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Boston, MA – July 15, 2024 – Astound Broadband (Astound), an award-winning provider of Internet, Mobile and TV services, today announced that Astound employees from its Massachusetts division recently participated in a volunteer home build project with Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston for Habitat for Humanity International’s Home is the Key campaign. The project is part of a broad partnership with Habitat for Humanity to support affordable homeownership in communities within Astound’s service footprint and beyond. Astound’s employee volunteers worked side-by-side with local Habitat for Humanity affiliate and future homeowners to help build their new home in Malden, Mass.

The employee volunteer effort is part of Astound Community Connect which centers around making meaningful change throughout the communities we serve, and beyond, by empowering our employees to volunteer and contribute to important causes that align with our company values. Astound is providing financial support and in-kind services to Habitat for Humanity’s affordable housing initiatives. This support will help Habitat for Humanity build safe, decent, and affordable homes for families across the Astound footprint and beyond.

Astound employee volunteers participated in several home build sessions to help build the new home.

“It means a great deal to Astound and our employee volunteers to work alongside Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston in Malden to help build new homes, lending a hand all for the good of something bigger than us. Our collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston continues Astound’s longtime commitment to the communities we serve. We look forward to the completion of the new homes and to our continued partnership to bring more affordable housing to the Malden area,” said Sanford Ames, SVP and General Manager, Astound Broadband overseeing Massachusetts.

“We appreciate the effort by Astound employees to help build a home for a new homeowner who may not otherwise have been able to afford one,” said Jim Kostaras, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston. “When the community comes together, like Astound has done, to help make affordable homeownership possible for local families, it’s a win for everyone.”
Astound is committed to combining financial support, in-kind support and employee volunteerism, as well as providing opportunities for customers and others to participate. Astound is donating more than $670,000 to Habitat for Humanity that will support building homes and hosting over 40 employee volunteer events in the communities that Astound serves. Astound’s collaboration will involve employee volunteers in every market in its footprint, including Chicago, Indiana, Eastern Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York City, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Texas, and regions throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.

This partnership is one of many where Astound has delivered on the company’s commitment to serving its communities through volunteerism, philanthropy and financial support through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Over the past several years, Astound has supported both local and national nonprofit organizations that have made significant impacts in Astound communities. In 2022, Astound distributed $1 million in separate grants to 30 local nonprofits in its service areas. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Astound and its customers donated $210,000 to Feeding America, supporting local food banks. In 2021, Astound helped to build the first-in-the-nation high school fiber optic program at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in Peabody MA, where Astound donated all the equipment and labor. Through that partnership, Astound continues to provide paid internships to Peabody high school students seeking training in the fiber-optic industry.

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About Astound Broadband
Astound Broadband (astound.com) is the sixth largest cable operator in the U.S., providing award-winning services, fiber-powered internet, TV, mobile, landline phone and fiber optic solutions for residential and business customers across the United States. Astound Broadband is comprised of organizations formerly known as RCN, Grande Communications, Wave Broadband, and enTouch. The company services Chicago, Indiana, Eastern Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York City, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Texas, regions throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.

Media Contact
Ann Murphy
astound@sevenletter.com
617-646-1031

Astound Business Solutions leader cited for decades of community service

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CA – June 25, 2024 — Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County recently honored local telecommunications executive Jeff Buckingham with its 2024 Legacy Award, at the nonprofit’s annual “Big Event” fundraiser. Buckingham, who serves as Senior Director, Business Solutions, for Astound Business Solutions (formerly Digital West), has been an active supporter of Big Brother Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County for nearly three decades. The 2024 Legacy Award was presented by the organization’s CEO, Stacy Salame, to honor Buckingham and Astound’s longstanding commitment to numerous non‑profits throughout the area.

Under Buckingham’s leadership, Astound and its predecessor companies have provided vital low-cost technology and internet connectivity for Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County and more than 30 other non-profits throughout the Central Coast. Buckingham has also been supportive of Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County’s local mentorship programs, continuously encouraging business leaders and potential mentors throughout the community to get involved with the organization’s efforts.

