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New Survey Reveals Rise of Tethered Nomading: Digital Nomads Answer the Office's Beckoning

MBO Partners

The latest research conducted by MBO Partners® has uncovered a new workforce phenomenon - "Tethered Nomading" - redefining the world of digital nomadism. Contrary to traditional globetrotting norms, more than half (53%) of American digital nomads now plan to embrace their work-travel lifestyle exclusively within the United States; 47% plan on spending at least some time in another country. Only 10% of all digital nomads intend to spend the entire year abroad. As employers call employees back to the office, digital nomads still plan to continue their nomadic lifestyle. However, the data underscores an uptick in "slomading"- visiting fewer locations but spending more time at each stop. The MBO Partners 2023 State of Independence study found that 17.3 million American workers currently describe themselves as digital nomads, increasing 2% from 2022 after increasing a staggering 131% from the pre-pandemic year 2019 to 2022. "As employers enforce back-to-office mandates, a paradigm shift is unfolding, revealing the dynamic evolution of the modern-day nomad," said Miles Everson, CEO of MBO Partners. "While a considerable number of digital nomads are gravitating towards domestic pursuits, this presents an opportune moment for employers to embrace that spirit of exploration while fostering seamless connections to local communities. It calls for innovative policies and practices as employers navigate a world that includes adventure and productivity." This year's study showed five additional key insights about digital nomads, including: The Silver Nomads Are Rising… and Fast. While digital nomads have traditionally skewed young, older cohorts -- Gen Xers (born 1965-1980) and Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) -- increased their share of digital nomads from 36% in 2022 to 42% in 2023. With the decline of the pandemic, older workers are more willing to travel and more interested in becoming digital nomads. Digital Nomads Hit the Road with Their Kids (and Pets). The survey showed that nearly a quarter (24%) of digital nomads travel with their children, and 14% even bring their pets. But traveling with kids is more challenging and complex than traveling alone or even as a couple. The top challenges digital nomads with kids cited are the expenses associated with traveling as a family, safety, and health concerns, the lack of stability and routines, educational challenges, and socialization issues for their children. Geoarbitrage Becomes Hack for Financial Freedom. To help stretch their income, many digital nomads work from places with relatively low living costs, including destinations like Southeast Asia or Portugal, which has established itself as a European hotspot popular with nomads. At the same time, they often serve customers virtually in higher-wage labor markets, or their employers are in higher-wage countries. Combining low-cost living with higher expat income, they can take advantage of income/living cost "geo-arbitrage." This enables lower-income digital nomads to fund their travels and spend less time working to support themselves and more time enjoying their adventures. Nomadic Camouflage Becomes the New Workforce Hue. In this year's survey, 14% of digital nomads with traditional jobs reported that their employer does not know they are nomadic. An additional 18% say their company has no digital nomad policy, but their boss has permitted them to work nomadically. In other words, about one-third of digital nomads with traditional jobs are "hidden nomads," meaning the company does not know where they are working. This means they could break local employment laws and regulations without their employer knowing they are doing so. The Nomad Rush: Countries and Cities Vying Hard for Digital Wanderers. Five years ago, digital nomads were considered an eccentric and fringe group of nomadic workers. But digital nomadism is now mainstream, and this year 17.3 million Americans – a stunning 11% of American workers – are digital nomads. Governments at all levels, both in the U.S. and abroad, realize that digital nomads spend more money than tourists, create jobs for locals - and even start local businesses. Because of this, 58 countries have created special digital nomad visas and other programs, smoothing out red tape and making it easier for digital nomads to locate in their countries. To obtain a copy of the 2023 MBO Partners Digital Nomad research brief, please visit www.mbopartners.com/state-of-independence/digital-nomads. About MBO Partners® MBO Partners is a direct sourcing platform that enables enterprises and independents to work efficiently together. Its unmatched experience and industry leadership enable it to operate on the forefront of the independent economy and consistently advance the next way of working. For more information, visit mbopartners.com. Contact Details Karen Swim +1 586-461-2103 karen@wordsforhirellc.com Company Website https://mbopartners.com

August 29, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Weekday secures $2.2m funding as it tackles critical trust gap in hiring tech teams with its reference focus

