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Granahan McCourt News

Ireland has bad balance sheet but basics are strong 

21 July 2011

The Irish Times 

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David C. McCourt's Op Ed on the European debt crisis.

 


Let the Celtic Tiger Roar Again 

14 July 2011

The Wall Street Journal  

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David C. McCourt's Op Ed on the European debt crisis.

 


Skyware Global enters tactical satellite market 

21 June 2011

Satellite Evolution Group  Read More

Satnews Daily   Read More

Satellite Today   Read More


Skyware Global has established the Tactical Ground Systems (TGS) division to enter the tactical satellite market. This division will exploit the company's existing in-house antenna and RF electronics design capabilities as well as its high-quality, high-volume production and low-cost credentials to offer affordable solutions for fixed, motorized and mobile tactical terminals for Defense, Homeland Security, Intelligence, First Responder, Emergency Services and other government and stringent commercial applications. The TGS Group is rolling out a portfolio of products focusing on turnkey solutions for vehicle-mounted, FlyAway and ManPack platforms in sizes ranging from 45cm to 2.4m and operating at C-, X-, Ku- and Ka-Bands.

 


Skyware Global introduces first 69cm Ka-Band ODU 

2 June 2011

Satellite Evolution Group


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Skyware Global has announced its latest innovative product, the 69cm Ka-Band Outdoor Unit (ODU). The company designed and manufactured the world's first consumer Ka-Band antenna in 2004 and more than 1.4 million are now in use in North America alone. It has also designed the world's most versatile Ka-Band VSAT transceiver range, covering both commercial and military bands. The company's other Ka-Band products include the 66cm Ka-Band antenna, the 74cm Ka-Band antenna and the 98cm Ka-Band ODU.

Skyware Global... Ka-Banding Together 

2 June 2011

Satnews Daily


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Skyware Global has announced its latest product, the 69cm Ka-Band Outdoor Unit (ODU). This notable addition to Skyware Global's Ka-Band portfolio debuts at next month's Confederation of Aerial Industries' (CAI) 2011 Trade Fair in Leeds, UK, and will then be showcased at CommunicAsia2011 in Singapore later that month.  

Honours for Shool's Advisory Board Member

24 May 2011

UCD News


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Telecom pioneer appointed as USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism's inaugural Economist-in-Residence and invited by President Nicolas Sarkozy to the prestigious EG8 Forum to advise political leaders about the digital ecosystem.
 
 
David C. McCourt, founder and CEO of Granahan McCourt Capital and Skyware Global is continuing to be tapped for his expertise in being in the forefront in building businesses in telecommunications and digital communications. 

Skyware Global has announced the opening of a new office in the Washington DC area

28 April 2011

Satnews Daily


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The facility, located on Spring Hill Road in Tyson's Corner (Vienna, VA) will comprise both engineering and sales teams and is designed to further support the company's substantial client base in the Washington DC region. The company is actively sourcing new engineering talent to strengthen its existing global operations as well as seeking industry-leading engineers to head up its Washington DC office.

Economist in Residence McCourt Tells Students How to Succeed in Today's Media Economy

8 April 2011

USC Annenberg
School for Communication & Journalism


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  Video

On April 7, USC Annenberg held its inaugural Economist in residence presentation with David C. McCourt, chairman and CEO of Skyware Global, who has more than 30 years of entrepreneurial experience in the telecommunications and media industries. His visit was part of USC Annenberg's Media, Economics & Entrepreneurship M{2e} initiative, a semester-long speaker series designed to build economic awareness in journalism and communication students. His topic, "The Road Ahead," offered advice on how students an adapt to and succeed in today's changing media economy.

Helping to Shape the Future of Students through his Communications Expertise

1 April 2011

Satnews Daily

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David McCourt, Founder and CEO of Granahan McCourt Capital and Skyware Global, has been appointed by the prestigious University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism as its first Economist-in-Residence. His tenure begins on April 4th, with a keynote speech to the school in which he will discuss the challenges and opportunities created by the disruption of the traditional media industrys business models and highlight the necessity of innovation and entrepreneurial qualities.