“This year’s recipient was an obvious choice, as Jeff Buckingham and the team at Astound have been supporting us with telecommunications and connectivity services for many years, not to mention Jeff’s continuous advocacy of our mentorship and other key programs,” said Salame. “More broadly, under Jeff’s local leadership, Astound and its employees have gone above and beyond in being community advocates, whether through countless hours of volunteerism or providing non-profits like ours with affordable technology and connectivity to further our missions.”

“Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County embodies the very best of our community and I am deeply honored to receive this award on behalf of more than 50 local Astound employees,” said Buckingham. “We are fortunate to live and work on the Central Coast and take tremendous pride in being community ambassadors. Our community involvement really started with our predecessor companies, and I am grateful that Astound wholeheartedly supports and encourages our continued community advocacy and leadership here on the Central Coast.”

In previous years Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County has honored Lindsey Harn, Clint Pearce, Bill Jodry, Carol Florence, Hal Sweasey, Bryan Gingg, JED Nicholson, Karen Colombo, Claire Vollmer, Christie Tjong Clemons, the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust, The Big Brothers Big Sisters Realtors’ & Lenders’ Circle, CIO Solutions, and Pacific Western Bank. For more information on volunteering or contributing to Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County, call 805-781-3226, or visit www.SLObigs.org.

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About Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. The local, volunteer and donor funded organization provides targeted recruiting, screening, training and matching, as well as ongoing support, safety training and supervision for volunteers, children, and families.  A nationwide Harris Interactive study found that adults who were involved as children in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs grew up to be better educated, wealthier, and report stronger relationships with their spouses, children and friends.

About Astound Business Solutions
Astound Business Solutions provides IT leaders with high-capacity, secure connectivity for their mission-critical applications while increasing overall agility and responsiveness. A part of Astound Broadband, the award-winning national telecommunications provider offers advanced solutions that are delivered over a diverse, carrier-grade network that provides the speed, bandwidth, and reliability businesses need to support growing data demands. With coast-to-coast connectivity to over 75,000 business customers, Astound Business Solutions maintains a local, customer-centric approach, with dedicated industry experts on-hand around the clock to help businesses stay on top of today’s evolving IT technology and remain competitive in their markets. Visit astound.com/business.

Media Contact
Mark S. Peterson
Astound Business Solutions
(206) 390-0204 | mark@pointerpr.com

Organizations Receive “Best ISP” Designations in PC Magazine 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards

PRINCETON, NJ – June 18, 2024 — Astound Broadband and Astound Business Solutions, award-winning providers of high-capacity and secure connectivity for residential and business customers, today announced the launch of Astound 5 Gig, a symmetrical 5 Gigabit internet service. Now available for residential and small business customers in many of Astound’s fiber markets, the new offering brings vastly enhanced levels of speeds, connectivity and productivity, all supported by Astound’s robust fiber-powered network.

This latest news follows the announcement that Astound Broadband and Astound Business Solutions were each named “Best ISP” in PC Magazine 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, in categories tied to business and residential service. Astound’s residential internet was voted as one of the best in Customer Service, Speed, Reliability, and Overall Satisfaction. Astound Business Solutions was voted #1 in Overall Satisfaction as well as 10 other categories, including Setup, Reliability, Speed, and Ease of Use.

Astound’s fiber-powered network supports symmetrical 5 Gig upload and download speeds, along with lower latency and increased capacity. For residential users, this means sharing pictures and videos as fast as they stream, on multiple devices at the same time. With less latency, activities like gaming and streaming entertainment are more responsive than ever for those at home, while business users can simultaneously deploy high-bandwidth applications and collaboration tools, improving productivity without compromising capacity.

Powered by eero’s fastest mesh Wi-Fi 7 system, eero Max 7, Astound 5 Gig is built for accelerated streaming and downloading, able to accommodate more than 200 devices at the same time. With two 10 GbE ports, eero Max 7 can deliver wired speeds up to 9.4 Gbps, and wireless speeds up to 4.3 Gbps. It is ideal for applications like gaming, as well as business uses that require high throughput and low latency, with eero’s patented TrueMesh technology and advanced online security included. Initial markets include portions of Maryland, Illinois, Texas, New York City, Pennsylvania, Washington, Oregon, California, with availability expanding continuously.