Weekday

Sourcing talent has been challenging recently but hiring the correct talent has been painful for a lot longer. A key feature when hiring is the reference check process, which has become a redundant tick box exercise for recruiters and over 95% are not seeking references from their previous colleagues to gain insights into their past work performance and behaviors, and assess their suitability for the role. In addressing this pressing concern, Weekday has today launched from stealth with a $2.2m seed funding round to supercharge the hiring landscape through the power of trusted references. The funding round was led by Venture Highway with participation from several influential angel investors. Weekday is a Y-Combinator backed business. Founded in 2021 by Amit Singh, Anubav Malik and Chetan Dalal, Weekday has been operational in beta mode until today. Its genesis lies in the pain point the founders faced (in a previous startup) which centered on hiring a technology team. Despite the plethora of tools available, it took 3 months to find their first engineer but remained unconvinced. So, they turned to their network to get references which validated the individual and their skill set. This ended up almost doubling their candidate pipeline. Now, the three founders are productising the same approach of hiring with Weekday starting with a focus on tech hires. Weekday invites software engineers to connect their social graph (i.e. LinkedIn and Contacts) and gives them a readymade shortlist to refer talent to various companies. Weekday gamifies the experience and makes this unique data of references available for recruiters. Weekday hosts multiple people’s references and companies can utilize the “Backchannel” feature to get background references (from former colleagues) on every candidate they interact with; making hiring less about resumes and interviews; and more about real-life experiences and capabilities. For companies, Weekday is a sourcing engine on auto-pilot; where they can not only find candidates but also reach out to them automatically while getting reference checks on them in an instant. After 4 days of signing up, they start getting candidates suggestions with ready back channel references on their calendar to interview. Amit Singh, CEO and Co-founder of Weekday commented: “People check and rely on reviews nowadays for everything, be that going to a restaurant or buying anything on Amazon. But, when it comes to making the important decision of hiring someone, they are happy to rely on a self reported resume. We did a survey of more than 200 companies’ hiring process and while a majority did a basic background check on candidates (ie criminal record or whether they actually worked in their previous organization), less than 5% of companies use reference checks from previous colleagues to make their hiring decisions. This often leads to wrong hires. Eventually leading to firing; which ends up being detrimental to both employer as well as the employee. We want to change that. We want to solve the problem of lack of trust in the hiring process. We believe that a recruiting platform with “references” as the cornerstone is the solution that solves all these problems. We are what LinkedIn should have been.” Over 120 companies have used Weekday for their hiring needs. These recruiters are attracted because of the large pool of passive candidates (those who are not actively looking for a new role) who have been recommended by their peers which means the quality of candidates is much superior to any job board based platform. Moreover, with remote hiring on the rise, trust becomes even more important and so having references really matters to recruiters. “While most other company functions like design, product, dev tools, and sales have seen breakthrough products in the last 5-6 years, recruitment still hasn't. LinkedIn is a 20-year-old company that continues to be the de-facto platform for recruitment. We are partnering with Weekday as they try to change that” said Aviral Bhatnagar from Venture Highway Weekday is currently focused on companies hiring remote software engineers. Majority of these companies are headquartered in the US while the majority of the candidates are based in India and Southeast Asia. About Weekday Weekday is a Y Combinator backed startup solving for recruitment via its crowdsourced reference network. Weekday ( http://weekday.works/), helps startups hire engineers who are vouched by other software engineers. They have worked with over 100 companies (specializing in seed and Series A funded startups) and have helped them hire CTOs, Tech Leads, and Senior Software Engineers. They have worked with companies like Coinbase, Clipboard Health, AtoB, Daloopa, Zepto, Round Finance etc. Weekday is a sourcing engine on auto-pilot for these companies, that finds candidates as well as facilitates outreach to them; and sends interested parties to interview with ready references. Contact Details Weekday Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.weekday.works/

August 24, 2023 07:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Shareholders Called Upon to Nix Mark Parker, Tim Cook as Top-Level Directors for Nike

