July 29, 2011

ACA President & CEO Matthew M. Polka Comments On New USF Proposals But Reserves Final Judgment While Awaiting Details

PITTSBURGH, July 29, 2011 – “ACA is pleased that the plan submitted by AT&T, Verizon and a number of mid-size telephone companies appears to seek to ensure that the Universal Service Fund regime is fiscally responsible, particularly by curbing its runaway growth, and by limiting, if not prohibiting, funding in areas where competing systems provide broadband service. These two positions, along with ensuring that ACA’s members that fall within the smaller telco category are given sufficient time to adjust to changes in the system, have been our association’s main pillars throughout this process.

“But, as we all know, the specific terms and conditions of both proposals are critical.  Until ACA has reviewed them in detail and discussed them with the ACA Board, ACA is reserving final judgment. ACA intends to file comments with the Federal Communications Commission on the new proposals, providing feedback from the perspective of ACA’s nearly 900 independent video, telephone and broadband providers serving smaller markets and rural areas, more than half of whom do so without any government assistance.”

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/