TIN:
SCHEDULE O
(Form 990)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
(Form 990)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Supplemental Information to Form 990 or 990-EZ
Complete to provide information for responses to specific questions on
Form 990 or 990-EZ or to provide any additional information.
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2021
Open to Public
Inspection
Inspection
Name of the organization
AMERICAN CABLE ASSOCIATION INC
Employer identification number
94-3180176
94-3180176
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990, PART I, ITEM C | DBA: AMERICA'S COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION, ACA CONNECTS. |
| FORM 990, PART I, LINE 1, DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION: | THE AMERICAN CABLE ASSOCIATION, INC. (ACA CONNECTS) PURPOSE SHALL BE THE PROTECTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESSES BY INFORMING AND EDUCATING LEGISLATORS, REGULATORS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE UNIQUE NEEDS, INTERESTS AND THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THESE SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES, AS WELL AS THE BENEFITS PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. ACA CONNECTS ALSO PROVIDES REGULATORY, TECHNICAL, INDUSTRY INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO ITS MEMBERS. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1, DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION: | THE AMERICAN CABLE ASSOCIATION, INC. (ACA CONNECTS) PURPOSE SHALL BE THE PROTECTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESSES BY INFORMING AND EDUCATING LEGISLATORS, REGULATORS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE UNIQUE NEEDS, INTERESTS AND THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THESE SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES, AS WELL AS THE BENEFITS PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. ACA CONNECTS ALSO PROVIDES REGULATORY, TECHNICAL, INDUSTRY INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO ITS MEMBERS. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: | ACA CONNECTS KEY DEVELOPMENTS 2022 ACA CONNECTS PROMOTES ATTORNEY BRIAN HURLEY TO CHIEF REGULATORY COUNSEL PITTSBURGH, DEC. 8, 2022 ACA CONNECTS IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT STAFF ATTORNEY BRIAN HURLEY HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO CHIEF REGULATORY COUNSEL, ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR DIRECTING AND SUPERVISING ACAC'S REGULATORY TEAM EFFORTS MOST PROMINENTLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. BRIAN'S PROMOTION IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. "BRIAN'S PROMOTION IS RICHLY DESERVED BASED ON HIS STELLAR RECORD IN HELPING ACA CONNECTS' MEMBERS UNDERSTAND THE REGULATORY LANDSCAPE IN PLANNING THEIR BUSINESS GOALS," ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER SAID. "ACA CONNECTS HAS BEEN COUNTING ON BRIAN'S ADVICE AND LEADERSHIP FOR MANY YEARS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON HIM HEAVILY IN 2023 AND BEYOND AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PREPARES TO AWARD AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF FUNDS FOR BROADBAND PROJECTS NATIONWIDE AN EFFORT THAT COMES WITH BOTH OPPORTUNITY AND RISKS." BRIAN -- WHO JOINED ACAC IN 2018 AS VICE PRESIDENT OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS AFTER A LONG STINT WORKING AT THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION -- WILL CONTINUE TO REPORT TO ACAC'S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER JOHN HIGGINBOTHAM. "WORKING ON BEHALF OF ACAC MEMBERS HAS BEEN A CAREER HIGHLIGHT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING MY EFFORTS, WHETHER THE ISSUE IS THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION'S $42.5 BILLION BEAD PROGRAM, POTENTIAL COMMON CARRIER REGULATION OF BROADBAND ISPS, CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND SO MUCH MORE," BRIAN SAID. IN JUNE, 2018, BRIAN JOINED ACA CONNECTS FROM HIS MOST RECENT POSITION AS SPECIAL COUNSEL, COMPETITION POLICY