Puerto Rico, HITN’s satellite-enabled services deliver multimedia programming to 53 educational institutions. HITN-TV is the largest holder of Educational Broadband Spectrum (EBS) in the United States, with licenses in over 90 domestic markets. This spectrum will support the next generation of broadband wireless networks, Wimax, and will provide new opportunities to deliver educational content to consumers and institutions.
Born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Mr. Rodríguez is a lifelong advocate of education as a road to success and personal development. Mr. Rodríguez received a Bachelors Degree from the University of Puerto Rico in Business Administration. He moved to New York City and worked towards an advanced degree in Art and School Administration and Supervision at Teachers College of Columbia University. With over 25 years of experience in education, he has held positions such as teacher, United Federation of Teachers delegate (elected citywide), daycare center director, guidance counselor, assistant principal, and principal in New York City’s public schools. At age 25, Mr. Rodriguez was the youngest school principal in New York City history.
HITN-TV’s award winning programming reflects Mr. Rodriguez’s continuing commitment to education. Many programs have been developed with youth and education in mind and are based on distance learning concepts. Since 1994, HITN-TV has produced “Corriente Cultural,” HITN’s oldest and most innovative distance learning program designed for students in English as a Second Language programs in public high schools. This live program is also transmitted to HITN’s
national audience. In 2005, “Corriente Cultural” received the coveted Beacon Award in the Education category for “bringing Hispanic Arts and Culture to New York City Public Schools.” The program provides students with the opportunity to learn about major contributions made by Hispanics in the areas of dance, music, visual arts, and theatre, and enables student engagement with expert dialogue on the given topic, to which they might not otherwise have access. This program is distributed to schools accompanied by a teacher’s guide.
In addition, in November 2006, HITN-TV initiated the Young Film Makers Program to encourage and train young filmmakers. The project was implemented in partnership with Learning Leaders and the Jonathan Levin High School of Communications. The program was funded by the New York City Council through the Department of Youth and Community Services. The objective was to provide high school students majoring in media arts with the opportunity to work in a professional setting. Junior and senior high school students were selected and organized into to teams to create seven one-minute public service announcements and a five-minute piece entitled, The Making of a Public Service Announcement. The HITN production guided the students through all phases of production. A panel representing the school’s media instructors, HITN, Learning Leaders, and representatives of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers selected the best productions in each category.
On April 25, 2007, the junior and senior high school student and their public service announcements were featured in the Havana Film Festival under the category of Young Filmmakers. The winning team was announced and each member was awarded a summer internship at
HITN’s state-of-the-art Brooklyn Navy Yard studios. The internship program was specifically designed to give each of the students an opportunity to develop their skills in all aspects of public television production in a professional setting.
In addition to his interest in education, Mr. Rodriguez is an avid participant and follower of trends in the areas of science and technology, Hispanics and the digital divide, and related issues related to disparities experienced by minorities in the quest to get equal access to information technology. He has been an active participant in major telecommunications policy discussions at the national and international level. In 2004, Mr. Rodríguez was named Puerto Rican Businessman of the Year by the National Puerto Rican Parade.
In 2007, Mr. Rodríguez was appointed by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to the New York City Broadband Commission. On January 1, 2008, Mr. Rodríguez began his term as newly appointed Chairman of the Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LiSTA). As Chairman of LISTA, Mr. Rodríguez will advance the Association’s mission of educating, motivating and encouraging the use of technology for the empowerment of the Latino community and conquering the digital divide.
Mr. Rodríguez and his wife reside in Manhattan. He is the proud father of two beautiful daughters and proud grandfather of two.
