Washington Supreme Court. The TV network has big plans for the future to ensure Washingtonians have access to all public proceedings; therefore, the cable television network needs a data connection with flexible and scalable bandwidth to grow with it.

About Comcast Business Services

Comcast Business Services, a unit of Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), provides advanced communication solutions to help organizations of all sizes meet their business objectives. Through a modern, company-owned fiber network that is backed by 24/7 technical support, Comcast delivers Business Class Internet, TV and Voice services for cost-effective, simplified communications management.

Launched in 2011, the Comcast Business Class Ethernet suite offers high-performance point-to-point and multi-point Metro Ethernet services with the capacity to deliver cloud computing, software-as-a-service, business continuity/disaster recovery and other bandwidth-intensive applications. Comcast Metro Ethernet services are significantly faster than T1 lines and other legacy technologies, providing scalable bandwidth from 1 Mbps up to 10 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) in more than 20 major US markets.

For more information, call 1-800-391-3000 or visit www.business.comcast.com.

Filed under 2011 News Releases, 2011 News Releases, News Releases Tagged with , , ,

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