National Legal & Policy Center

Ahead of the company’s annual meeting next month, National Legal and Policy Center is asking its fellow investors to vote against the re-elections of Mark Parker, the executive chairman, and Tim Cook, the lead independent director, as members of the board at Nike, Inc. The nonprofit shareholder, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, argues that both Parker and Cook have never been held accountable for human rights and sexual harassment scandals on their watches, and are also overcommitted with major responsibilities as top executives at other corporations. Parker is also executive chairman for The Walt Disney Company, and Cook is chief executive officer for Apple Inc. “Mark Parker is now double-dipping on ‘woke’ as the top dog at two Left Coast-based, extremist companies – Nike and Disney,” said Paul Chesser, director of the Corporate Integrity Project for NLPC. “And Tim Cook was caught with his pants down in China late last year during its Zero COVID phase, costing Apple millions of dollars in sales due to production shutdowns. Both Mr. Parker and Mr. Cook should not have such significant roles at Nike when they have major responsibilities elsewhere.” As executive chairman of both Nike and Disney, Parker is tasked with leading both boards of directors to set the companies’ priorities and goals, while holding executive staff accountable. As Nike’s lead independent director, Cook is responsible to guide the board in Parker’s absence, to serve as his top outside advisor, and to act as an intermediary between the chairman, the board, and management. Parker’s track record of late is anything but stellar – both Nike and Disney have underperformed the S&P 500 index in recent years. Disney is embroiled in several controversies, conflicts and business challenges, including: a failed CEO succession; media, streaming and entertainment industry headwinds; foolish forays into divisive political issues; off-putting, anti-family social stances; and a host of other problems that Parker is expected to help resolve. Meanwhile Nike has been challenged about its alleged use of forced labor in China, and widespread sexual harassment allegations which led to the departure of several executives – all on Parker’s watch when he was CEO. Cook leads the largest corporation in the world, Apple, which has an estimated $3 trillion-plus market capitalization. The tech giant has had its own accusations regarding coerced labor in its China-dependent supply chain, as well as sexual harassment allegations. Does he really have time to keep an eye on the performance and decision-making at the global athleticwear leader? “Mr. Parker and Mr. Cook bear material responsibility for Nike’s lagging stock price,” said Luke Perlot, associate director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project. “Nike shareholders should expect underperformance when management alienates a large portion of its customer base with ‘woke’ policies, allows a culture of sexual harassment, and lends brand credibility to a genocidal regime.” ### For more information or to schedule an interview with the Corporate Integrity Project’s Luke Perlot or Paul Chesser, contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or drene@nlpc.org. Please visit http://www.nlpc.org. Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

August 24, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Media and Democracy Project Debunks FOX Opposition in Broadcast License Challenge; Highlights ‘Overwhelming, Uncontested, and Irrefutable’ Evidence of Character Violations

Raynor Ave.

