Armstrong Group of Companies

Armstrong is a major northeastern cable television, telecommunications and internet service provider servicing Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland. Armstrong Utilities, Inc. ranks among the 15 largest multi-system operators in the United States.

Armstrong
TypePrivate
IndustryTelecommunication
Founded1946
FounderJud L. Sedwick
Headquarters
Butler, Pennsylvania
,
United States
Key people
Jay L. Sedwick
(Chairman)
Kirby J. Campbell
(Vice Chairman)
Dru A. Sedwick
(President and CEO)
Jeff Ross
(President Armstrong Utilities)
ProductsBroadband Internet, Cable television, Telephone
Number of employees
2,300+
Websitehttp://armstrongonewire.com

History

Armstrong began in 1946 and was originally called Armstrong County Line Construction. Founded by Jud L. Sedwick, the company was headquartered in Kittanning, Armstrong County, in Pennsylvania. Together with his brother Ned, Sedwick ran two crews consisting of six men each, whose job consisted of hanging telephone lines, setting telephone poles, and clearing right of way throughout western Pennsylvania, and managed to grow the company to 12 crews by the end of its first year of operations.

Today

Armstrong is in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, and Kentucky for its digital cable services, most commonly providing television, telephone and high-speed Internet service. Currently, Armstrong employs over 2,300 people. The company's headquarters are in Butler County, western Pennsylvania, with local offices scattered throughout the region.

Services offered

Armstrong Cable

In 1963, Armstrong's first cable television customers were connected in Butler, Pennsylvania. These customers were provided with nine viewing channels. For the next 40+ years Armstrong continued to grow in western Pennsylvania and the surrounding states virtually uncontested for television service until the expansion of satellite service became more widespread. With the increase in competitors, new services emerged. Armstrong cable now offers personal video recorders (PVR), video on demand service (VOD), pay-per-view service (PPV), as well as high-definition digital programming.

Armstrong Zoom Internet

Armstrong also offers broadband internet service for residential and commercial customers. From 2013 to 2017 Armstrong instituted a 200GB monthly data cap. In March 2017, this was raised to 400GB. Consumers can pay more to increase the data cap. If the customer goes over the cap, they are not throttled nor shut off but instead pay an additional $10 for every 50GB they go over. As of March 2018, that data cap was raised to 1024GB(1TB) with the Zoom level of service, but the Zoom 2 and above levels have a 2048GB(2TB) data cap.

Armstrong Cable Telephone

Armstrong offers a cable telephone service that can be bundled with either the video or internet product or as a stand-alone product. This service provides unlimited nationwide calling, as well as calling to Canada, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

Armstrong Telephone Company

Originated in 1950 by purchasing Ritchie Telephone Company in Harrisville, West Virginia, Armstrong owns and operates independent telephone companies in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. These local offices are set up to provide local and long-distance calling services, optional digital calling features, and DSL Internet services.

Awards and recognition

2012 Best Customer Service Award

CableFAX Magazine, a leading telecommunications publication, awarded Armstrong the 2012 Best Customer Service Award for service excellence among independent cable operators nationwide.[1]

Armstrong has been rated #1 in customer service by Consumer Reports for two years. (2014 & 2015) Internet Service Providers were ranked at the bottom of Consumer Reports lists for those years.

Political activities

In 2012, Armstrong offered 2016: Obama's America for free to its customers. In that same year, Armstrong donated over $1 million in the form of "in-kind cable access" to American Crossroads, a Republican Super PAC.[2] Armstrong also donated $40,000 to Fight for the Dream PAC, a Super PAC that opposed the re-election of Senator Bob Casey.[3]

References
  1. "Armstrong Wins Customer Service Award | Business Journal Daily". archive.businessjournaldaily.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  2. Potter, Chris (26 October 2012). "Small-town firm enters the political big leagues". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  3. Gibson, Keegan (25 October 2012). "GOP Super PAC Lines Up Ad Against Casey (Watch Video)". PoliticsPA. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
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