The Road Ahead

7 April 2011

USC Annenberg
School for Communication & Journalism

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USC Annenberg's Media, Economics & Entrepreneurship M{2e} presents: "The Road Ahead," with David C. McCourt, USC Annenbergs 2011 Economist in Residence. USC's Dean Ernest J. Wilson III , communication professor Christopher Holmes Smith and journalism professor Gabriel Kahn welcome USC Annenbergs 2011 Economist in Residence David C. McCourt, CEO and Founder of Granahan McCourt Capital for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities created by the disruption of the traditional media industrys business models.

Net Neutrality: A Force For Good?

26 January 2011

Raedar

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2011 has the potential to be a milestone year for the internet, prospectively the most defining since its inception, as the issue of net neutrality looks to be reaching a series of conclusions. You may not know what it is, or fully understand what it means, but the debate and its outcomes will have overarching and considerable effects worldwide and across all industries.

The Status of the Global Telecoms Industry Between Anxiety and a Bright Future

22 November 2010

Frost & Sullivan

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Chronicles of the FT World Telecoms Conference by Saverio Romeo, Senior Industry Analyst, Frost & Sullivan

... David McCourt, CEO of Skyware Global, strongly argued that the market will do what nobody else can do; regulators and governments out of my way, the market is the king!...




As Seen in The Wall Street Journal and Washington Business Journal

September 2010

 

As seen in The Wall Street Journal and Washington Business Journal --
David C. McCourt has been one of the 2009-2010 Distinguished Speakers named
in a Thanks published by Georgetown University McDonough School of Business.




FT World Telecoms Conference


November 16 & 17, 2010

London

  Video

 Pictures

 

David C. McCourt, Chairman and CEO of Skyware Global, speaks at the FT World Telecoms Conference in London on the role of regulation for a global communications business.  
 
 
 
 
 "Video courtesy of FT World Telecoms Conference 2010
www.ftconferences.com/telecoms "

Focus... A Case Of Terminal Innovation


September, 2010

SatMagazine

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From its rich heritage, Skyware Global is a new and dynamic player in the SATCOM space, offering OutDoorUnit (ODU) terminal equipment for Direct-To-Home (DTH), Consumer Broadband, and Enterprise VSAT applications in new ways that begin to bridge the digital divide between those with high speed cable/fibre/dsl access and those without such access.

Skyware Global Launches
Asian Division


June 16, 2010

Satellite Evolution Group
Satellite Today
Orbiter

  Read Article 

Skyware Global has announced its expansion into Asia with a base in Shenzhen, China.  Working with Skyware Global's US and UK engineering operations, its Asian suppliers and manufacturing partners, this division represents another step to ensure that the potential of satellite communications can be fully exploited around the world.

Skyware Global... Asian Advances

June 15, 2010

Satnews Daily

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Skyware Global's Asian expansion is setting up base in Shenzhen, China - this will be a division that will provide technical support and consultancy for the company's products and services and will operate from Shenzhen, China.

The FCC vs. Broadband Investors

May 10, 2010

The Wall Street Journal

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Mr. McCourt's Op Ed on the Federal Communications Commission's intention to establish new rules to regulate the Internet.

Skyware Global... Venezuelan
VSAT Victory

April 13, 2010

Satnews Daily

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Skyware Global has been awarded a contract by Advantech Wireless Broadband to design and supply antennas for its recent multimillion dollar contract win to provide a new VSAT satellite communications network to the Venezuelan national telecommunications service provider, CANTV.

Irish Graduates Need
Something Extra

April 7, 2010

The Clare Champion

  Read Article 

Ireland might not be able to compete with low-cost countries but it can come out of the recession by training its young people in a different way, according to Skyware Global CEO David McCourt, an Irish-American, who spends much of his time in County Clare, Ireland.