Founding President of Fox Broadcasting Company, Jamie Kellner, Joins Growing Coalition Seeking FCC Hearing into FOX Broadcast License New filings argue FOX cannot be relied upon to deal truthfully with the public, election lies “shock the conscience,” and Murdochs lack character to remain public interest broadcast licensees MAD Reply (PDF) | Duggan-Kristol Supplement (PDF) | Kellner Informal Objection (PDF) Today, three blockbuster filings were submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of the Media and Democracy Project’s (MAD) petition challenging the broadcast license renewal application for FOX Corp-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF). The filings include MAD’s formal reply to Fox Television Stations (FTS) opposition submitted earlier this month. MAD is joined by a growing bipartisan coalition filing informal objections calling for an FCC hearing to fully consider the fitness of FOX Corporation (FOX) and the Murdochs to continue as licensees of the public airwaves. Informal objections were filed by former PBS President and FCC Commissioner Ervin S. Duggan, former Weekly Standard Editor William Kristol, and founding President of Fox Broadcasting Company Jamie Kellner. Media and Democracy Project Formal Reply The lies about the 2020 election that aired on Fox News, authorized at the highest levels of FOX’s corporate structure to retain FOX’s conservative viewer base and reverse failing ratings, represent a severe breach of the FCC policy on licensee character qualifications, MAD reaffirmed today in a legal response to their effort to call for an evidentiary hearing into the matter. In the reply, MAD took the opportunity to fact check and debunk various “strawman” arguments made by FTS in defense of WTXF. MAD argues that not only does the FCC have the authority to convene a hearing, but it has an obligation to do so built on decades of precedent. According to MAD, “Never in the history of the Commission has the agency been confronted with a license renewal applicant whose parent was found by a court of law to have repeatedly presented false news.” On whether MAD has made the case that FOX is not qualified to be an FCC licensee and the policy violations are sufficient to require an evidentiary hearing, the filing stated: “FOX knew – from the Murdochs on down – that Fox News was reporting false and dangerous misinformation about the 2020 Presidential election, but FOX was more concerned about short-term ratings and market share than the long-term damage caused by its spreading disinformation.” “What is astounding is the Opposition’s [FOX’s] utter failure to reckon with the findings of false statements in Dominion that raise substantial and material questions of FOX’s character qualifications to be an FCC licensee.” "FOX has demonstrated a willingness to lie to preserve its corporate profits. FOX’s lies concerning the outcome of the 2020 election caused a great injury to the American people and the institutions of our democracy. FOX’s willingness to lie demonstrates a fatal character flaw." Responding to accusations that holding FOX accountable violates the First Amendment, MAD writes: “This is not a First Amendment case. Rather the issue here concerns a corporation that, with the full knowledge and approval of its management, lied to millions of Americans. The question before the Commission is not whether FOX had a right to lie, rather it is about the consequences of those lies and the impact on FOX’s qualifications to remain an FCC licensee.” Beyond citing FOX’s willingness to lie as demonstrating a fatal character flaw, MAD highlights numerous instances of “material misrepresentations” in the WTXF renewal application itself. These violations and the station’s false certifications in FCC licensee records are “further evidenc[e of] its propensity for untruthfulness and FOX’s poor character.” MAD ends its filing by saying, “[a]s such, the Communications Act obligates the Commission to designate these vital questions to be answered in an evidentiary hearing.” A copy of the MAD’s formal reply to FOX’s opposition is available here. Duggan-Kristol Informal Objection Supplement Ervin S. Duggan and William Kristol joined MAD in responding to the “gaping holes” found throughout FOX’s opposition. The media veterans reiterate their call for an evidentiary hearing, saying: “Every application for a broadcast license renewal is not only a test for the applicant, but also for the FCC itself. In considering this application, the Commission inevitably will reveal whether it is serious about its regulations, or merely pretending; whether its standards are genuine, or mere shibboleths; whether its regulatory spine is strong, or made of mush.” The filing points out that the FCC Media Bureau already refuted FOX’s argument in 2012 that the parent company has no involvement in a station’s operations: “During the last television renewal cycle in 2012, FTS argued that the conduct of its parent company and of affiliates not directly involved in station operations cannot impact a station’s license renewal application, even if that conduct violates the FCC’s policy statements on licensee character. The Fox Reply takes essentially the same tack. But since the Media Bureau went out of its way to say that it did not endorse that position ten years ago, FTS now clothes its position in a new cloak of legalisms and technicalities that have no more merit than its previous bald assertion.” On FOX’s First Amendment defense, the pair said: “[D]espite the Fox Reply’s strenuous efforts to obscure the point through First Amendment rhetoric, the character and public-interest standards of the FCC are in fact standards of behavior, not speech. And in invoking the Commission’s character standards, MAD through its petition is asking the FCC to weigh FOX’s behavior, not asking the Commission to evaluate or sanction the content of its speech.” Duggan and Kristol say this of FOX’s claim that Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch’s role in perpetuating election falsehoods has no bearings over their ownership of WTXF: “If a broadcast licensee shows poor judgment or questionable character in managing a business that -- but for FCC licensure -- is identical in core objectives and operational particulars to the operation of a broadcast station, that bad judgment and suspect character should speak loudly to the Commission. In fact, it should speak much louder than the direct licensee misconduct in more attenuated contexts, or employees’ misconduct in unrelated businesses, that have provoked the FCC to designate hearings or seek to deny license renewals in the past.” A copy of the Duggan-Kristol informal objection supplemental is available here. Jamie Kellner Informal Objection Former Fox Broadcasting Company (FBC) President Jamie Kellner joined others in calling on the FCC to designate a hearing. Kellner is a well-respected former television executive who was present at the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company. He was hired by Rupert Murdoch in 1986 to serve as the broadcasting arm’s founding president and chief operating officer and helped FOX establish a foothold as America’s long-sought fourth over-the-air broadcast television network. In his filing Kellner says, “[m]y amazing colleagues and I worked hard to establish the Fox brand in television and to help Rupert Murdoch become an established force in American Network television.” He goes on to say: “While I was President of FBC we started a news division that provided daily feeds of national and international news stories for the Fox-owned and affiliated television stations for inclusion in their locally produced newscasts. Unlike the news feeds provided today by Fox News Channel, our news feeds did not prominently feature advocates like Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell spouting nonsensical lies about a Presidential election.” A copy of the Kellner informal objection is available here. The Media and Democracy Project: MAD is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, grassroots civic membership organization fighting for a more informative and pro-democracy media operating in the public interest. MAD aims to improve our national discourse so that American voters can engage in informed decision-making. As part of that goal, MAD has an interest in the responsibility of journalists and media to report fully, accurately, and fairly on the electoral process and the outcome of elections. Additional information is available at www.MediaAndDemocracyProject.org. Ervin S. Duggan is a veteran of the Lyndon Johnson White House, a former Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, and former President of PBS. William Kristol is a veteran political analyst and commentator. He served in senior positions in the Ronald Reagan administration and the George H.W. Bush White House. For two decades, he edited The Weekly Standard magazine, and is now editor at large of The Bulwark and a director of the educational and advocacy group, Defending Democracy Together. Jamie Kellner was the Founding President of Fox Broadcasting Company, having also founded The WB Network and served as CEO of Turner Broadcasting System, overseeing networks like CNN, TNT, and TBS. Contact Details Raynor Ave. Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0786 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://www.raynoravenue.com/

