By Matt Polka, President & CEO, ACA Connects
ACA Connects members’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been nothing short of incredible. The small and medium-sized broadband providers that we represent have demonstrated in countless ways that they are committed to serving their customers and their communities in this time of crisis. Indeed, during this emergency, Americans have been able to continue work, learn, and interact due in large measure to the robust broadband infrastructure the industry has built and operated over the past twenty years.
Underlying our members’ commitment are the great capabilities and resiliency of their networks. They have been able to handle substantial increases in Internet traffic as Americans turn to broadband for telework, telehealth, and online learning. Our members engineer their networks with plenty of reserve capacity—not due to government regulation, but because they know that great performance is necessary to serve customers. Their networks were thus able to absorb the 25+ percent surge in demand we have seen already. Members are taking additional steps in this crisis to increase capacity, such as splitting nodes, increasing network efficiency, and acquiring more IP transit and transport. While the performance that consumers receive from any website or application can be affected by factors outside of our members’ control, they are doing their part to deliver the best customer experience possible.
Just think where we would be if ACA Connect members had not invested billions over the past decade to upgrade and extend their broadband networks. Virtually all of their networks, most of which are located in smaller communities and rural areas, deliver 100+ Mbps service—or even 1 Gig. What’s more, our members’ networks reach virtually all households in their communities, regardless of income levels. And, we have to give the federal government credit for helping drive our members’ success. Congress and federal agencies have recognized that the best way to accelerate investment, builds, and the offering of innovative services is through a market ecosystem and with targeted support for low-income consumers and in remote rural areas. In particular, federal decisions to limit the heavy hand of regulation along with smart public policies such as dig-once and removal of barriers to deployment all have propelled our members’ investments in high-performance broadband.
As the COVID-19 crisis unfolds, ACA Connects members are doing tremendous work to overcome the many obstacles in their path. Our members are implementing CDC and other public health guidelines to ensure the safety of their employees, customers, and the public. They are keeping existing customers connected and going the extra mile to install service for new customers, especially students and low-income individuals. And they are doing all of this with fewer “boots on the ground,” while navigating State and local stay-at-home-orders and other access restrictions, shortages of protective equipment, and other practical challenges.
ACA Connects members are also taking extraordinary measures, at their own expense, to keep customers connected and to help new customers get online. More than 200 members have taken Chairman Pai’s “Keep Americans Connected” pledge. Under the pledge, members have committed to waiving late fees, suspending disconnects, and opening WiFi hot spots to the public for two months as this crisis continues to disrupt our daily lives. The costs to implement these measures are not easy for a smaller operator to bear, but ACA Connects members are eager to be “a good neighbor” in these difficult times.
And the Pledge is just the tip of the iceberg. ACA Connects members recognize that that there are millions of households, many with schoolchildren, that do not subscribe to broadband service. The reasons are myriad, including affordability concerns or lack of familiarity with the Internet. However, ACA Connects members of all sizes are taking steps to help serve these households and others during this pandemic. To note just a few (of many possible) examples:
- Mediacom has increased the speed of its Connect2Compete low-cost internet program to 25/3 Mbps (from 10/1 Mbps); offered 60 days of this service to qualifying families; and reduced the price of “Access Internet 60” (60 Mbps) broadband service.
- Hiawatha Broadband has created a Temporary Free Internet Assistance Program that provides 60 days of free Internet service and router rental to eligible low-income households.
- Vast Broadband is offering broadband services to students at Black Hills State University who do not currently have internet access at home.
- Shentel has waived all installation fees for new broadband data subscribers and has increased data allowances by 250 GB for all customers whose current rate plan includes a monthly data allowance.
More can and will be done to help households that have not yet recognized the value of subscribing to broadband services. ACA Connects members are committed to help. Indeed, ACA Connects participates on the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee working group that is focused on this precise issue. We have had and will continue our conversations with policymakers on solutions that provide immediate benefit to those most in need.
Every day I am amazed by our members and their employees and all that they do. At a time when we need them, they are performing. Broadband in America is a good news story, and it will get even better. I look forward to continuing to support our members as they work to serve their customers and communities and invest in their future.