BROOKLYN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Time Warner Cable Business Class (TWCBC), a division of Time Warner Cable, today announced that it expects to invest $25 million in 2012 as it expands its fiber optic network to established and emerging business locations in New York City. The investments align closely with New York City’s desire to attract growth businesses that rely heavily on advanced communications technology.
Today’s announcement was made at the headquarters of the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where TWCBC is finishing a multi-million dollar investment to provide fiber-based solutions to tenants of the 300-acre business complex. HITN is one of the complex’s first fiber clients and is utilizing the technology to improve and enhance its overall business operations, as well as to transport and deliver its online and television-based educational programming to viewers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
TWCBC also announced that the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) organization, will receive a state-of-the-art Time Warner Cable Learning Lab in its Employment Center, located inside the massive complex and accessible to the public.
“We are very pleased to work with the City of New York to make significant investments to ensure that this city has the technology infrastructure to successfully compete in a worldwide marketplace,” said Ken Fitzpatrick, President of Time Warner Cable Business Class, East Region. “Our fiber optic network provides dedicated Internet access at incredible speeds and high-bandwidth capabilities to serve the communications needs of any business.”
The company’s fiber network enables businesses to be connected to a dedicated Internet network that provides speeds that reach 1 gigabyte per second and faster, and have their voice, Ethernet, TV, and video transport solutions delivered over high-bandwidth fiber for increased speed and reliability.
“Time Warner Cable’s investment reflects the growing need for increased technology and speed for the 275 existing and growing businesses in the Yard. With this growth, comes jobs and the Learning Lab grant will support our efforts to prepare local residents for jobs in the Navy Yard,” said Andrew H. Kimball, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation.
"Today's announcement is yet another sign of the Navy Yard's continued success. Fiber optics and the Learning Lab will both allow the Navy Yard to continue to grow and help support the jobs our community needs," said Senator Daniel Squadron. "Just like the new Tech Triangle bus route we're building, this is a step towards greater connectivity to allow the Navy Yard and all of Brooklyn to keep creating great new jobs. Thank you to Time Warner Cable Business Class, the Navy Yard, and all those working with us toward an innovative and flourishing New York."
Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, said, “With all the technology start-ups emerging in Brooklyn, Time Warner Cable Business Class has made the right decision by investing in the expansion of the fiber optic network. Laying down this cutting-edge infrastructure will definitely attract more businesses to Brooklyn, and as result, create more jobs.”
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said, “My office was proud to work with the City and Time Warner Cable Business Class to ensure that New York City’s commercial, industrial and manufacturing areas receive the highest quality communications technology to create jobs, support Brooklyn’s burgeoning Tech Triangle, and keep our borough attractive to new businesses—particularly those that need state-of-the-art fiber optic networks. We’ve certainly come a long way since 1907, when the USS Dolphin—docked at the Navy Yard—was part of the first transmission of a singing voice over an arc radiotelephone. From the early days of wireless to the fiber optics of today, Brooklyn has been evolutionary—and revolutionary—in the way we communicate with the world.”
Councilman Stephen T. Levin said, “Time Warner Cable Business Class’s investment in the Brooklyn Navy Yard will enable these businesses to connect quickly and efficiently, expanding their horizons of communication and laying the foundation for dynamic growth. Additionally, Time Warner Cable Learning Lab at the Employment Center is an investment that stems far beyond the Navy Yard, and will allow individuals to attain the skills and training they need to reach their full potential. I salute Time Warner Cable Business Class for making these investments.”
“The Bloomberg Administration’s commitment to greater digital inclusion is exemplified each day – from partnering with private sector partners on infrastructure investments to expansion of broadband accessibility in public computing centers across the five boroughs,” said Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications Commissioner Rahul N. Merchant. “The Brooklyn Navy Yard represents the latest advance on these efforts, simultaneously connecting an underserved ‘digital island’ with advanced communications technology for the businesses that require it, as well as setting the stage for increased public access to help further bridge the digital divide.”
"Today's announcement represents yet another achievement in Mayor Bloomberg's technology roadmap, equipping New York City to fulfill its digital potential. High-speed Internet access via fiber-optic technology is the foundation of a thriving technology sector, qualified workforce and connected city," said Rachel Haot, New York City's Chief Digital Officer. "With Time Warner Cable's infrastructure investment, the City of New York takes a powerful step forwards to a future as the world's premiere digital City.”
HITN CEO Jose Luis Rodriguez said, “Switching to Time Warner Cable Business Class’s fiber optic network has proven to be very cost-effective for HITN, and the additional benefits – the ability to access additional bandwidth quickly and fiber optic stability – make it much easier for us to grow our telecommunications initiatives, from HITN-TV, which reaches over 40 million homes in the US and Puerto Rico, to our new cloud-based educational programs, including HITN Learning.”
TWCBC is investing to ensure that businesses in Manhattan have access to fiber-based technology. A project to bring fiber access to all tenants of the Empire State Building was recently completed, and TWCBC is continuously extending its fiber network to business locations such as the World Trade Center, the Flatiron District, all areas of Midtown and throughout the Financial District, among other areas.
In Brooklyn, Time Warner Cable is making investments to serve the borough’s business community. In addition to building out fiber at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, TWCBC is making investments to serve other business locations such as Brooklyn Tech Triangle, the Brooklyn Army Terminal and Industry City, in addition to other business locations.
Businesses in Long Island City, as well as other emerging areas in Queens, are also continuing to receive fiber investments from TWCBC. The company is also investing in Staten Island to bring this advanced technology to the borough’s business community.
The company’s fiber network is in addition to its hybrid fiber coax infrastructure that is widely available throughout in New York City areas served by Time Warner Cable Business Class, and offers a suite of data, video and voice services.
A Second Time Warner Cable Learning Lab in Brooklyn
Time Warner Cable Business Class today also announced a Time Warner Cable Learning Lab will be located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Learning Labs are state-of-the-art technology centers that provide the public with free access to computers and high-speed Internet. The Learning Lab is scheduled to open later this year and will be part of the Navy Yard’s onsite Employment Center, located in Building 92.
The Lab will be a boon to local residents who are encouraged to visit for job training and placement services, as will help connect residents to employers with jobs inside the complex.
The Learning Lab at the Brooklyn Navy Yard will be the second such facility that Time Warner Cable has donated to the people of Brooklyn, as a Learning Lab opened earlier this month at Good Shepherd Services in Park Slope. Time Warner Cable has opened six Labs in New York City and plans to open have 40 such facilities open during the next several years.
Time Warner Cable Business Class’s local service area includes Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and western Brooklyn, Mt. Vernon, NY, as well as Bergen and Hudson Counties in New Jersey.
About Time Warner Cable Business Class
Time Warner Cable Business Class, a division of Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC), offers a full complement of business communications tools to small-and medium-sized businesses and enterprise-sized companies. Its phone, Internet, Ethernet, cable TV and security solutions are enhanced by award-winning customer service and local support teams. Time Warner Cable Business Class was founded in 1998, offering high-speed Internet to small businesses. Today, it serves approximately 450,000 business customers throughout Time Warner Cable’s markets. For more information, please visit http://www.twcbc.com.