DIVISION, IN THE FCC'S WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU. HE WAS SERVING AS THE DESIGNATED FEDERAL OFFICER OF THE BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BDAC), A HIGH-PROFILE BODY OF INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TASKED TO DEVELOP CONCRETE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACCELERATING BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS ACROSS AMERICA. OVER A PERIOD OF 11 YEARS WITH THE FCC, BRIAN WAS AN ATTORNEY ADVISOR IN VARIOUS DIVISIONS IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU AND WAS A LEGAL INTERN WITH THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW DIVISION. A NATIVE OF INDIANAPOLIS, IND., BRIAN GRADUATED OF THE DUKE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW IN 2008. HE ALSO HOLDS A MASTER OF ARTS IN PHILOSOPHY FROM DUKE. BRIAN IS A 2005 GRADUATE WITH HONORS FROM DEPAUW UNIVERSITY. HE IS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ACA CONNECTS ANNOUNCES DATES AND THEME FOR ITS 2023 WASHINGTON, D.C., SUMMIT INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND BROADBAND PROVIDERS TO CELEBRATE ACAC'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY ON FEB. 28-MARCH 2 PITTSBURGH, DEC. 6, 2022 ACA CONNECTS TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT ITS ANNUAL WASHINGTON, D.C., SUMMIT WILL TAKE PLACE FEB. 28-MARCH 2, 2023, A MUST-ATTEND EVENT THAT WILL MARK THE TRADE ASSOCIATION'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY AS THE LEADING VOICE OF MORE THAN 500 INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND BROADBAND NETWORK PROVIDERS. THE THEME FOR THIS HISTORIC SUMMIT IS "SHAPING THE FUTURE" WHICH ACKNOWLEDGES THAT 2023 IS A WATERSHED YEAR FOR BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT AND RELATED POLICY ACROSS THE USA. "WE ARE TRULY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE DATES AND THEME FOR OUR 2023 SUMMIT, WHICH WILL MARK ACA CONNECTS' 30TH ANNIVERSARY. THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE IN THE COMING MONTHS AND I HOPE OUR MEMBERS WILL TURN OUT IN LARGE NUMBERS TO STRESS TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THE FCC AND THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THERE ARE TREMENDOUS RISKS TO DISTRIBUTING BROADBAND FUNDING WITHOUT CARE TO THE PROVEN DEMONSTRATED NEEDS OF EACH GEOGRAPHIC AREA." ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER SAID. THE ACA CONNECTS SUMMIT IS RETURNING TO AN IN-PERSON EVENT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019. SINCE THEN, ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS HAVE CONTINUED TO INVEST, OFFERING SERVICE TO NEARLY 23 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS -- UP FROM 14 MILLION SIX YEARS AGO -- WHICH INCLUDE MORE THAN ONE-QUARTER OF ALL RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN THE COUNTRY. "I URGE ALL ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE 2023 SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IT WILL BE AN HISTORIC OCCASION WITH A SERIOUS PURPOSE BUT ALSO WITH TIME SET ASIDE FOR HUGS AND HURRAHS TO HONOR ALL THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED. I WOULD ADD THIS: GOING TO CAPITOL HILL AND MAKING OUR CASE IN PERSON ARE UNBEATABLE IN LETTING OUR COUNTRY'S LEADERS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK WE DO BACK HOME," ACA CONNECTS CHAIRMAN PATRICIA JO BOYERS SAID. MRS. BOYERS, WHO BECAME ACAC'S CHAIRMAN IN 2019, IS PRESIDENT/CEO & CO-FOUNDER OF BOYCOM VISION IN POPLAR BLUFF, MO. THE VIDEO AND BROADBAND PROVIDER SERVES ABOUT 5,100 CUSTOMERS. IN SEPTEMBER, MRS. BOYERS WAS INDUCTED INTO THE PRESTIGIOUS CABLE HALL OF FAME, CLASS OF 2022. THE ACA CONNECTS SUMMIT IS A TRULY SPECIAL EVENT THAT ALLOWS SMALL AND MIDSIZE VIDEO AND BROADBAND PROVIDERS THAT SERVE HOMETOWN AMERICA TO ENGAGE WITH KEY LAWMAKERS AND REGULATORS AS WELL AS MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES THAT REPORT ON COMMUNICATIONS POLICY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE SUMMIT GIVES INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS A VEHICLE FOR FRAMING THE DIVERSE