• ACA Names Ted Hearn VP of Communications

The American Cable Association has announced that Ted Hearn has joined the organization as vice president of communications, a new position intended to strengthen the voice of small and independent cable operators in their effort to bring policy change to Washington, D.C. In his new role, Hearn will be responsible for overseeing all communications efforts at ACA, joining the organization at a time when Congress and the Obama administration are developing broadband policies that are likely to have an impact on ACA members. Hearn will report directly to ACA chief Matt Polka.

“ACA is extremely happy that Ted will be joining our team,” Polka said. “He knows the issues, he knows how Washington works, and he knows how to tell people about it. His work will be invaluable to telling the story and unique challenges of independent cable operators and their customers.”

From 1994 until recently, Hearn was Washington News Editor of Multichannel News. Hearn wrote widely about Congress and the FCC, as well as implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the ongoing transition to digital transmission. Hearn earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Lake Forest College in Illinois and a Master of Arts in legislative affairs from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

• Polka, Seven ACA Members Named Cable Pioneers

The 2009 inductees into the Cable Television Pioneers will include seven ACA members, and ACA’s President and CEO, Matthew M. Polka. Founded in 1966, the Cable Television Pioneers is an independent organization of individuals recognized and honored for their contribution to the cable television industry. Individuals affiliated with ACA included in the 2009 class include:

William C. Beaty, Jr., Comporium Communications, Rock Hill, SC
Steve V. Bell II, Boycom Cablevision, Inc., Poplar Bluff, MO
Daniel Casciato, Ovation TV, Downers Grove, IL
Michael Drake, Milestone Communications, Inc., Castle Pines North, CO
Chuck Davis, TV Cable of Grayson County, Pottsboro, TX
Richard Gessner, Massillon Cable TV, Massillon, OH
Matthew M. Polka, American Cable Association, Pittsburgh, PA
Jeffrey C. Wayne, Outdoor Channel, Littleton, CO

ACA chairman Steve Friedman released a statement saying, “All of us at ACA congratulate our many members that have been named ‘Pioneers’ in the Class of 2009 because they exemplify the continuing entrepreneurial spirit of the independent cable operator. The Pioneers are a group steeped in the history of this industry. They represent where we have been and where we are going. We are also particularly proud that Matt Polka, our association’s President, is joining their ranks and congratulate him on this achievement.”

• Small Cable Weighs In On Broadband Grant and Loan Programs
  ACA Representatives Present Views at Two At NTIA, RUS Forums

Representatives of the American Cable Association accepted invitations to participate as panelists at a pair of broadband stimulus package forums hosted by the Obama Administration in Flagstaff, Ariz., Wednesday, March 18, and in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, March 19. The back-to-back sessions were held by the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service, the lead agencies for implementing the $7.2 billion broadband loan-and-grant program designed to extend high-speed Internet services into unserved and underserved areas of the country.

ACA’s small cable company members have led the nation in connecting millions of rural homes, schools, hospitals, businesses and governments to broadband Internet technology. Alan H. Silverman, vice president and general counsel of Cable ONE Inc. , was on hand to represent ACA in Flagstaff, and ACA president and CEO Matt Polka did the same in Washington, D.C. “ACA members are in the best position to put broadband loan and grant dollars to work to achieve the Obama Administration’s goal of making affordable high-speed Internet available to every American, particularly those in rural areas that present the most challenging deployment issues,” Polka said. “ACA members have shovel-ready projects that will create jobs and boost economic activity in those areas getting broadband for the first time.”

A priority for ACA is the willingness of NTIA and RUS to supply funding for so-called middle-mile projects. Support for the construction of long-distance fiber lines will ensure that rural cable operators with upgraded networks can provide their customers with speedy access to the Internet backbone, sometime located dozens of miles from a cable company’s main office. “High-capacity backhaul connections to the national fiber network are essential to keeping smaller markets connected to the Internet’s global marketplace,” Cable ONE’s Silverman said.

• Senator DeMint to Address CIC Breakfast at NCTA National Cable Show

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) will address the Christians in Communications (“CIC”) Breakfast on “Saving Freedom” during the National Cable Show Thursday, April 2, 2009. “Freedom can transform an idea into a multi-million dollar enterprise. Freedom can turn poverty into riches. It can change enemies into friends. Freedom can convert evil into virtue. Unquestionably, freedom has the power to make possible many of the hopes and dreams of all mankind.” states Sen. DeMint, who will speak at the CIC Breakfast from 7:30-8:30 AM at the Washington, D.C., Renaissance Washington Hotel. “We are honored to have Sen. DeMint address our event,” said Tony S. Swain, President of CIC. “Sen. DeMint is a strong advocate of freedom and liberty that enables us all and our country to even greater heights.”

Sen. DeMint was elected as South Carolina’s 55th senator in 2004. The Senator quickly established himself as one of the most effective conservative leaders in Washington, seeking to enact innovative solutions to improve America for future generations. He has been a tireless advocate for smaller government, individual liberty, a strong national defense and traditional values. Sen. DeMint understands the greatness of a country is found in its people and values, not in its government.

CIC’s breakfast is open to all attendees of the Cable show to attend. Christians in Communications, Inc. promotes fellowship within the cable industry and provides opportunities for all to meet at various industry shows, offering an inspirational message and encouragement in a positive, Christian way. For more information, contact www.christiansincommunications.org.

• Economic Stimulus Package Bid By ACA
  Independent Cable Holds The Answer To Broadband Divide

In a bid to make room for smaller cable operators in the Economic Stimulus Package recently passed by Congress, the American Cable Association reminded lawmakers that independent cable could “help deliver faster speeds to smaller markets.”

