PITTSBURGH, January 27, 2015 – American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement calling on the FCC to provide small and medium-sized broadband Internet service providers with exemptions from any enhanced Open Internet transparency rules it may adopt:
“The FCC should not burden small and medium-sized Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with additional enhanced transparency rules that are utterly unwarranted with regard to these operators. There is no factual or policy justification to impose network management disclosure requirements that are more stringent or go beyond those adopted by the FCC in the 2010 Open Internet Order. Adopting new rules without appropriate exemptions for small and medium-sized ISPs would impose unworkable and costly burdens on these ISPs without providing edge providers or consumers with any additional benefits.
“Small and medium-sized ISPs do not have the incentive or ability to engage in unreasonable or discriminatory practices, much less anti-competitive acts, which harm consumers and edge providers. This conclusion is supported by the lack of evidence showing that small and medium-sized ISPs have been the source of any demonstrable threat to an Open Internet. In the case of these ISPs, the existing transparency rules are balanced and sufficient to protect both consumers and Internet content, applications and edge services providers against potential violations of the FCC’s Open Internet rules. In combination with its investigation, complaint and enforcement procedures, the FCC can address any substantial concerns about any problems that may arise involving smaller ISPs.”
About the American Cable Association: Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing about 850 smaller and medium-sized, independent cable companies who provide broadband services for nearly 7 million cable subscribers 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/