AND COMPLEX ISSUES IN THEIR OWN WORDS DURING DOZENS OF SESSIONS ON CAPITOL HILL AND WITH REGULATORS AT THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION. THE ACA CONNECTS SUMMIT HOST WILL BE THE GRAND HYATT WASHINGTON, 1000 H ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001. #SUMMIT2023 WILL BE THE OFFICIAL SOCIAL MEDIA HASHTAG FOR THE EVENT. REGISTRATION INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT: HTTPS://ACACONNECTS.ORG/ACA-SUMMIT/ ACA CONNECTS STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF MIKE PANDZIK, FIRST LEADER OF THE NATIONAL CONTENT & TECHNOLOGY COOPERATIVE (NCTC) PITTSBURGH, NOV. 8, 2022 ACA CONNECTS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON THE PASSING TODAY OF MIKE PANDZIK, THE FIRST PERSON TO HEAD THE NATIONAL CONTENT & TECHNOLOGY COOPERATIVE (NCTC), WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED THE NATIONAL CABLE TELEVISION COOPERATIVE UNTIL IT CHANGED ITS NAME EARLIER THIS YEAR. "WE ARE DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE PASSING OF MIKE PANDZIK, WHO WAS NOT ONLY A GOOD FRIEND TO ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS BUT SOMEONE WE ALWAYS COUNTED ON TO PROVIDE WISE COUNSEL AND GUIDANCE, ESPECIALLY DURING OUR CRUCIAL EARLY YEARS WHEN THE ORGANIZATION WAS MAPPING BIG PLANS. ON BEHALF OF ACA CONNECTS' ENTIRE STAFF AND MEMBERSHIP, I WANT MIKE'S FAMILY MEMBERS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE THINKING OF THEM AT THIS DIFFICULT TIME," ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER SAID. WHEN ACA CONNECTS WAS GETTING STARTED 30 YEARS AGO, NCTC UNDER MIKE PANDZIK WAS A KEY SOURCE OF FUNDING USED TO ESTABLISH ACA CONNECTS AT THE LEADING VOICE OF AMERICA'S INDEPENDENT VIDEO PROVIDERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. "MIKE PANDZIK WAS A GREAT LEADER IN OUR INDUSTRY, AND HIS VISION LED TO THE CREATION OF NCTC, WHICH STANDS STRONG TODAY FOR ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS," SAID FORMER ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO MATT POLKA. "BUT MORE THAN THAT, MIKE WAS A WARM AND WELCOMING FRIEND TO ME AND ACA CONNECTS IN OUR EARLIEST DAYS AND EVERY DAY THEREAFTER, AND I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO HIM." PANDZIK LED NCTC FOR 21 YEARS, STARTING OFF IN 1984 WITH ABOUT A DOZEN MIDWESTERN CABLE COMPANIES WITH FEWER THAN 110,000 SUBSCRIBERS. HE RETIRED IN 2005. OVER THE YEARS, NCTC STAYED TRUE TO ITS MISSION AS A CO-OP THAT NEGOTIATES CONTRACTS WITH CABLE AND BROADCAST TV PROGRAMMERS AS WELL AS HARDWARE VENDORS TO HELP SMALLER VIDEO AND BROADBAND FIRMS ATTAIN VOLUME-PRICE DISCOUNTS NORMALLY REALIZED BY LARGE COMPANIES. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: | ACA CONNECTS RELEASES FRAMEWORK TO HELP STATES AND TERRITORIES AWARD NTIA BEAD PROGRAM FUNDING FOR ELIGIBLE BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT PROJECTS ACAC'S STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN REVEALS THAT THE BEAD PROGRAM HAS THE BUDGET TO CONNECT NEARLY ALL U.S. UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED LOCATIONS TO FIBER PITTSBURGH, OCTOBER 17, 2022 ACA CONNECTS AND THE BUSINESS CONSULTING FIRM CARTESIAN TODAY ISSUED AN IN-DEPTH STUDY "BEAD PROGRAM: A FRAMEWORK TO ALLOCATE FUNDING FOR BROADBAND AVAILABILITY" THAT GIVES EACH STATE AND TERRITORY A HEAD START IN DETERMINING HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE $42 BILLION ALLOCATED FOR THE BROADBAND EQUITY, ACCESS, AND DEPLOYMENT (BEAD) PROGRAM. THE STUDY DOCUMENTS A PATH FORWARD FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF BEAD FUNDS THAT WOULD DELIVER THE MOST ROBUST AND RELIABLE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY FIBER TO THE PREMISES TO VIRTUALLY ALL UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED LOCATIONS IN THE U.S. THE STUDY, WHICH INCLUDES A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK AND A FRAMEWORK FOR EACH STATE AND TERRITORY, HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE BY ACA CONNECTS AND CARTESIAN ON THE ACA CONNECTS WEBSITE, AT HTTPS://ACACONNECTS.ORG/BEAD-PROGRAM-FRAMEWORK/. "OUR STUDY