Satellite Frozen Out of US National Broadband Plan

March 26, 2010

Satellitefinance

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The satellite industry reacted with resigned consternation to this week's release of the US Federal Communications Commission's National Broadband Plan, which made virtually no reference to satellite technology as a means of achieving the federal government's ambitious goals to extend broadband coverage to every American citizen.

Skyware Global Wins ViaSat Contract    

March 26, 2010

Satellitefinance

  Read Article 

Skyware Global, the newly amalgamated provider of antennae and electronic solutions, has signed a deal with ViaSat to provide two Ka-band new antenna models for the distribution of satellite broadband. Skyware Global CEO David McCourt said: "Ka-band and satellite broadband has been a long time coming. I think that Ka has proven it's a technology that'll have many applications. I think the enterprise players and the consumer players are going to morph into broadband satellite players that are not restricted to either market. With the increased investment from ViaSat, Eutelsat and Avanti, you could easily see the  current satellite broadband user base of one or two million grow to 10 million worldwide in a few years."

Skyware Global & UCD
To Create Jobs For Irish
Engineering Talent


March 19, 2010

Talk Satellite - EMEA

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Skyware Global announced a strategic partnership with University College Dublin to deliver an industry-focused partnership for top engineering and technology students. Professor Tom Brazil, Head of Electronic Engineering from UCD commented: "Through this partnership our students will be able to work with Skyware Global's engineering teams based in the UK, Germany and the US on cutting edge satellite technology, gaining valuable industry experience and potentially changing how people around the world communicate. This partnership is an excellent industry fit with our strong Science Foundation Ireland-funded research activity in RF and microwave engineering."


Skyware Global Teams Up
With UCD Graduates

March 19, 2010

The Irish Times

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Irish third-level students are being offered the chance to gain industry experience as part of a new agreement between UCD and satellite equipment firm Skyware Global. The partnership will allow engineering and technology students in UCD's School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering to get experience in various departments of the multinational, as part of an internship programme. Skyware teams based in Britain, Germany and the US will take on the interns. Skyware chief executive David McCourt said UCD's approach to training graduates is unique. "UCD, unlike most universities, aspires to train engineers in a more holistic way, with a deep understanding of other disciplines beside engineering," he said.


Skyware Global Teams Up
With UCD Graduates

March 19, 2010

varaious media

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Irish third-level students are being offered the chance to gain industry experience as part of a new agreement between UCD and satellite equipment firm Skyware Global. The partnership will allow engineering and technology students in UCD's School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering to get experience in various departments of the multinational, as part of an internship programme. Skyware teams based in Britain, Germany and the US will take on the interns. Skyware chief executive David McCourt said UCD's approach to training graduates is unique. "UCD, unlike most universities, aspires to train engineers in a more holistic way, with a deep understanding of other disciplines beside engineering," he said.


Up in the Sky

February 2010

North West Business Insider

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"Satellite broadband was a niche product that would fill in when someone had no other alternative," says David McCourt, chief executive of Skyware Global. "But the new satellites going up are able to provide similar speeds, and the new business models are looking at similar pricing, so I think it will be a direct competitor."


Irish-American Business 100

January 2010

Irish America Magazine

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David C. McCourt is named one of the top 100 Irish-American business leaders by Irish America Magazine. Being honored with this award, he joins a distinguished list of previous winners including Hillary and Bill Clinton, Daniel Day-Lewis, Donald Keough, Will Ferrell, Caroline and Edward Kennedy, John McCain, Rear Admiral Timothy S. Sullivan, Tom Coughlin and others.


