Ten years ago this month, Bill Clinton was President, TLC and Ricky Martin topped the Billboard charts, and the Yankees swept the Braves to win their second consecutive World Series. Seems like a long time ago, doesn’t it? But for many families in Kentucky, October 1999 also marks an occasion that would change the way they stay connected every day. This month marks the tenth anniversary of Insight Communications providing service to communities across Kentucky.
By the time Insight purchased these cable systems, customers had seen their fair share of operators come and go. Local employees, tired of the revolving door of owners listened skeptically, believing that Insight would last only a year or two, like the previous owners before them. In the face of those expectations, we declared that we wanted to plant our roots in the Bluegrass State serving Kentuckians and nearby communities in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. We promised to do all we could to improve the services that our new customers received from their cable provider.
Ten years later, I believe we’ve made good on that promise. Sure, we had some bumps in the road, but all in all, Insight customers are among the most satisfied cable, broadband and phone customers in the nation according to JD Powers, Broadband Reports and other independent polls and studies. Along the way, Insight has become Kentucky’s largest provider of cable television and broadband Internet service and is now, by far, the fastest growing provider of home phone service.
As the Commonwealth’s largest technology provider, Insight launched the fastest Internet service in Kentucky twice in just three years, providing 10 Mbps service and now up to 20 Mbps service. We’ve upgraded to digital cable systems, moving from 64 channels to hundreds and hundreds of channels, adding many high definition channels and On Demand programming in the process. Recently, we’ve weathered some of the worst natural disasters the region has ever experienced, while working constantly to provide the most technologically advanced and reliable services available anywhere.
Insight has become one of Kentucky’s largest employers now employing or contracting with more than 3,500 Kentuckians. We have also moved our hub of operations, our after-hours and tiers II and III call centers and our Network Operations Center to the Commonwealth. And we’ve invested millions of dollars in infrastructure to build a smart network that delivers the most advanced technology in the state.
Here at Insight, we’re proud to be Kentucky’s technology leader. But just as importantly, we’re proud to be a big part of this community – the home team when it comes to telecommunications services. Through jobs, investment and time and money spent on various charitable and philanthropic needs, Insight is committed to improving the quality of life for more Kentuckians.
After reflecting on these ten years, I’m reminded of the old Loretta Lynn song, “We’ve come a long way, baby.” But here at Insight, we’ve only just begun. In fact, we’re looking forward to announcing, in the very near future, additional upgrades to help keep you in-step with the most reliable and innovative products and services available anywhere in the nation.
Technology has changed rapidly over the past decade and here at Insight, it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. As technology continues to change, Kentucky’s families can count on the dedicated men and women who make up the Insight Team to keep them on the cutting edge. It’s a commitment we’ve made for the past ten years and it's something our customers can continue to count on each and every day.
