For Immediate Release
Contact: Ted Hearn
(202) 713-0826
[email protected]
PITTSBURGH, August 30, 2018 – American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement on the Federal Communications Commission’s order that moves regulatory fees for Cable/IPTV and DBS providers closer to parity:
“ACA appreciates the FCC’s ongoing efforts to close the gap between the regulatory fees paid by cable operators and satellite TV providers, and in particular this year’s significant decrease in the Cable/IPTV rate. With the difference in fees for fiscal 2018 now being as close as it is, ACA hopes the FCC will complete its march toward complete parity when the issue is considered again next year.
“In a new order, the FCC has adopted the latest regulatory fee schedule that takes another positive step in the direction of establishing regulatory fee parity between Cable/IPTV providers and DBS giants DirecTV and Dish Network. In fiscal 2018, the cable/IPTV annual fee will be 77 cents per subscriber, down from last year’s rate of 95 cents, while the DBS annual fee per subscriber will be 48 cents, up 10 cents from the prior year and thus reducing the fee burden on smaller cable operators.
“The FCC’s regulatory fees fund the agency’s annual budget as mandated by statute. Regulated multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) combined will contribute $62.3 million in fiscal 2018. Over many years, ACA has urged the FCC, out of competitive fairness, to ensure that smaller cable operators do not pay more in fees than their largest direct competitors, DirecTV and Dish.”
About the American Cable Association: Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing about 800 smaller and medium-sized, independent companies that provide broadband, phone and video services to nearly 8 million customers primarily located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America. Through active participation in the regulatory and legislative process in Washington, D.C., ACA’s members work together to advance the interests of their customers and ensure the future competitiveness and viability of their business. For more information, visit: https://acaconnects.org/