August 22, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

NAVEX Enhances Communication with AI-Driven Translations

NAVEX Global

NAVEX, the leader in integrated risk and compliance management software, announces the launch of a new NAVEX One platform shared service: dynamic machine translations. This first-to-market addition in the governance, risk and compliance (GRC) space will empower organizations operating across different countries to overcome language barriers, enabling accurate risk and compliance-related communication between employees, third parties and program administrators. NAVEX understands the challenges organizations face in maintaining accurate communication when dealing with sensitive data arising from risk and compliance tasks. Many organizations struggle with language barriers, hindering effective collaboration. With varying language skills among responders, the potential for misunderstandings and misinterpretations can be detrimental to decision-making and compliance efforts – especially in time-sensitive cases. "NAVEX is pioneering the future of machine translations within the GRC space, directly tackling the complexities of multilingual communication," stated A.G. Lambert, chief product officer at NAVEX. "The integration of secure machine translation into NAVEX One makes it simple for GRC professionals to translate disclosures, assessments, and responses, leading to better communication and faster resolution." The introduction of dynamic machine translations addresses these issues and improves communication efficiency. With advanced artificial intelligence technology, this shared service allows end users to translate directly from the NAVEX One user interface. How machine translations work In the past, administrators encountered the repetitive task of manually copying text, relying on external translation tools, and then painstakingly inputting the translations to proceed with their workflow. However, with the introduction of the machine translations shared service built on Amazon Web Services (AWS), administrators are now equipped to address important matters promptly and efficiently, leading to quicker resolution rates. Moreover, administrators can assess third-party entities proficiently, regardless of the languages they speak or the answers they provide. The user-friendly NAVEX One interface makes translating disclosures, evaluations, and responses easy, promoting smooth communication and understanding. "By relying on the broadest and deepest set of cloud services on AWS, including Amazon Translate, NAVEX is able to use machine translations within the governance, risk and compliance space, directly tackling the complexities of multilingual communication,” stated Venky Nagapudi, Senior Product Management Leader, Amazon Translate, AWS. “The work between NAVEX and AWS makes it easy to translate disclosures, assessments, and responses, leading to better communication and faster resolution." Key benefits of NAVEX One machine translations include: Multilingual support: The system supports 75 languages, facilitating seamless communication with stakeholders worldwide. Accurate and reliable: Powered by advanced neural network technology, the feature ensures precise translation of critical information. Streamlined workflow: The translation functionality integrates seamlessly into existing GRC workflows, saving time and effort for administrators and responders. Cost-effective translations: Organizations can deliver faster results and decrease operational costs by reducing the need for external translation services. Data privacy: Advanced technical and physical measures, including encryption at rest and in transit, are used to prevent unauthorized access or sharing of content. Incorporating a dynamic machine translation service highlights NAVEX's continued commitment to fostering innovative solutions throughout the NAVEX One platform. By seamlessly integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, NAVEX continues to empower companies to overcome language obstacles, promoting cross-cultural teamwork and elevating the effectiveness of GRC processes. As NAVEX continues to leverage AI and ML, it cements its position as a leader in cutting-edge technology within the GRC space. The NAVEX One GRC – Information System Multilingual Machine Translation marks a bold stride in NAVEX’s innovative journey following the recent launch of the NAVEX Compliance Assistant. NAVEX's unwavering commitment to AI/ML innovation propels the governance, risk, and compliance landscape into a new era. By harnessing the power of AI, NAVEX is reshaping the compliance landscape, streamlining intricate processes, and automating tasks. This first-to-market shared service accelerates and enhances compliance initiatives while fostering clarity across your organization. Navigate the future of compliance with your AI-powered ally, simplifying employee compliance in ways that redefine ease and efficiency. For more information, visit the NAVEX One Platform. And read our blog. NAVEX is trusted by thousands of customers worldwide to help them achieve the business outcomes that matter most. As the global leader in integrated risk and compliance management software and services, we deliver solutions through the NAVEX One platform, the industry’s most comprehensive governance, risk and compliance (GRC) information system. For more information, visit NAVEX.com and our blog. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Contact Details Scott Levesque +1 617-388-5773 scott.levesque@navex.com Company Website https://www.navex.com

