April 17, 2018

ACA Congratulates Mignon Clyburn On Her Many Important Achievements At The FCC

PITTSBURGH, April 17, 2018 – American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement regarding FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn’s decision to resign from the agency, which she joined in 2009:

“ACA congratulates Commissioner Mignon Clyburn on her impressive career at the FCC and on her many important contributions to the public policy debate, which she enhanced not only with her fair judgment, but also with her civility and good humor.

“From ACA’s perspective, Commissioner Clyburn had no equal in understanding the value that independent providers deliver to their communities and the big impact they are having. Commissioner Clyburn defended the interests of these providers on many occasions, especially in connection with the harms posed by the Comcast-NBC Universal transaction that the agency approved with key conditions in 2011.

“ACA is grateful that Commissioner Clyburn always took the time to meet with us, come to our events, and understand the unique concerns of smaller providers. She understood that small and midsize multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and their customers have been plagued by outrageous retransmission consent fees charged by TV stations and by the bundling and tying arrangements imposed by cable programmers that have been allowed to consolidate far beyond what is good for the public.

“ACA appreciates that Commissioner Clyburn generated an important discussion at the FCC on ways to promote the availability of diverse and independent sources of video programming, an issue that independent cable operators and independent programmers care deeply about.

“ACA wishes Commissioner Clyburn our heartfelt best as she opens a new chapter in her career.”

About the American Cable Association: Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing about 800 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/