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Meet the System: Comcast hugs the rail in Indianapolis
Completing a systemwide upgrade ahead of schedule, Comcast has geared up for the race against satellite with a battery of advanced services.
October 21, 2002
By Staci D. Kramer
MEET THE OPERATOR
Rusty Robertson, Area VP
An Indiana native, Robertson began his cable career 22 years ago in the local programming department of Storer Cable Communications in Miami, where he was later promoted to customer service manager. He returned to Indiana as regional marketing manager of Omega Cable Television, which was acquired by Jones Intercable in 1988. In 1989 Robertson became GM of one of Jones's four systems in the Chicago area and was named GM of the Kansas City system in 1995.
Phil Paligraf, GM South Midwest area
A native of Indiana, Paligraf joined Comcast in August. He oversees the ad sales operations in Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne and with the completion of the AT&T merger will also oversee South Bend, Louisville and Lexington. Prior to Comcast, he was with WTTV television, where he began his broadcasting career in 1983. Paligraf joined WTTV as a salesperson and most recently served as the GM. He graduated from Butler University in 1980.
Damon Miller, Director of sales and marketing
Miller, a native Hoosier, started with Comcast in 1997 as manager of sales and commercial development for the Indianapolis system. In June, he was named to his current position, giving him responsibility for customer growth in Indiana and Missouri. Miller graduated from Purdue University with a degree in economics.
Jim Walters, Director of operations
Walters began his cable career in 1984 with Indianapolis Cablevision, which was later purchased by Comcast. He has spent his entire career in Indianapolis, where he played an integral role in the system's 3,700-mile fiber optic rebuild in 1998. Walters, who was promoted to his current position last month, is an active member of SCTE and an honor graduate of NCTI.
Michael Rutland, Director of customer service
Rutland is responsible for serving more than 380,000 customers in Indiana, Missouri and Kansas. He comes to Comcast from Designer Checks, where he was national director of call center operations. Before that, he was with GEICO Insurance for ten years. Rutland earned a B.S. in public and environmental affairs from Indiana University.
Mark Apple, Director of corp. affairs
Born and raised in Indianapolis, Apple joined Comcast in 1997 after six and a half years in media relations for the IRS Indiana District. Current responsibilities include media, government and community relations. Apple graduated from Indiana University in 1990 with a B.A. in journalism and communications.
COMCAST, INDIANAPOLIS
THE BASICS
EMPLOYEES: 352
HOMES PASSED: 285,723
MILES OF PLANT: 3,866
HEAD-END: 750 MHz two-way, upgraded plant; 81 analog channels, 175 digital channels offering video and data
% PLANT UPGRADED TO DIGITAL: 100% (ahead of schedule)
BASIC CUSTOMERS: 154,267 (approx. 110,000 in Indianapolis, 30,000 in Muncie, 1,300 in Monrovia)
BASIC RATE: $41.95 (full basic service)
DIGITAL RATE: $9.95-$14.95
DIGITAL PENETRATION: 26.2%
HIGH-SPEED DATA CUSTOMERS: 30,501
HIGH-SPEED RATE: $39.95-$54.95
VOD: Launched spring 2002
HDTV: Launching this month
LOCAL AVAILS: 24 regional, 40 local
SOURCE: COMCAST
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