Executive Spotlight:
David C. McCourt

January 2010

SatMagazine

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In 2008, David C. McCourt formed Satellite Holdings, LLC, a partnership between private investment firms McCourt Capital, LLC and The Edgewater Funds. Since then, he has begun a series of high-profile acquisitions to found Skyware Global - the world's first total solutions provider of antenna systems. Here he gives us his industry predictions and explains why Skyware Global is well-positioned to support future growth.


Skyware Global Appoints
Senior Engineers

January 19, 2010

Satellite Evolution Group

  Read Article 

Skyware Global has announced the appointments of Mike Murray as New Product Introduction Manager for Antenna Systems, Peter Matuschik as New Product Introduction Manager for Electronics, Evangelos Avramis as Principal RF Engineer for Electronics, and Ronald Fowler as ODU Systems Engineer. Derek Grice, previously Technical Director of Skyware Global, has also been appointed to the Skyware Global Advisory Board.


Satellites touted as solution to UK's rural broadband issue

December 8, 2009

V3.co.uk

  Read Article 

Satellite broadband could be the answer to Britain's digital divide, according to internet industry experts. David McCourt, CEO of Skyware Global, told V3.co.uk that the government "will have to look at satellite technology as a solution to providing broadband across the country". 
"As more people want access to data wherever they are in the world, and increasingly data such as video rather than just voice, the capabilities of the cable networks are under pressure," he said.
Current speeds on satellite broadband range from 2Mbit/s to 7Mbit/s, but new satellites being developed will be capable of offering speeds from 10Mbit/s, he added.


Skyware Targets Global Presence

November 13, 2009

SatelliteFinance

  Read Article 

Over the past year, Satellite Holdings LLC, a buyout vehicle formed by private investment firms The Edgewater Funds and Granahan McCourt, has made a series of strategic acquisitions in the integrated satellite antenna space, snapping up UKbased Raven Group, the DTH, VSAT and RF business units of ASC Signal Corp and Philips subsidiary Skyware Radio Systems. Those assets were recently merged under the name Skyware Global and the company is now looking to build a global footprint. Speaking to SatelliteFinance, David McCourt, CEO of Satellite Holdings and founder of Granahan McCourt, explained the reason for the name change and companys investment rationale.


Skyware Global...
Moving On Up...

November 12, 2009

Satellite TODAY

  Read Article 

Satellite Global, formerly the Raven Group and a Satellite Holdings company, has strengthened its position to become the global total solutions provider of satellite antenna systems for any application with the appointments of Linda Keen as Sales Director, Americas, and Paul Peddie, Account Manager, Europe.


Satellite holdings Raven Group
Rebranded to Skyware Global

October 7, 2009

Satellite TODAY

  Read Article 

Satellite Holdings has changed the name of the recently acquired Rave Group to Skyware Global, Satellite Holdings announced Oct. 5, 2009. Satellite Holdings and investment partners Granahan McCourt Capital and The Edgewater Funds acquired Raven Group in January. Allan Kennedy has been apppointed global sales and marketing director.

Taking Companies to the Next Level

September/October, 2009

Satellite Evolution

  Read Article 

In 2008, Satellite Holdings, LLC was formed by the partnership of two private investment entities. Their first acquisition was Raven Antenna Systems, followed by ASC Signal. Helen Jameson speaks to David C. McCourt, Chairman and CEO of Satellite Holdings, LLC about the investments the venture has made and about the future of the companty they have formed. In this article Mr. McCourt talks about his company's future and goals, about what factors does he consider before investing in a company, how recession effected the satellite business, about the strategic acqusition plans for Satellite Holdings, LLC, his vision of the company's future and others.

Granahan McCourt Acquires Assets of ASC Signal Corporation 

June 4, 2009
 

  Read Article 

Granahan McCourt Capital, LLC acquires the strategic assets of ASC Signal Corporation through its holding company, Satellite Holdings, LLC.   Through a series of strategic acquisitions, Satellite Holdings and its group of companies (including Raven Group) will become a total solutions provider of integrated outdoor units and associated electronics and equipment.    The acquisition of ASC Signal Corporation's Direct-to-Home (DTH), Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), and Radio Frequency electronics (RF), plus the 100% stock purchase of the Germany-based Skyware Radio systems (a unit previously owned by Philips - NYSE:PHG) will add customers, talent and scale to the global offering.   In addition to manufacturing facilities in the UK and US, the company also has engineering operations in England, Scotland and Germany.

