April 7, 2016

ACA Statement On Verizon-INCOMPAS Special Access Proposal

PITTSBURGH, April 7, 2016 – ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement in response to the letter filed with the Federal Communications Commission today by Verizon and the trade association INCOMPAS that proposes a new framework for regulating special access (dedicated) services – which would undo 35 years of regulatory precedent that facilitated entry by facilities-based competitors:

“This is a private agreement between a dominant provider (Verizon) and providers who have chosen not to build their own facilities that proposes to subject new, facilities-based entrants to regulation in their provision of dedicated services.  That will impose costs on these new entrants – many of whom are small providers that have no experience with common carrier rate regulation — slowing their entry and their efforts to bring competition and innovative services to market.  That is clearly not in the public interest, and ACA intends to oppose this private deal.”

About the American Cable Association: Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing nearly 750 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/