ACA Calls On FCC to Protect Low–Cost Broadband Packages

Web–based content and service providers that succeed in forcing broadband providers to pay subscriber fees for their Internet content will cripple the national effort to deliver affordable broadband access to every U.S. household, the American Cable Association said in comments recently filed at the Federal Communications Commission.


Media giants are in the early stages of becoming Internet gatekeepers by requiring broadband providers to pay for their Web-based content and services and include them as part of basic Internet access for all subscribers. These content providers are also preventing subscribers who are interested in the content from independently accessing it on broadband networks of providers that have refused to pay. Read More / Comment on Story

Share Your Cable Story -- Win a FREE TRIP to the ACA Summit!

ACA's advocacy is based on telling the stories of our cable operator members to policymakers in Washington. Hearing how public policy issues impact you and your business is very important.

So important, in fact, that we're offering a free, ALL EXPENSE PAID TRIP to the ACA Summit to the cable operator that shares the most compelling story. The prize, valued at more than $1,500, includes roundtrip airfare, lodging at the Gaylord National Resort, and registration at the ACA Summit, including meals. The deadline to submit your story is Tuesday, March 26. For additional information and official contest rules, click here

Broadband Initiatives Feedback Form

Do you have any questions or comments about the Broadband Initiatives included in the American Recoevery and Reinvestment Act?

Share Your Cable Story

ACA's advocacy is based on telling the stories of our cable operator members to policymakers in Washington. Hearing how public policy issues impact you and your business is very important. Submit your story below:

Canby Telcom (Oregon City, OR)

We thought we'd be lucky enough to avoid getting into any retransmission consent disputes during this round of talks, but we never expected to see the sorts of demands that were being put forth by Fisher Communications. The broadcaster demanded substantially higher fees than those being requested by the other station owners in our Portland, Oregon market. We were also told that their ABC affiliated would be yanked from our channel lineup unless we agreed to all of their prices, terms, and conditions.

DTV Transition to be Delayed until June 12; Some Stations may Switch Earlier

Concerned that consumers were not adequately prepared for the digital transition set for February 17, Congress passed legislation last week that delayed the date when stations owners must stop broadcasting in analog to June 12.

The DTV delay bill, expected to be signed by the President, says stations may make the switch to digital before the June date, meaning there could be a rolling transition in some markets. However, the FCC retains the right to deny a broadcaster's request if it's not found to be in the public interest. Since the bill's passage, hundreds of stations have expressed interest in staying on track to transition in February.

DTV Transition Date Delayed, Stations Still Have Option to Switch on Feb. 17

 

Congressed passed a bill on January 28th to delay the transition from analog to digital television until June 12; however, the FCC said that those stations that wish to make the transition on February 17, the original date for the DTV switch, will have an option to do so.

ACA Lauds Chairmen Rockefeller and Waxman for Their Stance on Stimulus for Broadband Access



The ACA sent a letter to Chairmen John Rockefeller (D-WV) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) on February 3rd applauding the language of the current economic stimulus package and urging Congress to include federal grants and loans within the package to help small cable operators offer high-speed broadband access to their customers. The stimulus currently will provide funding to extend the national fiber network to areas outside major metropolitan cities.

Hiawatha Broadband Communications (Winona, MN)

It may be seem incongruous with the concept of localism, butexisting Federal rules and regulations hamper my company's ability to offer itscustomers, all of whom reside in Minnesota,with broadcast stations that provide their state's news, weather and sports.

~ Gary Evans, CEO

Top Ten Key Developments of 2008 - #2

ACA Filing Encourages FCC to Examine Programmers and Broadcasters Practice of Tying and Bundling

January 10, 2008

On Thursday, January 3, ACA urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt changes to existing regulations to provide independent operators with more flexibility to provide consumers with choices and better value. ACA's filing comes in response to the FCC's request for comments in its rulemaking on the retransmission consent and program access rules.

Cable Story: Sunrise Communications (Onaway, MI)

hometownstory

"Our small size would make it difficult to handle a dual carriage obligation. I don't know how an operator in our situation affords the headend equipment and other costs." 

Bob Goodenow, Manager

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» Tell your story!

Member Profile: Trust Communications (Jackson, MS)

hometownstory"Year after year, the broadcasters and programmers put pressure on our company to add their affiliated networks to my basic programming package resulting in a more bloated, costly tier with channels that my customers neither want nor can afford.  Most of our Communication's customers in rural communities are satisfied receiving only 65 channels as basic, especially those in low income areas - not everyone wants to pay for 125 channels."

Steven Inzinna, President

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» Tell your story!

 

CableCo dba TVision (Colorado Springs, CO)

hometownstory

With the upcoming round of retransmission consent negotiations, we know that we'll be forced to pay fees to broadcasters for the first time, and unfortunately our customers will have to foot the bill. As a small cable operator, programming is our already largest expense by far, and we simply cannot absorb any more increases in our carriage fees.

~David Shipley, Business Manager

Independent cable operators face unique challenges that require special consideration by the FCC in terms of how it deals with the digital television transition to ensure requirements do not impact the consumers or communities served - specifically, the digital must-carry requirements. Read More

 

» Key Developments
» Press Releases
» Headlines
» Filings, Testimonies, and Letters
» Resources

In order for small cable operators to provide their customers with popular programming, large programmers often make them provide undesired programming on their most widely subscribed to tiers. Consumers pay the price for this abusive practice with higher cable rates and programming that is not aligned with their interests.  Read More

 

» Key Developments
» Press Releases
» Headlines
» Filings, Testimonies, and Letters
» Resources

When broadcasters abuse their market power to demand exorbitant fees from cable operators who want to offer their signals, consumers always pay the price. Broadcasters often discriminate against small and medium-sized cable operators, extracting retransmission consent fees at substantially higher per-subscriber rates than charged larger providers. Read More

 

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» Headlines
» Filings, Testimonies, and Letters
» Write to Congress
» Write a Letter to the Editor
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  • Upcoming Events

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  • Digital Television Transition

    America will transition to Digital Television on June 12, 2009. Independent cable operators are on the front lines to make sure that their customers are prepared for the change - as well as to ensure that Washington's demands don't interfere with their ability to continue to deliver quality programming and broadband services to customers. Read More

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