PITTSBURGH, November 10, 2014 – American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s announcement urging the Federal Communications Commission to cover broadband Internet companies under Title II of the Communications Act:
“From ACA’s perspective, the new economy will look old and tired pretty fast if the Federal Communications Commission adopts heavy-handed regulation of the Internet.
“Smaller broadband ISPs are no threat to the Open Internet. Period. Accordingly, consumers of these providers have long benefited from the government’s light touch in applying regulation to broadband Internet services. This approach, enjoying bipartisan support for more than a decade, has created a beneficial economic environment where deployment and enhancement of broadband networks by smaller broadband ISPs in smaller cities and markets have flourished.
“Common carrier regulation of telephone service crafted in 1934 under President Franklin Roosevelt should not be applied to a thriving, bustling broadband Internet market in 2014 under President Barack Obama. A Title II regulatory regime will choke off investment and will do more harm than good.”
About the American Cable Association: Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing about 850 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/