Granahan McCourt Buys Raven Group to Become the Total Solutions Provider for Consumer Satellite Systems    

February 5, 2009
 

  Read Article 

Granahan McCourt Capital, LLC, through  holiding company, Satellite Holdings, LLC acquires Raven Group, Ltd, a leading design-manufacturer of direct broadcast, satellite broadband and VSAT antenna systems.   Filling a void in the world-wide RF microwave space, Granahan McCourt will leverage Raven's current position as the most innovative producer of antenna systems and will apply the same ingenuity and design expertise into offering products and services providing a complete ODU (outdoor unit) solution for customers around the world. 

Financially Speaking....Raven Group Ltd....  

February 5, 2009
SatNews.com

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As seen on SatNews.com, satnews publishers report that Raven Group Ltd, has announced that Granahan McCourt Capital LLC, and the Edgewater Funds invested in the Company to boost its expansion with total solutions for integrated outdoor units as well as associated electronics and equipment.

Moguls feel the Pull of Web Television       

April 17, 2007
The Financial Times

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In this Financial Times opinion piece, "Moguls feel the pull of web television", David C. McCourt, Chairman and CEO of Granahan McCourt Capital, LLC, and Chairman and CEO of Narrowstep, Inc., a tv-over-the-internet company, provides further clarity of how video-over-IP will affect the traditional Hollywood business model.   McCourt further comments on how technology, once again, will fuel the rise of consumer power with new tools and services being developed around an industry which allows the convergence of all sorts of consumer entertainment and communication.

Talent Agency and Net Firm Partner

William Morris, Narrowstep plan free on-line shows          

March 9, 2007
USA Today

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Narrowstep, Inc., a Granahan McCourt company enters into a strategic partnership with talent and brand powerhouse, William Morris.  The partnership is designed to leverage William Morris clients, which include top Hollywood talent and Fortune 500 brands, to create and launch television-like programming using Narrowstep technology and solutions.  The strategic partnership reinforces the opportunity to leverage traditional media assets to take advantage of the exponential growth that is forecasted in the online video space.   The alliance also stands out as a validation of Narrowstep's strategy, technology and product offering.       

Little Guys Could Take Hollywood out of the picture

July 21, 2006
The Financial Times

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In this Financial Times opinion piece, David C. McCourt, Chairman and CEO of Granahan McCourt Capital, LLC, share his views on the impact of video- over-the-Internet and how it impacts the traditional Hollywood business model.                              

Investing in the next big thing:  Using the Internet for downloading and viewing video

April 18, 2006
The Princeton Business Journal

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The media and telecommunications industry is considered one of the most volatile business sectors there is. Yet David C. McCourt has spent most of the past 25 years identifying and successfully capitalizing on opportunities in the ever-shifting media and telecom realm.  Recently, his private investment firm, Granahan McCourt Capital, LLC, was lead investor in a  TV-over-the-Internet company, Narrowstep Inc., and Mr. McCourt shares his views on where the industry is headed. 



What's a Polite Word For 'Shakedown'?

October 1, 2005
By David C. McCourt

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In a special opinion essay to the Wall Street Journal written by media and telecom investor, David C. McCourt offers a view on how regulatory change is important to ensure "net neutrality" and the consumer's right to choice for competing network, content and service providers.