August 22, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Former Republican FCC Chair Joins Growing Chorus Calling for Hearing into License Renewal Application for Fox Philadelphia

Raynor Ave.

Former Republican Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman and broadcast licensee Alfred Sikes today joined the Media and Democracy Project (MAD) and media veterans Ervin S. Duggan and William Kristol to support a petition to deny the broadcast license renewal application for FOX Corporation-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF-TV). “The FCC has allowed the public interest responsibility of broadcast licensees to become a bureaucratic construct,” said Alfred Sikes. “The behavior of Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, highlighted in the MAD petition, raises a first principles question. Is truthful conduct a part of the standard?” Nominated by President George H.W. Bush, Alfred Sikes served as the FCC Chairman from 1989-1992. Prior to his service as Chair, Sikes was nominated by President Reagan to become Assistant Secretary of Commerce and director of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. As FCC Chair, Sikes supported providing Rupert Murdoch with critical FCC waivers needed to launch Fox Broadcasting Company. Throughout his tenure at the FCC, Sikes opposed the advocacy of Murdoch’s competitors seeking to block efforts to create America’s fourth broadcast network. “It is noteworthy that Fox News declared Biden the winner in 2020; it was after all paying expert analysts to parse data to help it project winners and losers,” Sikes says in the objection. “And then much of its prime-time news coverage and opinionators fell in behind the Donald Trump version, not the Fox version of the outcome. They choose fiction over non-fiction to make many of its listeners and viewers happy. They knew the facts and decided to ignore them.” The objection concludes by saying, “The FCC has allowed the pledge to operate in the public interest to become perfunctory at best. If the public interest means anything, the FCC must designate for a hearing the application of the Murdochs and FOX for renewal of their license to operate station WTXF, Philadelphia.” On July 3, 2023, MAD filed a petition to deny the broadcast license renewal application for Fox Corp-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF-TV). MAD is calling on the FCC to initiate an evidentiary hearing into FOX’s conduct to examine whether FOX and its leadership have violated the character requirements expected from public trustees granted a broadcast license. As an FCC broadcast licensee, WTXF-TV, one of 29 FOX subsidiary broadcast stations, has a basic statutory duty to conduct its operations in the “public interest.” A copy of Alfred Sikes informal objection is available here. A link to MAD’s initial Petition to Deny is available here. For media inquiries, please contact Aaron Alberico at aalberico@raynoravenue.com. Alfred Sikes is a former Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration during the Reagan Administration. He was nominated by President George H.W. Bush to the Federal Communications Commission where he served as the Republican Chairman from 1989-92. Contact Details Raynor Ave. Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0786 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://www.raynoravenue.com/