In separate letters to Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), ACA urged lawmakers to make federal assistance available to cable providers as part of the economic stimulus package then pending in Congress to deliver faster broadband service in these communities.

“With minimal investment,” ACA said, “the federal government can bring faster broadband speeds to thousands of smaller markets and rural areas across the country. By making grants and loans accessible to local operators to build higher-capacity connections to the national fiber network, broadband speed would be increased by as much as 10 times. Operators in these areas have the infrastructure in place to offer faster broadband speeds right now, but cannot maximize their systems’ capabilities because they cannot afford to connect to the Internet backbone which runs past rather than through their communities. As a result, these broadband providers must connect to the national fiber network through existing lower-capacity connections, such as T1 lines, which slow speeds for their users.

“Small and medium-sized cable operators are ready and able to provide faster Internet speeds into smaller markets and rural areas,” said ACA chief Matt Polka. “With government assistance, these broadband providers could pull the trigger on thousands of shovel-ready projects over the next 18 months that would create new jobs in this economy, and provide Main Street America faster Internet speeds...”

Polka continued, “connections to the Internet backbone with higher-speed throughputs will be invaluable to local schools, hospitals, businesses and government...

“Helping to fund these projects in small markets and rural areas will strengthen the economy, both locally and nationwide, and ensure that all communities have the opportunities they deserve,” Polka concluded

• ACA Offers Support To New FCC Chairman

The American Cable Association issued a statement congratulating Julius Genachowski for his selection by President Barack Obama to head the FCC. “The role of the FCC has never been more significant to more Americans, and we wish Mr. Genachowski well in taking on today’s historic challenges,” ACA President and CEO Matt Polka said. “The next several years will present opportunities and obstacles in the technology and communications industries, including the coming DTV transition and the Government’s effort to deploy broadband in underserved areas. ACA and its members are eager to work with the new Chairman and all the Commissioners of the FCC to ensure the unique challenges of smaller cable operators and their subscribers are understood and accounted for. Mr. Genachowski’s record of accomplishments and reputation within the industry make him a good choice as Chairman, and we congratulate him.”

Genachowski, 46, played a leading role in the Obama campaign’s highly successful online strategy and was a major fundraiser for the campaign. He and President Obama both attended Columbia University, though they were in different classes. They became friendly at Harvard Law School, where they both served in top positions at the Harvard Law Review.

• ACA Requests Short Extension Following OMB and FCC Delays

In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, the American Cable Association has requested a 120-day extension for broadband and VoIP providers to complete and file the new Form 477. The form, which will require a great deal of administrative effort to collect all the additional information being sought, is due by March 2, 2009, but repeated delays in approval of the form by the OMB and its posting on the FCC’s website, will mean ACA members have less time to perform an already burdensome task.

“Filing the new Form 477 is going to be fairly labor intensive and time consuming,” ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka said. “Our members are more than willing to comply, but we only ask for a reasonable amount of time given the OMB and FCC’s repeated delays in making the final version of the form available to our members — the form is still not available on the FCC website. This entire situation can be easily corrected with a short extension, and hope the FCC grants our request.”

The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, the Rural Telecommunications Group and the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies have also filed a similar 120-day extension request.

On June 12, the FCC Released a Report and Order (FCC 08-89) and an Order on Reconsideration (FCC 08-148) that together revised the Form 477 filing requirements. The FCC submitted the new Form 477 for review to the OMB on December 24, 2008. The OMB approved the form with changes on January 30, 2009.

• ACA’s Summit Seeks To Give D.C. Policymakers A Different Perspective

On April 27-29, 2009, independent cable operators from across the country will gather in Washington, D.C., during the American Cable Association’s 16th Annual Summit. Their mission is to educate policymakers that all cable operators are not the same, and that federal telecommunications policies often have a negative impact on consumers in rural and smaller communities across America. During the event, the ACA and its members will call upon Congress to implement regulatory reform that fosters the deployment of advanced services regardless of geographic location. Fittingly, the theme of this year’s Summit is “Giving Policymakers a Different Perspective.”

“ACA’s Summit strives to bring to light the unique and dynamic challenges faced by rural consumers and the independent cable operators who serve them. We’re urging all ACA members to join us in D.C. on April 27th through the 29th in order to educate the newly elected members of Congress on the critical need for reform on key issues ranging from antiquated retransmission consent laws to network management concerns,” said Matt Polka, ACA president and CEO.

During ACA’s Summit, one day will be dedicated to meetings on Capitol Hill. In addition, the event will feature sessions on legislative and policy issues, a lobbying preparation session, networking events, and an expanded exhibit hall where programmers, technology vendors, and service providers will showcase their offerings.

ACA has launched a Web site for the Summit (www.acasummit.org) with event details, and secure online registration.

• DTV Deadline Extended To June 12

President Barack Obama has signed the bill extending the DTV date from Feb. 17 to June 12. “During these challenging economic times, the needs of American consumers are a top priority of my administration,”the president said at the signing. “This law, which was crafted in a bipartisan way and passed overwhelmingly in the House and Senate, ensures that our citizens will have more time to prepare for the conversion.”

• Boucher to Head Communications Subcommittee

The American Cable Association congratulated Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA) for his selection as Chairman of the Communications, Technology and the Internet Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He replaces Ed Markey (D-MA), who will head the Energy and Environment Subcommittee.

“The ACA and its members congratulate Congressman Boucher on his appointment as chairman and looks forward to working with him during this historic time,” ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka said. “Congressman Boucher has one of the brightest minds in Washington regarding communications and technology issues, and his choice as chairman is a testament to both his knowledge and accomplishments in this field. As a representative of a rural district, he also fully understands the issues that face small operators and the unique challenges that our members face in providing advanced services to consumers in these areas.” an effort to break into local video markets.