PITTSBURGH, January 27, 2014 – The American Cable Association is pleased to announce that Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler will join attendees of ACA’s Washington Summit on Wednesday, April 2, to share his ideas and outlook for U.S. communications policy in the coming years in a question-and-answer session with ACA’s President and CEO, Matt Polka.
“ACA is honored that Chairman Wheeler will speak to our group of independent cable operators who are deploying high-speed broadband Internet services in many areas of the country, including some of the hardest-to-serve rural and remote regions,” ACA’s Polka said. “I’m certain ACA members will benefit greatly from Chairman Wheeler’s wisdom gained through decades of experience with the role of government in this sector and what makes communications businesses thrive as sources of innovation and job creation.”
This year’s 21st annual ACA Summit will take place April 1-3 at the Grand Hyatt, 1000 H Street NW, Washington, D.C. The ACA Summit is a unique forum that highlights the special role that independent cable operators play in providing world class communications services to consumers in hometown markets throughout the United States.
ACA also announces that registration for the ACA Summit is now open for D.C. government relations professionals and partners and associates at law firms. The one-day registration pass for April 2 will permit attendees to observe all keynote sessions and panels, including the Q&A with Chairman Wheeler.
Chairman Wheeler’s ACA Summit session will coincide with the independent cable community’s ongoing efforts to support policies critical to their provision of service to consumers, including: reforming retransmission consent; halting the practice of separately owned, same-market TV stations creating virtual duopolies in an effort to drive up the cost of retransmission consent; ensuring the ability of buying groups, like the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), to avail themselves of the pro-competitive program access rules; guaranteeing that the Connect America Fund avoids funding overbuilds of non-subsidized competitors and operates efficiently; and promoting a regulatory environment favorable to investment and expansion of broadband networks built through private capital.
Chairman Wheeler became the 31st Chairman of the FCC on November 4, 2013. He was appointed by President Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate.
For more than three decades, Chairman Wheeler has been involved with new telecommunications networks and services, experiencing the revolution in telecommunications as a policy expert, an advocate, and a businessman. As an entrepreneur, he started or helped start multiple companies offering innovative cable, wireless, and video communications services. He is the only person to be selected to both the Cable Television Hall of Fame and the Wireless Hall of Fame.
The theme of this year’s summit – Our Time Is NOW! – underscores the important legislative and regulatory goals ACA and its Members are pursuing on Capitol Hill and at the FCC.
Registration for ACA Members and D.C. Professionals; Call for Exhibitors and Sponsors:
The ACA Summit website includes event details and secure online registration for ACA members. Separate registration to attend the Summit on Wednesday, April 2, for D.C. government relations professionals and law firm partners and associates is also available on the ACA Summit website. Registration for the day pass includes breakfast and lunch, attendance at all keynote sessions and other panels, and exclusive exhibit hours.
ACA is currently seeking exhibitors and sponsors for the event. Interested parties should contact Stacey Leech at [email protected] or 412.922.8300, ext. 15.
Please visit the ACA Summit 2014 website by clicking here: ACA Summit.