February 23, 2017

ACA Supports Broad Range Of Questions In FCC’s NPRM On The ATSC 3.0 Transition

PITTSBURGH, February 23, 2017 – American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s adoption of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the proposed transition to the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard:

“ACA is pleased that the FCC has asked a broad range of questions about the proposed ATSC 3.0 transition.  Some broadcasters believe transitioning to ATSC 3.0 will advance their business interests.  ACA would not stand in the way of businesses investing their own funds to pursue their business interests.  Such pursuits, however, should not come at the expense of consumers or other market participants.  In this regard, the proposed transition also raises many questions and concerns for ACA members.  These concerns include: the characteristics of ATSC 3.0 transmissions; the transition to the new standard; new equipment required for small cable operators to deliver ATSC 3.0 signals to subscribers: the responsibility for the costs associated with the transition: and even the ‘retransmission consent’ process by which broadcasters propose to work out the details of such carriage.

“ACA appreciates that the NPRM includes a wide range of questions about the proposed transition – including questions on all of the subjects described above. ACA believes that asking such questions will lead to a more robust debate and, ultimately, a transition that works better for viewers, not just broadcasters.”

“We also appreciate Chairman Pai’s making available a draft NPRM several weeks prior to the vote.  Allowing the public to review the text of the item permits more efficient and focused feedback, which again leads to better outcomes.”

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/