August 21, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Comcast, Hillsdale in Miami County and the City of Paola Announce Multi-Million Dollar Project to Deliver High-Speed Internet to Homes and Businesses Across the Area

Comcast Greater Kansas City

Comcast announced it is expanding its smart, fast, reliable fiber-rich network – the Xfinity 10G Network – to homes and businesses in the city of Paola and the area of Hillsdale in Miami County to further enhance broadband connectivity and better serve its citizens with fast, reliable internet service. Working with the City of Paola and Miami County, Comcast will bring secure gigabit broadband service to more than 4,000 homes and businesses and will invest millions in a two-year project to expand its fiber-rich Xfinity 10G Network infrastructure over 107 miles in the area. As part of its commitment to bring connectivity to more homes in Kansas, Comcast worked closely with the City of Paola and Hillsdale in Miami County to make fast internet a reality for over 4,000 homes and businesses. The expansion will bring residential broadband speeds faster than 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) and business speeds up to 100 Gbps. In the last three years, Comcast has invested nearly $40.3 million in the State of Kansas including more than $11.4 million in technology and infrastructure, such as network upgrades to deliver innovative, reliable and affordable broadband service to everyone in the Comcast service area in Kansas. “Comcast’s announcement to expand further south into Miami County provides additional service options to some customers but also brings service to some areas currently without any high-speed provider,” said Janet McRae, Economic Development Director for Miami County. “The need for our residents and businesses to have high speed internet options is only going to continue to increase in the future. We look forward to the opportunities this investment in our county will bring.” "We are excited for Comcast's commitment to bring high-speed internet to our residents and businesses. Members of our staff have already begun meeting with Comcast to help streamline their construction needs and hopefully minimize any disruptions that may occur,” said Randi Shannon, City Manager, City of Paola. “High-speed internet supports so many parts of our daily lives. Increased access benefits not just those who work from home or enjoy digital entertainment, but it also brings vital healthcare and similar services into the homes of our most vulnerable residents. We are grateful for Comcast's investment and are excited to see the opportunities it brings." “Comcast is proud to partner with Paola and Hillsdale to connect businesses and residents to our reliable, high-speed Xfinity 10G Network,” said Kalyn Hove, Regional Senior Vice President for Comcast. “As the world we live in becomes increasingly digital, we remain focused on not only bringing our broadband network to more homes and businesses in Kansas, but also on future-proofing our network to meet the ever-increasing appetite for education, business and entertainment.” Residential customers will be able to take advantage of Xfinity’s full suite of internet products, including the company’s Internet Essentials program that provides low-cost, high-speed broadband for income-constrained households. Since its inception in 2011, the program has connected more than 6,400 Kansas residents. Comcast also participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides qualifying households with a $30 monthly credit toward internet and mobile services. Powered by the Xfinity 10G Network Comcast’s network and Internet experience are powering homes and businesses today and into the future: Ultimate Capacity: Xfinity customers connect nearly 1 billion devices across the company’s network annually. The Xfinity 10G Network with the next-generation Xfinity gateways deliver the most advanced WiFi technology carrying three times more bandwidth to power streaming, gaming, videoconferencing, and more, simultaneously. Fastest Internet: More than a third of Xfinity Internet customers subscribe to gigabit speed products, and symmetrical gig speeds are planned to come to the first homes later this year. Unprecedented Coverage: The latest Xfinity Gateway provides a more reliable connection throughout the home. Customers can get wall-to-wall WiFi coverage with a powerful Xfinity WiFi Boost Pod that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas, with plans for an offering of increased support for in-home WiFi through a “boost guarantee” later this year. Most Reliable Connection: Comcast is scaling the nation’s largest and most reliable network – the Xfinity 10G Network – that passes 60 million homes and businesses and counting. The company plans to launch a new device that is “storm ready” with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out. Ultra-Low Latency: The Xfinity 10G Network and the latest Xfinity Gateway are a powerful combination that deliver ultra-low latency for those moments when response times matter most like video games, a fast-growing category with Xfinity households averaging more than one gaming console per home. For local businesses, Comcast Business offers a suite of connectivity, cybersecurity, managed solutions and Comcast Business Mobile products designed specifically for their employee’s needs. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable and Internet provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading providers to larger organizations in the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Corporation Jill Hornbacher jill_hornbacher@comcast.com Venice Communications Jayne Siemens jsiemens@vencomm.com Company Website https://corporate.comcast.com/