“Simply put, Astound 5 Gig is our best internet ever, whether for residential or small business use,” said Jim Holanda, Astound CEO. “Our customers are responding with a resounding ‘yes’ to Astound’s high quality service, reliability, and customer service which were highlighted in the PC Magazine 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards”

In addition, Astound has also received recognition from Forbes Home as the 2024 Best Internet Provider in eight residential markets across the U.S. including Chicago, New York City, Corpus Christi TX, Dallas TX, Portland OR, Philadelphia PA, San Antonio TX, and Seattle WA, reaffirming Astound’s commitment to delivering the best services year after year. Astound also received the 2024 Top Workplaces USA award based upon feedback gathered from Astound employees.

Astound’s fiber-powered internet speeds now range from 300/300 Mbps to 5 Gig internet at 5000/5000 Mbps symmetrical speeds. The ideal speed for an individual household or a small business depends on the number of connected devices and their online usage needs.

Those interested can check availability at their address to see if Astound offers 5 Gig in a specific area by visiting astound.com. Astound’s fiber-powered internet plans are highly competitive in every market served. Prices vary based on location and desired speed.

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About Astound Broadband
Astound Broadband (astound.com) is the sixth largest cable operator in the U.S., providing award-winning high-speed internet, broadband communications solutions, TV, phone services and fiber optic solutions for residential and business customers across the United States. Astound Broadband is comprised of organizations formerly known as RCN, Grande Communications, Wave Broadband, and enTouch. The company services Chicago, Indiana, Eastern Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York City, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Texas, and regions throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.

About Astound Business Solutions
Astound Business Solutions provides IT leaders with high-capacity, secure connectivity for their mission-critical applications while increasing overall agility and responsiveness. A part of Astound Broadband, the award-winning national telecommunications provider offers advanced solutions that are delivered over a diverse, carrier-grade network that provides the speed, bandwidth, and reliability businesses need to support growing data demands. With coast-to-coast connectivity to over 75,000 business customers, Astound Business Solutions maintains a local, customer-centric approach, with dedicated industry experts on-hand around the clock to help businesses stay on top of today’s evolving IT technology and remain competitive in their markets. Visit astound.com/business.

(Boston, MA) – June 11, 2024 – Astound Broadband (Astound), an award-winning provider of Internet, mobile and TV services, recently participated in a celebration of Peabody Veterans Memorial High School’s (PVMHS) first-in-the-nation high school fiber-optics lab and internship program. Astound, in partnership with PVMHS’s Careers and Technical Educational (CTE) Program, helped build the lab in 2022, to teach the students about fiber-optic installation and repair. The program includes both classroom and on the job instruction. The internship program is now in its third year with six students completing the internship program.

At the event, Mark Bentley, Switch Transport Manager who oversees the internship program for Astound, said that the company wanted to donate its time and expertise so that PVMHS could have the best and first fiber-optic teaching lab in the country. “We are looking forward to the next generation being trained in the field of fiber-optics, and the partnership will provide skilled and certified technicians to fill critical positions. This is an incredible opportunity for the students to learn state of the art tech skills, and for Astound Broadband, as we help to create a program that we hope can be modeled elsewhere,” said Bentley.

At the event, student Amelia Stewart described her experience as an Astound intern, “My passion is the innovation for the future. I want to be part of it. This lab is hope for my future. Working with Astound is perfect opportunity to embrace my passions.”

“Our partnership with Astound accelerated our electronics program and has put Peabody at the forefront of education and training in fiber-optics,” said Brooke Randall, PVMHS Principal. “Under the guidance of teacher Dale Larocque combined with Astound’s on the job training, our students are becoming certified with highly technical skills that will help them in any career path they choose.”

