ACA Members To Learn From Capitol Hill Lawmaker At The Center Of Every Telecom Debate
PITTSBURGH, March 9, 2011 – House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Greg Walden (R-Or.) will provide the Congressional Keynote Address at the American Cable Association’s Annual Summit in Washington, D.C., giving the independent cable operator community a unique opportunity to hear up-close from a highly regarded lawmaker at the center of every major telecommunications debate on Capitol Hill. Rep. Walden is scheduled to speak on Wednesday, April 13, at 8 a.m.
“ACA is delighted that Chairman Walden will be joining ACA members at their annual convention in our nation’s capital. Chairman Walden, as a small businessman and former radio station owner, has a keen understanding of the needs of the independent cable community and its longstanding support for communications policies that promote choice and competition in hometown America,” ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka said.
Rep. Walden became chairman in early 2011, heading a panel with direct oversight of the Federal Communications Commission, cable operators, broadcasters, telephone carriers, and satellite TV providers. Over the next two years, Walden’s panel is expected to give attention to many issues of interest to ACA members, including Net Neutrality, Universal Service reform, online privacy, spectrum auctions and retransmission consent.
Rep. Walden represents the people of Oregon’s Second Congressional District, which includes 20 counties in central, southern and eastern Oregon. The telecommunications industry supports about 50,000 jobs in Oregon, including nearly 10,000 in Rep. Walden’s Second District. ACA has nearly a dozen members in Rep. Walden’s district alone.
FCC Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn will deliver the ACA Summit FCC Keynote address on Tuesday, April 12, offering perceptive insights on public policy issues affecting consumers served by small and midsize cable operators in rural communities.
The 18th ACA Summit will take place April 11-13 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill. It stands as a premier cable industry event where smaller, independent and competitive cable operators can exchange public policy views with Obama Administration officials, key players from Capitol Hill and the FCC, as well as members of the print and electronic media.
Hundreds of ACA members are planning to attend this year’s ACA Summit in support of their message that good policymaking ensures that rural companies serving high-cost areas are treated fairly in the marketplace and not overburdened by regulations, so they may continue to supply affordable communications services to their communities.
ACA’s three-day event will also include member meetings on Capitol Hill and public sessions on regulatory and legislative issues. A lobbying preparation session, networking events, and an expanded exhibit hall for programmers, technology vendors, and service providers round out the Summit’s list of key events.
ACA is currently seeking sponsors for the event. Interested parties should contact Stacey Leech at [email protected] or (412)-922-8300, ext. 15.Further information about the ACA Summit 2011 agenda and the exciting lineup of speakers will be made available on the ACA Summit 2011 Web site in the weeks ahead.
To register and learn more about ACA Summit 2011, please visit: ACA Summit.org
About the American Cable Association
Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing nearly 900 smaller and medium-sized, independent cable companies who provide broadband services for more than 7.6 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/