Emmy Award for Irish Businessman 

June 1, 2005
The Irish Voice

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Irish American telecom and media investor David C. McCourt was awarded an Emmy at the 33rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony for his role as producer of the critically acclaimed Reading Rainbow children's series. McCourt started investing in media companies back in 1983 in the Caribbean where he built and owned the first independent television station on the island of Grenada and began producing a variety of family programming for the Caribbean market. McCourt continues to have a keen interest in media, " Ireland is a great place to work and is full of creative people, so we are looking into a series there. Winning an Emmy certainly gives you the freedom to look at ideas like that", said McCourt.

Emmy Award for TV producer with links to Newmarket

May 30, 2005
The Limerick Leader

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David C. McCourt, an Irish American businessman and television producer with strong ties to Newmarket-on-Fergus, has won an Emmy award. McCourt recently joined the North American Board of Smurfit School of Business, UCD. The Smurfit School North American Board is chaired by Jim Quinn, President, Tiffany & Co, who heads a thirty member board of prominent and influential Irish-American business and political figures.

Future looks bright for McCourt

May 29, 2005
The Trentonian

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According to veteran telecom and media investor, David C. McCourt, distribution of content over the Internet is changing the industry and leveling the playing field for independent producers of film and television. McCourt started investing in media companies back in 1983 in the Caribbean where he built and owned the first independent television station on the Island of Grenada.   McCourt has always been committed to bringing the best products to consumers - whether it was integrated telecom services or the highest quality programming and he continues to believe that these businesses are not only built around the customers but they are also very rewarding financial investments.
   

Area man wins Emmy for producing children's TV series

May 27, 2005
The Trenton Times

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Telecom and media investor, David C. McCourt was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Children's series for his role as producer of the critically acclaimed series Reading Rainbow of which he has been a part of for over 10 years. McCourt is chairman and CEO of Granahan McCourt Capital and has started 10 media and telecom businesses during the past 25 years.

Smurfit School Board Member Awarded Emmy

May 20, 2005
University College Dublin

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Irish-American telecom and media investor, David C. McCourt, was awarded an Emmy at the 33rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Ceremony for his role as Producer of the critically acclaimed Reading Rainbow children's series. Commenting on the award, David McCourt said, "the TV Business is going to change more in the next 10 years than the telecom business has changed in the last 10 years, and we intend to play a role in that change."

The Telecom (Better Late Than Never) Revolution

January 4, 2005
By David C. McCourt

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Is it possible that, eight years after the landmark 1996 Telecommunications Act was passed, federal regulators are finally understanding what the telecommunications revolution was supposed to be about?

McCourt looks to future, as his past his honored

 November 4, 2004
The Trentonian

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Roots, tradition and family are very important to veteran media and telecom investor, David C. McCourt, who has traveled extensively around the world and is recognized as a transformational force in the telecommunications field. Based on his global credentials as a successful telecom and media investor as well as having received the 2004 American Irish Historical Society Gold Medal Award, an article recently published speculated that McCourt's name was on a short list to be considered as ambassador to Ireland if Democratic presidential challenge John Kerry had won Tuesday's election.

Who would Kerry pick?

October 19, 2004
The Irish Tribune

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David C. McCourt, veteran media and telecom investor, is speculated to be one of the individuals that Kerry might select as ambassador to Ireland should Kerry win the White House.
 

People

Princeton Packet
May 7, 2004

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David McCourt will be honored with the 2004 Gold Medal from the American Irish Historical Society, an award previously bestowed on President Ronald Reagan, author Mary Higgins Clark and musician and human rights advocate Bono.

50th anniversary of the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Program

The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Program,
May 2004

Read Article   

David C. McCourt, Executive Producer of the series "What's Going On?" attends the United Nations Screening to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Program.

Town Topics

May 5, 2004

Read Article   

The American Irish Historical Society has awarded media and telecommunications entrepreneur and business leader David McCourt its 2004 Gold Medal for lifetime achievements.

