Yolanda Barco was born on March 13, 1926, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, where she would live for the rest of her life.

In 1953 he established Meadville Master Antenna (MMA), a cable TV system, with help from Milton Shapp of Jerrold Electronics.

[4] In the early years of cable Meadville Master Antenna was one of the largest systems in the United States.

[6] In the late 1970s the Barcos teamed with Joey Gans in setting up the non-profit Pennsylvania Educational Communications System (PECS).

[10] The Barcos launched a test case for the NCTA in Meadville, where they and one of their subscribers, Gus Pahoulis, sued for recovery of $70.40 paid in 1953 and 1954 for the 8% excise tax on cable subscription fees imposed by the Federal Internal Revenue Service.

[12] However they appealed the decision, and in March 1957 the Third Circuit Court found that CATV is "an aid in reception only", and the excise tax did not apply.

[13] Yolanda and George Barco played important roles in obtaining the regulatory rulings that allowed cable companies to use three inches of space on utility poles, an achievement of huge value to the industry.

[10] In 1972 Yolanda Barco was a member of the advisory committee on the development of regulatory policy of the Federal Communications Commission, one of the four cable industry representatives.