[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 29, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING POLTV, A NEW CHICAGO-BASED TELEVISION SERVICE FOR POLISH-
                               AMERICANS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 29, 2011

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of PolTV, a 
new television service that will broadcast live news, entertainment, 
and sports programming straight from Poland into the homes of Poles 
living in America and abroad. The service, provided by Chicago-based 
Intercom Ventures LLC, will help connect Polish emigrant communities 
throughout the world with their native Poland.
  PolTV will be the first platform to feature programming from both 
major Polish networks, TVN and TVP. The service will initially 
broadcast 15 Polish channels, including TVN International, and will 
offer over 20 channels within the first 60 days of launch. TVN 
International provides news and entertainment designed for Poles living 
abroad and features popular Polish films, TV shows, and documentaries. 
As Intercom Ventures' third ethnic television product, PolTV follows 
ShiqpTV, which provides programming for Albanians living abroad, and 
BosnaTV, which provides the same service for Bosnian emigrants. PolTV's 
innovative platform offers high definition television, video on demand, 
and various internet applications.
  Founders Drilon Qehaja and Tony Hoti are two American immigrants from 
Kosovo who embody the American entrepreneurial spirit. Following the 
Kosovo War, Qehaja started a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) long 
distance phone company that enabled subscribers to connect with family 
and friends, providing a much needed sense of normalcy in the war-torn 
nation. At age 20, Hoti became the youngest financial advisor at the 
firm AG Edwards in San Diego and, after graduating from Roosevelt 
College in Chicago, opened a day spa in Chicago's Gold Coast at age 26. 
The two teamed up to found Intercom Ventures in 2006.
  I have faith that the smart, consumer-driven PolTV service will have 
a unifying effect for the Polish-American community. By providing daily 
news from news channels operating in Poland, PolTV will increase 
Polish-Americans' access to personally relevant international news, 
thereby helping them to cultivate strong cultural, familial and 
community relationships. As a Polish-American and Co-Chair of the 
Polish-American Caucus, I am very excited about the possibilities for 
PolTV in the future.
  Please join me in honoring Intercom Ventures for creating PolTV, a 
responsible community-driven company for the Polish-American 
population. I am confident that it will successfully provide excellent 
services for immigrants for many years to come.

                          ____________________