United Nations, RCN Team for Irish Film

The Irish Voice
May 5, 2004

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The United Nations and RCN co-sponsor a Showtime series highlighting the need for understanding among differing groups in the most troubled areas of the world.

iTTV is a new approach in television viewing

Read Article   

A marriage of original, innovative television programming and the immediate and empowering nature of the Internet. Created for RCN for its customers in New York City and Queens, iTTVis a one-of-a-kind television network that gives you, the viewer, the power to directly shape the programming you see on a daily basis by providing your feedback (positive or negative) through the iTTV website.

Local stories, global pain: TV documentary profiles Troubles' young survivors

May 5, 2004
The Irish Echo

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The 10 th episode of "What's Going On", a documentary series produced by RCN Entertainment and the United Nations tells the harrowing story of Irish youth struggling with the violence and conflict in Northern Ireland.

McCourt President Gets White House Award

March 18, 1987
Multichannel News

Read Article
   

McCourt Cable Systems President and CEO receives the first ever White House "C-Flag" award from President Ronald Reagan.

American Irish Historical Society Names Entrepreneur David C. McCourt its 2004 Gold Medal Awards Recipient

April 7, 2004
The American Irish Historical Society

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American Irish Historical Society has named veteran telecommunications and media investors, David C. McCourt its 2004 Gold Medal Award recipient. Previous recipients of the Society's Gold Medal include President Ronald Reagan, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, business leader Donald Keough, author Mary Higgins Clark, and humanitarian / musician Bono.

Seizing the Phone Giants' Turf

April 9, 2001
The New York Times

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Five years after the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which promised to open broad vistas of competition in formerly cloistered markets, David C. McCourt's RCN is the only company of significant size that is focused on giving consumers an alternative to the local telephone and cable television monopolies for a combination of local phone, cable TV and high-speed Internet services. AT&T, WorldCom and a few cable companies have made efforts to give consumers an alternative source of local phone service, but no other significant company is competing against local incumbents with RCN's breadth of services. One key reason many analysts expect RCN to survive the downturn is that Mr. McCourt raised billions of dollars when the getting was good. Having parlayed his cable ditch-digging skills into small communications companies - one in Boston, a second in London - that he nurtured and then sold, Mr. McCourt used his proceeds in 1993 to start a partnership with the Peter Kiewit construction empire, to take control of a small communications company in Pennsylvania called C-Tec. After a series of spinoffs, Mr. McCourt kept the company that is now called RCN - the name was derived from "residential communications network" - which he moved to Princeton.
  

Going High Fiber

June 2000
Chief Executive Magazine

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For his latest venture, veteran media and telecom investor, David C. McCourt, has raised more than $3 billion last year alone (including $1.65 billion from Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures) and has the backing of construction/investment powerhouse Peter Kiewit Sons. McCourt's RCN had laid more than 3,646 miles of fiber, by the end of 1999, an increase of 156 percent over 1998. McCourt is keeping his focus keen on his business plan and views his latest venture as a once-a-century opportunity, akin to the days 100 years ago when telephone lines were being laid, or a generation ago when cable was. Usually, in a capital-intensive business, the first person in has a huge advantage, he says. But here, the technical, regulatory, and consumer environments are changing so rapidly that a new business like ours has the advantage of competing in a cost-effective way. Taking advantage of the cheaper movement of data over the Internet, McCourt says that by first quarter 2001 his long distance service will be delivered that way, followed, eventually by local telephone. McCourt is also clearly excited about the unknown and unknowable offerings of the future, claiming that when electricity was built, it was for lights. But today only 9 percent of electrical use is lights. That's how it will be for bandwidth.
  

