PITTSBURGH, June 11, 2012 — ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka issued the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission voted to sunset the viewability rule, which required cable systems to utilize their channel capacity to carry the signals of must carry broadcast signals in both digital and analog format:
“ACA commends the Federal Communications Commission for allowing the viewability rule to sunset on schedule three years after the DTV transition. By permitting cable operators to offer must-carry signals in digital only, these providers can now use the reclaimed capacity to offer improved services, such as better broadband and more diverse programming options.
“ACA is especially pleased with the FCC’s decision to continue to exempt smaller cable systems from the mandatory distribution of must carry signals in native HD format. ACA appreciates that the FCC recognized the technical and economic challenges faced by smaller cable systems, justifying policies that do not disproportionately harm the consumers served by many of ACA’s rural-based member companies. The exemption will provide smaller systems with the additional time they need to upgrade so that they too can eventually provide must carry signals in HD.
”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 more than 7.4 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, visithttps://acaconnects.org/
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 120612 FCC Applauds FCC Sunset Of Viewability Rule (FINAL).pdf | 155.47 KB |