February 4, 2015

ACA: FCC Chairman's Title II Regs Unwarranted and Harmful To Smaller ISPs And Their Customers

PITTSBURGH, February 4, 2015 – American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement regarding FCC Chairman Wheeler’s decision to impose Title II regulations on small and mid-sized Internet Service Providers:

“Title II is the wrong approach for ensuring an Open Internet, particularly for smaller ISPs and their customers.  Rather than doing the hard work required to examine individual markets and individual competitors, the FCC has taken the easy way out by treating all ISPs the same.  Yet, as ACA has demonstrated to the FCC, smaller ISPs, including smaller cable operators, rural telcos, and municipal providers, do not have an incentive or ability to harm the openness of the Internet, and new Title II regulations will be disproportionately onerous for them.  ACA and its members urge the FCC to address this error and grant relief for smaller ISPs to avoid harming them and their customers.  Reduced investment in broadband and higher retail rates that would result from onerous regulation will benefit no one.”

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/