Chantilly, VA - Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) issued a statement in support of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and cable providers, which have come together with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and leading non-profit organizations to launch a major initiative to promote education and broadband adoption by providing low-cost broadband Internet service to millions of K-12 students who don't currently have broadband in their homes. The initiative is a key part of the recently announced "Connect-to-Compete" (C2C) partnership.

Households with at least one child who receives free lunch under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) will qualify for the program. The NCTA estimates that there are over 10 million qualifying students in approximately 5.5 million homes that don't currently subscribe to broadband. According to the Department of Agriculture, 31% of the children who qualify for free lunches live in single-parent homes with a female head of household.

Maria E. Brennan, CAE, WICT President & CEO, stated, "WICT applauds NCTA, the FCC and the cable industry for unifying to launch the Connect-to-Compete initiative. As an organization that represents women, WICT appreciates what this means for qualified families and the educational opportunity it provides these children. Cable connects them to the future."

About WICT
For over thirty years, Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) has partnered with cable and telecommunications leaders to provide professional development programs, research and services that help advance women in cable media. With over 8,900 members, WICT is the oldest and largest professional association serving women in the cable and telecommunications industry. Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., and AMC Networks/WE tv are WICT's Strategic Touchstone Partners. Please visit www.wict.org or follow @WICT on Twitter for more information.

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