August 15, 2023 07:00 AM Central Daylight Time

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IAPC Decries Assassination of Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate

International Association of Political Consultants

The International Association of Political Consultants (IAPC) released the following statement regarding the murder of Build Ecuador Movement Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio: “The assassination or even harassment of a political candidate is an affront to the democratic process,” said Matt Klink, President of the IAPC. “Violence has no place in a democracy. You can disagree with a politician’s point of view, you can demonstrate, but the place to exercise your voice is at the ballot box.” “Democracy is fragile, and when violence is used to silence voices, everyone suffers.” “We must focus our democratic energy on ensuring fair, open elections that allows for the fullest participation of all points of view. As political consultants we encourage our candidates and clients to be tolerant, respectful, and civil to voters and the opposition.” “The IAPC’s mission is to support democracy around the world. We must continue to be vigilant in protecting democratic values against threats from those that try and thwart and subvert the will of the people.” Established in 1968, The International Association of Political Consultants is committed to fostering democracy and the democratic process throughout the world. Members span a variety of political backgrounds and activities fostering the growing and diverse profession of political consulting as well as the practical aspects of democratic elections. Contact Details President, International Association of Political Consultants Matt Klink +1 310-283-6267 matt@klinkcampaigns.com Vice-President Communications, International Association of Political Consultants Marcel wieder +1 416-907-2126 Company Website https://www.iapc.org

August 10, 2023 03:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time

CardSnacks Launches Group Greeting Cards to Enhance its E-Card Offerings

CardSnacks

Miss passing cards around the office to recognize a colleague’s birthday, celebrate the birth of a child, or show sympathy for a loss? CardSnacks, the leading platform for individuals and businesses to send personalized e-greetings and gift cards, has introduced a group greeting card feature that lets colleagues send a single e-greeting with personalized messages from multiple users. The feature, which is available on iOS and Android devices, fills one of the biggest cultural holes in workplace environments since more companies have gone to hybrid or work-from-home models. “Anyone who has ever worked in the office has signed a group card to show love and appreciation for a colleague, but that is hard to do in the current workplace,” said Mark Wachen, founder and CEO of CardSnacks. “For the first time, our e-greetings allow for collaboration, whether you are near or far from your colleagues, this latest feature brings coworkers together to offer collective support and celebration.” The feature is available now for CardSnacks for Business, which is geared toward employee and client recognition and connection. Additionally, it is also available for CardSnacks’ personal offerings, meaning family members or neighbors can also share a single card, as long as they are a registered user of CardSnacks. Like all CardSnacks e-cards, the greetings are customizable, with the ability to add photos, videos, music, stickers, and more. Customers can also attach one of the 400 gift cards from top retailers and restaurants. More than 5,000 different card covers are available so customers can send group birthday cards, group anniversary cards, group thank you cards, and much more. “Creating shared, collaborative cards has always been a wonderful way to show recognition, support, and love to others,” Wachen said. “This new group greeting card feature is a step forward in allowing people who may be physically far away from one another to show deep connection and support, build culture, and solidify a sense of community.” For step-by-step instructions on how to set up a group greeting card on CardSnacks, visit https://www.cardsnacks.com/business/resources. About CardSnacks CardSnacks is the leading platform for individuals and businesses to send personalized e-greetings, invitations, and gift cards. It is based in New York, with employees in California, London, and Israel. CardSnacks is available in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and on the web. For more information, please visit us at https://www.cardsnacks.com. Contact Details CardSnacks Media press@cardsnacks.com Company Website https://www.cardsnacks.com/

August 08, 2023 10:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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