January 8, 2026—America’s Communications Association (ACA Connects) today announced that the ACA Connects Summit will feature a top cybersecurity official from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to brief independent providers on how to best safeguard their communications networks from evolving cyber threats.
On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Michael Machtinger, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI Cyber Division’s Intelligence Branch, will take the stage for a dynamic briefing with Bill Tortoriello, America’s Communications Association’s Vice President of Technology & Policy.
“ACA Connects members are deploying high-performance communications infrastructure, which supports everything from national defense, healthcare, and emergency services,”
said America’s Communications Association President and CEO Grant Spellmeyer. “Safeguarding these networks is vital to public safety and our economy. We’re honored to have the FBI join us at this year’s Summit to share a clear-eyed perspective on evolving threats, dangerous actors around the world, how AI can be used to outsmart cybercriminals, and other best practices to mitigate risk.”
Machtinger was named Deputy Assistant Director of FBI Cyber Division’s Intelligence Branch in June 2025. In this role, he oversees cyber policy and intelligence. Previously, he was the senior FBI executive leading engagement with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and additional U.S. intelligence community partners. He was also responsible for the operation of the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and CyWatch, a 24/7 cyber operations center. Machtinger has held a variety of roles at FBI headquarters, including Chief of Terrorism Analysis. He has experience leading both analytic and target discovery efforts across a variety of threats and supervised an intelligence squad at the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
The theme for this year’s ACA Connects Summit is “We’re Building!” This event attracts hundreds of community-based independent operators, communications industry vendor partners, and rural broadband advocates who are bridging the digital divide, bringing cutting-edge technologies, and spurring economic development in communities across America. Learn more and register at ACAConnects.org/Summit.
More speakers are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Members of the press interested in attending the Summit should contact Olivia Shields at [email protected].
America’s Communications Association (ACA Connects) is a trade organization representing approximately 500 small and medium-sized, independent companies that provide high-speed internet, video, phone, and mobile services covering 29 million households. ACA Connects members operate in every state, providing advanced communications to connect homes, companies, main street, schools, hospitals and more. America’s economic prosperity in smaller communities and rural areas depends on the growth and success of independent operators, who believe a connected nation is a prosperous nation. For more information, visit www.acaconnects.org.