A practical plan for Mediacom
Strengthen the culture, show up in the communities you serve, and build the next bench of leaders. One phase at a time, starting this quarter.
Proposal for Mediacom leadership · September 2026
Cable operators are being asked to change faster than their cultures can
Broadband competition
Fiber overbuilders and fixed wireless are targeting the same small and mid-size markets Mediacom serves. Retention now depends on service quality and local goodwill, not just the network.
Frontline turnover
Technicians and supervisors leave before they become leaders. Every departure costs re-hiring, re-training, and customer experience.
Local relationships
Franchise renewals, permitting, and public perception are decided city by city. Being visible in the community is a business function, not a nicety.
Three phases. Each one earns the next.
Culture audit
A 6 to 8 week diagnosis of how Mediacom actually runs, ending in a leadership roadmap.
Pilot event + media
One Music for Good event in one Mediacom market, fully captured and turned into content Mediacom owns.
Mediacom U + series
Build the leadership program from the audit findings and expand events to more markets.
Mentor-Up runs alongside all three phases at no cost to Mediacom.
Three operators who have done this before
Filemon Lopez
26 years at Comcast. Led the Florida region and advertising sales. Built the corporate culture audit after the NBCUniversal merger and helped create and lead Comcast U, which developed leaders from frontline supervisors to senior executives.
Ellen Schned
Telecommunications attorney and public affairs strategist behind some of the industry’s best campaigns. Founder of Music for Good, which pairs artists with organizations and causes, with deep ties in Nashville.
Ron Cobert
Founder and CEO of Sunscope Entertainment. Producer, director, and cinematographer with a Sherman Oaks studio. Runs OhYeahLive, a content strategy and brand marketing agency. Produces every piece of media in this plan.
Find out how Mediacom actually runs, then fix what matters
- Confidential interviews with senior leadership and market GMs
- Focus groups with technicians, customer service, and frontline supervisors
- Review of customer service, technician training, and process friction
- Comparison against what worked at Comcast and where Mediacom differs
- A written culture audit: strengths, weaknesses, and the five things to change first
- A leadership and organizational roadmap the executive team can act on in Q1
- A blueprint and cost for Mediacom U, so Phase 3 is a decision, not a guess
One-time fee. Led by Filemon Lopez and his team. Kicks off within 30 days of signing.
Includes a 2-minute internal video summarizing the findings for all-hands use, produced by Sunscope.
One market, one night, and content Mediacom keeps using all year
- A country music event in one Mediacom market, chosen with Mediacom for franchise or community priority
- Local officials, customers, and community groups invited as Mediacom’s guests
- Mediacom’s ad sales team sells local sponsorships around the night
- Multi-camera capture of the full event
- A 90-second PR and public affairs reel for government and community use
- Short-form social cuts for Mediacom channels and local markets
- Up to 4 co-branded sponsor spots that Mediacom sells to local advertisers
Event production and talent $[60,000] · Media package $[25,000]
Local sponsorship sales are expected to offset a meaningful share. Mediacom keeps 100% of that revenue.
Turn the audit into a program and the pilot into a series
Mediacom U
- Curriculum built from the Phase 1 roadmap, modeled on Comcast U
- Cohorts for frontline supervisors and emerging senior leaders
- Quarterly in-person sessions led by Filemon and his team
- A library of 10 to 12 training videos Mediacom owns, produced by Sunscope
$[180,000] per year
Music for Good series
- Events scheduled around franchise renewals and market priorities
- Each event captured and cut for PR, social, and local ad sales
- A season-end highlight piece for Mediacom’s community relations story
- Priced per market; volume pricing from the fourth event
$[75,000] per market
Mediacom’s people get a seat in Mentor-Up at no cost
Mentor-Up launches in Q4 2026. It pairs experienced, multi-generational industry leaders with the people who will run this business next. We invite Mediacom to nominate mentors and mentees across departments and markets.
Ask: a named executive sponsor and 10 to 15 nominations by November 15.
Every phase ties to something Mediacom already measures
| Phase | What it produces | Where it shows up for Mediacom |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Culture audit | A clear picture of where the organization is strong, where it leaks people and time, and a roadmap to fix it | Supervisor and technician retention, service quality scores, faster decisions across markets |
| 2 · Pilot event + media | A community event with local officials in the room, plus a reel, social cuts, and sponsor spots Mediacom owns | Franchise and government relations, local ad sales revenue, brand presence in a competitive market |
| 3 · Mediacom U + series | A repeatable leadership program with a training library, and a multi-market event calendar | An internal bench of promotable leaders, lower re-hiring cost, a community story told across 22 states |
| Mentor-Up | Mediacom leaders paired with senior industry mentors outside the company | Retention of high-potential managers, external perspective without consulting fees |
Commit to Phase 1 now. Everything else is optional.
| Phase | Timing | Investment | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Culture audit | Q4 2026 | $[95,000] | Approve today |
| 2 · Pilot event + media | Q1 2027 | $[85,000] | Option, exercised by December 15 |
| 3 · Mediacom U (12 months) | Q2 2027 onward | $[180,000] | Scoped after Phase 1 findings |
| 3 · Additional events | Q2 2027 onward | $[75,000] per market | Scheduled after the pilot |
| Mentor-Up | Q4 2026 | Included | Nominations by November 15 |
Figures are proposed and subject to final scope.
Twelve months, four checkpoints
Audit + Mentor-Up
- Sign Phase 1 by October 15
- Interviews and focus groups through November
- Mentor-Up nominations by November 15
- Findings delivered mid-December
Pilot event
- Market and date chosen by January
- Sponsorships sold by Mediacom ad sales
- Event held in March
- Reel and social cuts delivered within 2 weeks
Mediacom U launch
- Curriculum built from the audit roadmap
- First cohorts enrolled
- Training video production begins
- Second market event scheduled
Review and renew
- Quarterly leadership session
- Third market event
- Year-one results reviewed with the executive team
- Year-two scope agreed
Approve the Phase 1 culture audit and name a sponsor
A 45-minute working session with [Mediacom executive] and the head of HR to confirm scope
Signed statement of work for Phase 1 by October 15
Mentor-Up nominations and a decision on the pilot event by December 15
Filemon Lopez · [email] · [phone]
Ellen Schned · [email] · [phone]
Ron Cobert · ron@sunscope-entertainment.com · 310-415-7285
RISE