May 13, 2015

ACA Urges D.C. Circuit To Stay FCC's Title II Mandates

PITTSBURGH, May 13, 2015 – American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement regarding the organization’s decision to ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to stay the Federal Communications Commission’s reclassification of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) as Title II telecommunications providers:

“ACA believes that without a judicial stay or expedited review of our case, the FCC’s profoundly incorrect decision to impose utility-style Title II regulation on broadband ISPs will cause irreparable harms from which ACA members and their customers will never recover.

“Under the FCC’s Order, ISPs classified as telecommunications carriers will face enormous compliance burdens, be subject to nebulous rules of behavior, some of which are likely to cause a loss of customer good will, class action lawsuits, and potentially incur higher fees to rent space on utility poles in addition to new state and local fees and taxes.  This impact will be felt especially hard by smaller ISPs that lack the resources to cope with such a massive shift in policy.

“The FCC’s decision not to shield economically vulnerable smaller ISPs from the full weight of Title II was arbitrary and capricious, and ACA hopes the D.C. Circuit will block the FCC’s rules from taking effect on June 12.”

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/