RELIES ON EXTENSIVE DATA, GRANULAR ANALYSIS, AND THE EXPERTISE CARTESIAN HAS DEVELOPED OVER MANY YEARS. ACA CONNECTS AND ITS MEMBERS WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IT WITH STATE AND TERRITORY BROADBAND OFFICES. IT SHOULD BE A USEFUL TOOL FOR THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS TO CONNECT EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN THEIR COMMUNITIES," SAID ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER, WHO PRAISED CARTESIAN FOR HELPING ACAC CONTRIBUTE RIGOROUS ANALYSIS TO THIS CRITICAL NATIONAL ISSUE. THE "FIRST OF ITS KIND' ACA CONNECTS/CARTESIAN STUDY FOLLOWS A THREE-STEP PROCESS. - FIRST, WE ESTIMATE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED HOUSEHOLDS IN EACH STATE AND TERRITORY BASED ON THE FCC FORM 477 DATA THAT WE ADJUSTED TO ACCOUNT FOR UNSERVED LOCATIONS IN PARTIALLY SERVED CENSUS BLOCKS, MAJOR DEFAULTS IN THE RURAL DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY FUND PROGRAM, AND NEW BUILDS SINCE THE DATA WAS COLLECTED. - NEXT, WE USE THIS DATA TO PROJECT THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS EACH STATE AND TERRITORY ARE LIKELY TO RECEIVE UNDER THE BEAD PROGRAM FORMULA WHICH INCLUDES A MINIMUM ALLOCATION, HIGH COST ALLOCATION, AND ALLOCATION OF THE REMAINING AMOUNT. IN CALCULATING THE FUNDS AVAILABLE, WE ESTIMATE THAT GRANT RECIPIENTS WILL CONTRIBUTE $25 BILLION TOTAL IN MATCHING FUNDS, ON TOP OF THE ALLOCATED $42 BILLION . - FINALLY, WE APPLY A "BOTTOM-UP" BROADBAND BUILD MODEL PROPRIETARY TO CARTESIAN TO PRODUCE COST ESTIMATES FOR BRINGING SERVICE TO UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED LOCATIONS IN EACH STATE. WE PROVIDE SEPARATE COST ESTIMATES FOR A "BASELINE" SCENARIO WHERE FIBER IS DEPLOYED TO UNSERVED LOCATIONS THAT FALL BELOW AN EXTREMELY HIGH-COST THRESHOLD AND THOSE ABOVE THE THRESHOLD RECEIVE FIXED WIRELESS AND A "MAXIMUM FIBER" SCENARIO WHERE ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS ARE ALLOCATED FOR FIBER PROJECTS ABOVE THE THRESHOLD. THE NATIONAL ANALYSIS CONCLUDES THAT HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND COULD BE DEPLOYED TO ALL UNSERVED LOCATIONS UNDER THE "BASELINE" SCENARIO FOR A COST OF $49 BILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE ESTIMATED CAPITAL AVAILABLE, INCLUDING PROVIDER MATCHES. IF STATES AND TERRITORIES DECIDED TO PURSUE "MAXIMUM FIBER" BY DEPLOYING FIBER TO THE LOCATIONS ABOVE THE HIGH-COST THRESHOLD, THAT WOULD ADD ANOTHER $10 BILLION -- WHICH STILL LEAVES SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS FOR OTHER ELIGIBLE PROJECTS. ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE ASPECTS OF THE ACA CONNECTS/CARTESIAN STUDY IS THAT IT COLLECTS DATA AND ASSESSES DEPLOYMENTS ON A GRANULAR STATE-BY-STATE BASIS. THUS, THE RESULTS IN EACH STATE WILL DIFFER. THAT IS, WHILE MOST STATES WILL HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO DEPLOY FIBER TO ALL LOCATIONS, SOME MAY NOT. THE FRAMEWORK THUS CAN BE USED BY STATES TO VARY THE DEPLOYMENT SCENARIOS TO ACHIEVE THEIR UNIQUE OBJECTIVES. "THE BEAD PROGRAM PRESENTS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, BUT TO SEIZE THAT OPPORTUNITY, STATES AND TERRITORIES WILL NEED TO BECOME EXPERT IN UNDERSTANDING THE 'INS AND OUTS' OF BROADBAND DEPLOYMENTS. AS WE WAIT FOR THE FCC TO COMPLETE DEVELOPMENT OF ACCURATE, LOCATION-SPECIFIC BROADBAND MAPS, NOW IS THE TIME FOR STATES AND TERRITORIES TO GET UP TO SPEED. THIS STUDY WILL HELP THEM GET THERE. AND OUR MEMBERS STAND READY TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE BASED ON YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BUILDING NETWORKS IN RURAL AMERICA." ACAC'S SPELLMEYER SAID. ACA CONNECTS IS PREPARED TO WORK WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND AND APPLY OUR FRAMEWORK. THE ANALYSIS FOR EACH STATE AND TERRITORY ALSO CONTAINS A LIST OF ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS THAT OPERATE IN THAT JURISDICTION. OUR MEMBERS ARE EXPERIENCED BROADBAND PROVIDERS WHO HAVE DEPLOYED ADVANCED NETWORKS TO NEARLY 23 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING TO MORE ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGING LOCATIONS IN RURAL AREAS. IN ADDITION, OVER THE YEARS, THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY USED FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO DEPLOY BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY TO THESE COMMUNITIES. ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS ARE "GAME CHANGERS" IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA NEW WHITE PAPER FINDS THAT ACA CONNECTS MEMBER SUBSCRIBERS AND COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM HIGHER SPEEDS, GREATER COMPETITION, MORE ROBUST NETWORKS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PITTSBURGH, OCTOBER 12, 2022 ON THE EVE OF ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY, ACA CONNECTS TODAY ISSUED A WHITE PAPER DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BUSINESS CONSULTING FIRM CARTESIAN THAT TAKES A DETAILED LOOK AT ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS SOME 500 SMALL AND MID-SIZED INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS: WHO THEY ARE, THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE, THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE, AND THE BENEFITS THEY DELIVER TO CONSUMERS AND THESE COMMUNITIES. THE WHITE PAPER REVEALS THAT ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF DELIVERING BROADBAND AND OTHER ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS. THE KEY FINDINGS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: - BY THE LATEST COUNT, ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS OFFER SERVICE TO NEARLY 23 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS UP FROM 14 MILLION SIX YEARS AGO -- WHICH INCLUDE MORE THAN ONE-QUARTER OF ALL RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN THE COUNTRY. - VIRTUALLY ALL RURAL HOUSEHOLDS SERVED BY ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS CAN RECEIVE 100/20 MBPS SERVICE, AND AN INCREASING SHARE -- ABOUT 34 PERCENT TODAY -- CAN GET GIGABIT SPEEDS. - NINETY-ONE PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS SERVED BY ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS HAVE THEIR CHOICE OF MULTIPLE BROADBAND PROVIDERS, AND MORE THAN 70 PERCENT HAVE AT LEAST THREE OPTIONS. - FIFTY-FIVE PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS SERVED BY ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS HAVE FIBER-TO-THE-HOME SERVICE AVAILABLE, COMPARED TO 43 PERCENT OF ALL OTHER HOUSEHOLDS. IN RURAL AMERICA, THE FIGURES ARE 47 PERCENT AND 24 PERCENT, RESPECTIVELY. - THOUGH THEY RELY PRIMARILY ON PRIVATE INVESTMENT, ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS PARTICIPATE EXTENSIVELY IN BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS SUPPORTING DEPLOYMENT IN HARD-TO-SERVE AREAS. - MORE THAN 300 ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM, ENSURING THAT LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES CAN RECEIVE HIGH-QUALITY BROADBAND SERVICE. - ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND VOLUNTEER CONSIDERABLE TIME AND RESOURCES TO CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL INITIATIVES. "I'M PROUD TO BE LEADING ACA CONNECTS AT THIS HISTORIC MOMENT FOR OUR ASSOCIATION AND FOR THE COUNTRY," SAID GRANT SPELLMEYER, ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO. "IN RECENT YEARS, OUR MEMBERS HAVE INVESTED BILLIONS TO DEPLOY NETWORKS AND SERVICES THAT RIVAL THOSE OF ANY LARGE COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDER. THIS WHITE PAPER ENCAPSULATES THE MANY GREAT THINGS OUR MEMBERS ARE DOING TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, DRIVE COMPETITION, AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES." ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS BUSINESSES' HAVE GROWN CONSIDERABLY IN RECENT YEARS. COLLECTIVELY, THEY PASSED 36 PERCENT MORE HOUSEHOLDS IN 2021 THAN THEY DID JUST FIVE YEARS EARLIER. "AS COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDERS OPERATING IN A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT, OUR MEMBERS HAVE CONTINUED TO UPGRADE THEIR NETWORKS TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS AND EXPAND INTO NEW AREAS AS THEY SEE OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE OTHER CONSUMERS," SAID SPELLMEYER. "THEY HAVE ALSO BENEFITTED FROM LIGHT-TOUCH REGULATION OF BROADBAND, WHICH HAS CREATED A CLIMATE FAVORABLE TO INVESTMENT." THE WHITE PAPER BUILDS ON ACA CONNECTS' JUNE 2022 REPORT, WHICH FOUND THAT THE FIXED BROADBAND MARKETPLACE IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND ONLY BECOMING MORE SO. "ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS' INVESTMENTS ARE BOTH A RESPONSE TO, AND A DRIVER OF, THE INTENSE AND BROADBAND COMPETITION WE ARE SEEING," SAID SPELLMEYER. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: | ACA CONNECTS: LATEST FCC DATA CONFIRM THAT FIXED BROADBAND COMPETITION IS WIDESPREAD AND INCREASINGLY INTENSE DATA SUPPORT FINDINGS IN ACA CONNECTS' RECENT WHITE PAPER, WHICH PREDICTED COMPETITION WILL CONTINUE TO FLOURISH ALONG NUMEROUS BENCHMARKS PITTSBURGH, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 IN A BLOG POST PUBLISHED TODAY, ACA CONNECTS REPORTED THAT THE FCC'S RECENTLY UPDATED FIGURES ON BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT SHOW THAT FIXED BROADBAND COMPETITION IS EXTENSIVE AND CONTINUES TO GROW RAPIDLY. THESE OBSERVATIONS CONFIRM THE FINDINGS OF ACA CONNECTS' JUNE, 2022 WHITE PAPER ("BROADBAND COMPETITION IS THRIVING ACROSS AMERICA"), WHICH DOCUMENTED THE ROBUST COMPETITION THAT EXISTS IN THE FIXED BROADBAND MARKETPLACE AND PROJECTED CONTINUAL INCREASES IN COMPETITION IN THE COMING YEARS BASED ON HISTORIC TRENDS. "THE FCC'S LATEST DATA CONFIRM WHAT ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS ALREADY KNOW: THE FIXED BROADBAND MARKETPLACE IS ALREADY HIGHLY COMPETITIVE IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF AREAS AND ONLY BECOMING MORE SO," SAID ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER. "THIS INCREASED COMPETITION IS A TESTAMENT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LIGHT-TOUCH REGULATORY APPROACH, WHICH ENABLES FIXED BROADBAND PROVIDERS TO DEVOTE SCARCE CAPITAL TO NETWORK UPGRADES AND EXPANSIONS RATHER THAN COMPLIANCE WITH BURDENSOME MANDATES. THE RESULT IS ENORMOUS INVESTMENT BY THE ENTIRE PRIVATE SECTOR IN HIGH-PERFORMANCE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE, MORE RELIABLE AND RESPONSIVE SERVICE, AND MORE CHOICES FOR AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS." AS THE BLOG POST EXPLAINS, FCC FORM 477 DATA RELEASED IN JULY -- WHICH ARE CURRENT AS OF JUNE 30, 2021 -- REVEAL THAT FIXED BROADBAND COMPETITION INCREASED CONSIDERABLY IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2021 ALONG A NUMBER OF BENCHMARKS. MOST NOTABLY, THE DATA SHOW SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES -- 8.6 PERCENT OR GREATER -- IN THE SHARES OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS WITH THREE BROADBAND OPTIONS AT 25/3 MBPS; WITH TWO OPTIONS AT 100/20 MBPS AND A THIRD AT 25/3 MBPS; AND WITH TWO OPTIONS AT 25/3 MBPS AND A THIRD AT 100/20 MBPS. "JUST AS WE PREDICTED, FIXED BROADBAND COMPETITION STEADILY IMPROVED IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2021," SPELLMEYER SAID. "IN FACT, THE PROGRESS WAS SO SUBSTANTIAL THAT WE HAVE ADJUSTED UPWARD THE LEVELS OF COMPETITION WE PROJECT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. MOREOVER, KNOWING THAT ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS AND OTHER FIXED BROADBAND PROVIDERS HAVE INVESTED MANY TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE PAST YEAR AND ACCOUNTING FOR BILLIONS IN GOVERNMENT GRANTS IT IS CLEAR THAT CONSUMER CHOICE WILL AGAIN INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN WE SEE THE NEXT ROUND OF DATA." THE LATEST FCC DATA FURTHER DEMONSTRATE THAT IT WOULD BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE FOR GOVERNMENT REGULATORS TO APPLY COMMON CARRIER REGULATIONS TO BROADBAND PROVIDERS -- SUCH AS THOSE FOUND IN TITLE II OF THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT. SUCH REGULATIONS NOT ONLY WOULD PRODUCE NO BENEFITS BUT WOULD DRIVE AWAY PRIVATE CAPITAL, UNDERMINE SERVICE INNOVATION, AND IN THE END LEAVE