Congress is “Certainly Paying Attention to What’s Happening Down at the FCC”
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2008—Speaking to hundreds of independent cable operators from across the country this morning, U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA) noted that government efforts for a national broadband policy are falling short and stressed the importance of ensuring that every American has access to affordable broadband.
“Not only do we have no national coordinated strategy to encourage wide availability of broadband, but to rub salt in the wound, when a cable company has taken the business risk to upgrade their systems and offer broadband, various government programs subsidize their competitors,” stated Rep. Doyle.
Rep. Doyle’s keynote address, part of the American Cable Association’s 15th Annual Summit, commended the work ACA has done to raise awareness of issues facing small and independent cable companies, focusing on tying and bundling, the digital television transition, and the universal adoption of broadband.
“Members on the House Commerce Committee will be interested to see how the FCC rules on tying and bundling,” Rep. Doyle commented.
ACA members from across the country are gathered at this year’s Summit to inform Members of Congress and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioners that blatant retransmission consent price discrimination and anticompetitive tying practices must stop so the focus can remain on delivering quality programming choices, broadband services and value to customers.
“Congressman Doyle is a friend of small and independent businesses and understands the pressing issues facing the small cable industry,” said ACA President and CEO, Matthew M. Polka.
“This year’s Summit has already been an unprecedented success, and our members enjoyed and appreciated the tremendous opportunity to gain valuable insight into the ‘Congressional perspective’ from Representative Doyle this morning.”
Congressman Doyle is currently serving his seventh term in the U.S. House of Representatives; he is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is the Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, which has jurisdiction over all communications, media and technology issues.
For more information about the ACA’s 15th Annual Summit please visit www.acasummit.org.
About the American Cable Association
Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing 1,100 smaller and medium-sized, independent cable companies who provide broadband services for more than 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 www.americancable.org.