PITTSBURGH, December 17, 2009 — American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement in response to the Rural Utilities Service’s decision to award a $9.5 million broadband stimulus grant to ACA member Pine Telephone Co.:
“The American Cable Association is very pleased that the Rural Utilities Service is providing ACA member Pine Telephone Co. with a $9.5 million grant to deploy broadband infrastructure in remote areas of southeast Oklahoma. We are not surprised to learn of Pine’s selection because all ACA members that applied for assistance under the $7.2 billion broadband stimulus program are ideal candidates to receive federal support for the purpose of deploying broadband in unserved and underserved areas.
“For at least a decade, ACA members have been leaders in deploying broadband in small markets and rural areas. We hope that RUS and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will agree to award new funding to the 82 other ACA members that have applied for support in the first round. We further wish that RUS and NTIA will adopt all of ACA’s recommended changes to the program for the second funding round to stimulate even more ACA members to take advantage of the program to deliver high-speed Internet service to consumers that lack such access today.”
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 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/