House-to-House in telecom war

August 5, 1998
The Star Ledger

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Veteran media and telecom investor, David C. McCourt, has his RCN executives travel in Hummers, not limos. Guerilla insurrection is their business as they sell phone, Internet and cable TV service to residential customers of the big guys. That's right: individual customers. While others target the business crowd, RCN fights house to house. McCourt spun RCN Corp. out of C-Tec Corp. in 1997. C-Tec Corp. split itself last September into three publicly traded companies. The spin-offs are RCN Corp., Cable Michigan Inc., consisting of C-Tec's Michigan cable operations, and Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises Inc. Spinning into three companies helped former C-Tec shareholders, whose stock was worth about three times its price as of last October. RCN had a 2-for-1 stock split in April

Resist the Urge to Merge

August 27, 1998
The New York Times

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In response to the recent wave of mega-mergers sweeping the telecommunications industry, David McCourt writes an editorial for the New York Times explaining why the mergers of the nation's telecommunications monopolies are unlikely to create great companies.

Stand and Deliver

April 18, 1998
The Economist

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Veteran media and telecom investor, David C. McCourt, tries hard to make sure his startup company's New York office look more like a guerrilla hideout than the headquarters of a telecoms firm. With its modest overheads, RCN's prices are typically about 5-10% lower a discount that can rise to 30% if customers choose all three services. Mr. McCourt is targeting mainly the lower-middle classes who tend to watch more TV and care more about its cost. Harlem, reports Mr. McCourt, is a better market for RCN than the Upper East Side. Mr. McCourt knows that one of the enemy's weakest spots is marketing: No empire lasts forever, proclaims a poster of Lenin, especially one that keeps you waiting five hours for a repairman. The result of Mr. McCourt's 25-years of successful investing in telecom and media is that they have given him impeccable credentials as a telecoms revolutionary.
  

RCN's High Wire Act

December 27, 1997
Forbes

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Veteran media and telecom investor, David C. McCourt, claims his company RCN Corporation can beat the entrenched phone and cable monopolies because, among other things, the executives of these companies have spent their entire careers as monopolists and have no clue what it takes to market to every-day consumers. McCourt also knows that his customer service and operations are better than that of the incumbent phone and cable providers - when customers order a second phone line, RCN's installers will call you, wherever you are, half an hour before they need you at home for the installation. The best incumbent operators like Bell Atlantic can offer customers in markets like New York is a four-hour window.
  

WorldCom Director Uses Exotic Play to Hedge Stake

October 15, 1997
The Wall Street Journal

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Outside WorldCom director, David C. McCourt, uses a sophisticated financial instrument to protect his investment in WorldCom. McCourt swapped his MFS/McCourt stock for WorldCom shares and received portfolio insurance in the form of a "zero-cost collar" which protects Mr. McCourt's investment against any downdraft in WorldCom's stock below $28 over the next five years

CTEC Surges ahead in phone, cable markets

USA TODAY
September 15, 1997

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CTEC of Princeton, N.J., will spin off Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Cable Michigan and RCN Communications on Sept. 30. McCourt will run the newly independent RCN, which had $60 million in fiscal 1997 revenue and is building a $7 billion fiber-optic network that will carry voice, cable television and high-speed Internet access over the same wires to residential customers in 24 cities from Washington to Boston.

Excerpt from Forbes - An unchronicled success story on a simple principle: "Cover your downside and the upside will take care of itself"

October 24, 1994

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Walter Scott Jr., of Peter Kiewit Sons', Inc. and David C. McCourt use C-TEC as the foundation to offer competitive telecommunication services to residential customers.

Grenadians grab Discovery TV

EC News
October 6, 1989

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Grenada Prime Minister Herbert Blaize confirms that the Grenada government will acquire American-owned Discovery Television.

TV Free Caribe

Boston Business Journal,
January 30, 1989

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Cable systems czar discusses how his television system in Grenada helps to bring free-thinking to the Caribbean.

Cable chief boosts Networking

Sunday March 20, 1988

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David McCourt, discusses how his TV station in Grenada meshes with his interests in politics and business.

Alternative to High Cable TV Construction Costs offered

October, 1983
VideoAge International

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McCourt Cable Systems offer innovative techniques and new technologies along with advanced planning to overcome the cost obstacles associated with complex urban builds.