Colleen Abdoulah, Chairwoman & CEO of WOW! Internet, Cable and Phone, has been named Vice Chairwoman of the American Cable Association, the second-highest leadership position in the organization that was held by James Bruder, CEO of Harron Communications, for the past four years, the trade group announced.

"Colleen is one of the most talented and visionary executives in the cable television industry, and I congratulate her on being named ACA's new Vice Chairwoman. I truly appreciate that Colleen is so willing to assume such an important role with so much at stake for ACA members and the millions of consumers they serve in hometown America," ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka said.

Abdoulah was elected Vice Chairman by the ACA Board on April 11 on the eve of the 18th ACA Summit in Washington, D.C. She was appointed to her first two-year term on the ACA Board in October, 2008 at ACA's quarterly Board meeting in Tucson, Arizona.

In her new position, Abdoulah will act as one of ACA's key advocates for the small, independent cable community before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Obama Administration.

"Colleen's election as Vice Chairwoman is terrific news for our organization and the independent cable community that Colleen serves so well as an ACA Executive Committee member. Jim's decision to remain on the ACA Board ensures that his deep industry experience will inform all of the important decisions awaiting us in the years ahead," ACA Chairman Steve Friedman said.

Abdoulah has been a strong supporter of ACA activities for many years. In 2010, she testified on behalf of ACA before three Congressional Committees -- the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet; the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights; and the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee -- to deliver independent cable's concerns with the $30 billion Comcast-NBC Universal merger pending before the FCC and the Department of Justice.

Much of Abdoulah's Comcast-NBCU testimony served to give shape to regulatory conditions eventually applied in January to the most significant media merger in a decade.

Also last year, Abdoulah received the ACA PAC Individual Leadership Award, which recognizes enthusiasm, dedication and support for the ACA PAC and for creating a culture of knowledge within her company regarding the ACA PAC's important role and purpose.

Bruder became ACA Vice Chairman in 2008, providing strategic advice and leadership direction during a period of dramatic change, highlighted by the digital TV transition, federal broadband stimulus programs, the Comcast-NBCU merger and broadcasters' new reliance on eleventh-hour blackout tactics to extract higher retransmission consent fees from ACA members.

"Jim has displayed enormous skill and dedication during his tenure as Vice Chairman, helping to solidify the organization's reputation as a powerful advocate for nearly 900 companies that provide rural America with first-class communications services," Polka said. "I could not be more proud or more excited that Jim will continue to serve on our Board."

In 2007, Bruder was honored with the ACA PAC Advocate Award for his success in raising awareness of the ACA PAC's importance and encouraging individuals to support the ACA PAC through financial contributions.