SCTE, NCTA Hope to STRIKE Out Vandalism to Broadband Infrastructure

"STRIKE is a joint effort of SCTE and NCTA - The Internet & Television Association. The press release announcing the STRIKE initiative says that broadband infrastructure is under unprecedented attacks. It says that 5,770 criminal acts of theft and vandalism against broadband infrastructure were documented from June to December of last year. "A threat to broadband infrastructure is a threat to our national security," Maria Popo, president and CEO of SCTE, said in a press release."

"STRIKE has four core objectives to support broadband infrastructure, according to the press release: Spotlight broadband damage and destruction as a top-tier national security threat. Facilitate intelligence sharing to quickly identify and mitigate emerging threats. Integrate policy advocacy, technical standards and operational protocols into a cohesive national defense strategy. Establish clear, unified communication with government stakeholders. An example of the type of activity STRIKE aims to combat occurred in June in Van Nuys, California, when several Charter fiber broadband lines were vandalized."

STRIKE is a joint effort of SCTE and NCTA and will hold its first strategic meeting at TechExpo25 in Washington, DC later this month. Broadband infrastructure experienced 5,770 criminal acts of theft and vandalism from June to December of last year. STRIKE identifies four core objectives: spotlight broadband damage as a national security threat; facilitate intelligence sharing to identify and mitigate emerging threats; integrate policy advocacy, technical standards, and operational protocols into a cohesive national defense strategy; and establish unified communication with government stakeholders. Many actions target critical services beyond vandalism, including attempts to disrupt emergency services and institutions.

Read at Telecompetitor