The PVMHS fiber-optic lab provides students with a practical, in-class experience to enhance their instruction and provides the instructor with the ability to customize lab exercises to adapt to students’ various learning styles. The lab includes active, long-distance circuits, travelling across multiple points in Astound’s Massachusetts fiber network and returning to the lab. At this lab, students have been able to run exercises, trouble shoot problems and build their skills and experience for a career in fiber-optics. Astound created this paid internship program for students to acquire on-the-job skills by working in internships supervised by Astound technicians.

The event also recognized the Fiber Optics Association, who certified the lab as a training facility. The lab includes fiber-optic racks, patch panels, transmission equipment and other materials used in the industry today.

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About Astound Broadband
Astound Broadband (astound.com) is the sixth largest cable operator in the U.S., providing award-winning services, fiber-powered internet, TV, mobile, landline phone and fiber optic solutions for residential and business customers across the United States. Astound Broadband is comprised of organizations formerly known as RCN, Grande Communications, Wave Broadband, and enTouch. The company services Chicago, Indiana, Eastern Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York City, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Texas, regions throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.

Media Contact
Ann Murphy
astound@sevenletter.com
617-646-1031

Princeton, NJ- May 31, 2024 — Astound Broadband (Astound), an award-winning provider of Internet, mobile and TV services, today announced the immediate availability of a new low-cost, affordable internet program, Internet First for qualifying households. Astound developed the program to help keep residents connected as funding for the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) fully comes to an end as of May 31, 2024. Internet First is available now for eligible customers who qualify, starting at $9.95 per month for 50Mbps and $19.95 per month for 150Mbps, with three months free for new customers.

Astound’s Internet First program has no contracts, no credit checks, and no installation fees and delivers more speed and more value than other providers. In addition, the program is offering one free line of Astound Unlimited Mobile for 12 months.

“Astound Broadband developed Internet First so all residents can have access to affordable, reliable, fast internet to meet their daily needs,” said Jim Holanda, Astound CEO. “Internet First is a low-cost, high-quality internet program that provides peace of mind and keeps customers connected to everything that matters to them.”

Astound is also working closely with local governments, school districts and nonprofits to help families get connected and stay connected to the internet. Internet First is available to those who qualify and participate in public assistance programs like the National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others.

“Bridging the digital divide is crucial to maintain thriving communities, and Astound’s Internet First program will help eligible households stay connected,” Holanda added.

Internet First Highlights:

• 50 Mbps Internet for $9.95/month
• 150 Mbps Internet for $19.95/month
• Modem & WiFi Included
• No Contracts | No Credit Check | No Installation Fees
• 3 Months Free for new customers
• One line of Astound Unlimited Mobile free for 12 months

For information on eligibility and more about Internet First go to https://www.internetfirst.com.

Astound’s commitment to the communities it serves is also reflected in its company-wide initiative, Astound Community Connect, which supports key partnerships with nonprofit and community organizations. Recently, Astound announced a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to help families in need achieve safe, decent and affordable housing. Astound is donating over $670,000 to the organization, which will support building homes and is hosting over 40 employee volunteer events.

Over the past several years, Astound has supported both local and national nonprofit organizations that have made significant impacts in Astound communities, including distributing $1 million in separate grants to 30 local nonprofits in its service areas, donating along with its customers, $210,000 to Feeding America, to support local food banks. In Massachusetts, Astound helped to build the first-in-the-nation high school fiber optic program at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, where it donated all the equipment and labor, and continues to provide paid internships to Peabody high school students seeking training in the fiber-optic industry.

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About Astound Broadband
Astound Broadband (astound.com) is the sixth largest cable operator in the U.S., providing award-winning services, fiber-powered internet, TV, mobile, landline phone and fiber optic solutions for residential and business customers across the United States. Astound Broadband is comprised of organizations formerly known as RCN, Grande Communications, Wave Broadband, and enTouch. The company services Chicago, Indiana, Eastern Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York City, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Texas, regions throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.

Media Contact
Ann Murphy
astound@sevenletter.com
617-646-1031