BROADBAND CONSUMERS WITH FEWER CHOICES. AS NOTED IN THE BLOG POST, ACA CONNECTS NOW PROJECTS THAT 80.6 PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS WILL ENJOY AT LEAST TWO BROADBAND OPTIONS AT 100/20 MBPS AND A THIRD OPTION AT 25/3 MBPS BY 2025. THAT FIGURE IS UP FROM 71 PERCENT. ACA CONNECTS HAS ALSO INCREASED ITS PROJECTIONS FOR OTHER COMPETITIVE BENCHMARKS, INCLUDING THE SHARE OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH THREE OPTIONS AT 100/20 MBPS -- WHICH HAS INCREASED FROM 24.8 TO 29.2 PERCENT. ROSS LIEBERMAN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, TO DEPART ACA CONNECTS PITTSBURGH, AUG. 22, 2022 ROSS LIEBERMAN, ACA CONNECTS' SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS WHO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN SHAPING THE TRADE ASSOCIATION'S POSITIONS ON REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE POLICY FOR MORE THAN FIFTEEN YEARS, IS RESIGNING HIS POSITION AT THE END OF THE MONTH TO PURSUE NEW INTERESTS. "WITH ROSS STEPPING DOWN, ACA CONNECTS SAYS FAREWELL TO A GREAT FRIEND WHO CHEERFULLY ACCEPTED EVERY CHALLENGE PUT BEFORE HIM AND DELIVERED FANTASTIC RESULTS FOR ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS ON ANY NUMBER OF FRONTS, INCLUDING BROADBAND, VOICE AND VIDEO ISSUES. ROSS WAS ESPECIALLY TIRELESS IN HELPING ACA CONNECTS PERSUADE WASHINGTON, D.C., ON THE IMPORTANT MATTERS IMPACTING THE MEMBERSHIP," SAID ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER. "ROSS WILL BE MISSED BY ALL HIS FRIENDS AT ACA CONNECTS." LIEBERMAN'S RESIGNATION IS EFFECTIVE AUG. 31. ACA CONNECTS HAS BEGUN THE SEARCH PROCESS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SELECTING AND NAMING LIEBERMAN'S SUCCESSOR. "IN LEAVING, I WILL MISS THE MANY TALENTED, DEDICATED, AND PASSIONATE ACA CONNECTS STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS AND CONSULTANTS," LIEBERMAN SAID. "IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE PART OF THE ACA CONNECTS TEAM AND ITS TREMENDOUS GROWTH SINCE I JOINED IN 2007. DURING THAT TIME, WE DID SO MUCH TO RATCHET UP OUR ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION FOR OUR INDEPENDENT BROADBAND AND CABLE MEMBERS. WE'VE BECOME A BRAND NAME IN WASHINGTON AND A VITAL RESOURCE TO OUR MEMBERS." ACA CONNECTS CHAIRMAN PATRICIA JO BOYERS, WHO IS PRESIDENT/CEO & CO-FOUNDER OF BOYCOM VISION IN POPLAR BLUFF, MO., THANKED LIEBERMAN FOR HIS MANY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ASSOCIATION AND WISHED HIM WELL IN HIS NEW ENDEAVORS. "OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, THE ACA CONNECTS BOARD DECIDED ONE BIG ISSUE AFTER ANOTHER BASED ON THE CANDID APPRAISALS OFFERED BY ROSS STEMMING FROM HIS DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE HAD TO OPERATE. WE OWE ROSS A GREAT DEAL FOR HIS LOYALTY TO ACA CONNECTS AND HIS NONSTOP CONCERN FOR THE LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF ITS DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE MEMBERSHIP," BOYERS SAID. DURING LIEBERMAN'S TENURE AT ACA CONNECTS, THE TRADE GROUP WAS A MAJOR PARTICIPANT IN SHAPING THE SUBSTANCE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY CRAFTED BY LAWMAKERS AND REGULATORS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ACA CONNECTS AMASSED EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS AT THE FCC, ON CAPITOL HILL, AND ELSEWHERE AND DID SO BY CHAMPIONING A NON-PARTISAN APPROACH TO ITS ADVOCACY THAT WAS BACKED BY RIGOROUS RESEARCH, POLITICAL ACUMEN, AND INTEGRITY. THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME RECENT EXAMPLES: CONGRESS EXTENDED THE GOOD FAITH RULES GOVERNING RETRANSMISSION CONSENT NEGOTIATIONS TO CARRIAGE TALKS BETWEEN LARGE STATION GROUPS AND BUYING GROUPS REPRESENTING SMALLER MULTICHANNEL VIDEO PROGRAMMING DISTRIBUTORS (MVPDS), SUCH AS THE NATIONAL CONTENT & TECHNOLOGY COOPERATIVE (NCTC); FCC GAVE MVPDS THAT RELY ON THE C-BAND THE OPTION TO RECEIVE A ONE-TIME LUMP SUM PAYMENT TO MAKE C-BAND TRANSITION DECISIONS THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS; AND CONGRESS PROVIDED SMALLER BROADBAND PROVIDERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A