PITTSBURGH, June 15, 2011 – The American Cable Association congratulates veteran cable and media executive Rich Fickle on his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Cable Television Cooperative, an organization with which ACA has enjoyed long and productive ties in advancing the cause of the independent cable community and the millions of consumers it serves.
ACA is especially pleased with this announcement because so many ACA members worked closely with Fickle in the complex yet thoroughly successful rollout of the Headend in the Sky (HITS) service while he was Senior Vice President and General Manager of HITS and Interactive TV for AT&T Broadband.
“ACA members gained enormous respect for Rich’s talent and ability in helping smaller and mid-size cable operators integrate the HITS platform, creating badly needed digital programming capacity to meet the competitive challenge posed by all-digital satellite TV providers. Going forward, ACA members know they can rely on Rich’s expertise once again as TV Everywhere and related VOD issues move to the forefront of crucial business issues associated with the growth of Internet-based video competition,” said ACA Chairman Steve Friedman, who is Chief Operating Officer of Wave Broadband in Kirkland, Wash.
ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka said he’s eager to begin working with Fickle once again following his July 5 start date at NCTC, renewing a relationship that stems from close contact during the HITS program.
“Rich Fickle’s selection is great news for ACA. I’m confident that Rich’s arrival at NCTC will strengthen the bonds between our two organizations, especially in crafting creative solutions that result in a constructive dialogue between cable programming suppliers and ACA members responsible for providing essential services to hometown America,” Polka said.
About the American Cable Association
Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing nearly 900 smaller and medium-sized, independent cable companies who provide broadband services for more than 7.6 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/