PORTION OF THE $65 BILLION MADE AVAILABLE TO CLOSE THE NATION'S DIGITAL DIVIDE, AND LIMITED THEIR RISK OF BEING OVERBUILT WITH GOVERNMENT FUNDING, IN A BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE THAT ACA CONNECTS HELPED SHAPE THROUGH A REPORT IT PRODUCED WITH BUSINESS CONSULTING FIRM CARTESIAN. LIEBERMAN ALSO SERVED THE MEMBERSHIP BY LEADING EFFORTS TO INSTITUTE AN IN-DEPTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. TODAY, THE ASSOCIATION PRODUCES MORE THAN ONE-HUNDRED MEMBER ADVISORIES AND WEBINARS ANNUALLY THAT GREATLY HELP ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS UNDERSTAND NEW RULES AND COMPLY WITH OLD ONES. ACA CONNECTS MADE EVERY EFFORT TO STAY WELL AHEAD OF DISRUPTION IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR AS THE NECESSITY FOR UNIVERSAL BROADBAND SURGED INTO BECOMING A LEADING POLICY ISSUE NATIONALLY. OVER TIME, ACA CONNECTS TRANSFORMED ITSELF FROM AN ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTED MAINLY SMALL CABLE OPERATORS ON VIDEO MATTERS TO ONE THAT REPRESENTS COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS ON A WIDE RANGE OF BROADBAND, VOICE, AND VIDEO ISSUES. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: | ACA CONNECTS' NEW LEADER GRANT SPELLMEYER MODERATES ALL-STAR PANEL AT THE INDEPENDENT SHOW LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL., JULY 27, 2022 ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER, THE TRADE ASSOCIATION'S NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE, TAKES THE REINS AT A UNIQUE MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF BROADBAND POLICY IN AMERICA. THAT BECAME ABUNDANTLY CLEAR DURING AN INDEPENDENT SHOW ALL-STAR PANEL HE MODERATED TODAY KEYED TOWARD ALL THE BIG DECISIONS THAT LIE AHEAD FOR WASHINGTON, D.C., POLICYMAKERS IN CHARGE OF ALLOCATING MORE THAN $40 BILLION IN BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT GRANTS. "WE ALL AGREE THAT CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IS A NATIONAL PRIORITY WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, ACA CONNECTS WILL REMAIN FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT OUR MEMBERS UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS FOR APPLYING FOR GRANT DOLLARS AND KNOW HOW TO DOCUMENT INSTANCES WHERE THEY BELIEVE GRANT MONEY HAS BEEN INCORRECTLY AWARDED," SPELLMEYER SAID AFTERWARD. SPELLMEYER, WHO BECAME ACA CONNECTS TOP OFFICIAL ON JUNE 1, WAS JOINED ON THE STAGED BY TWO BROADBAND POLICY EXPERTS: RHOD SHAW, PRINCIPAL AND CHAIRMAN, ALPINE GROUP; AND TOM COHEN, PARTNER, KELLEY DRYE THE CONVERSATION COVERED A LOT OF GROUND, WITH PANELISTS UNDERSCORING THAT KEY DETAILS ABOUT THE BROADBAND EQUITY, ACCESS, AND DEPLOYMENT (BEAD) PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES $42.45 BILLION IN BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT GRANT MONEY ARE STILL BEING WORKED ON BY OFFICIALS AT THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT'S NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA). WHEN WILL NTIA ACTUALLY START TO DELIVER GRANT MONEY TO THE STATES TO FUND BROADBAND PROJECTS WAS ONE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION. WHEN WILL THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION RELEASE ITS NEW BROADBAND MAPS THAT NTIA NEEDS TO DECIDE HOW TO ALLOCATE MONEY TO THE STATES WAS ANOTHER. STILL, A THIRD CENTERED ON WAYS ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS SHOULD GO ABOUT ENGAGING WITH STATE BROADBAND AUTHORITIES IN CHARGE OF REVIEWING GRANT PROJECTS. "THERE'S MUCH TO LEARN IN THE MONTHS AHEAD ABOUT THE ROLLOUT OF THE BEAD PROGRAM. THE ACA CONNECTS TEAM WILL DO ITS BEST TO ARM OUR MEMBERS WITH THE KEY DETAILS AND POINT THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO RECEIVE ANSWERS TO ANY CONCERNS THEY MIGHT HAVE," SPELLMEYER SAID. SPELLMEYER'S PANEL HELPED TO CONCLUDE THE 17TH INDEPENDENT SHOW AT THE WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT. THE INDEPENDENT SHOW IS A UNIQUE GATHERING THAT UNITES A RANGE OF INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING COMPANY LEADERS, INFORMATIVE SPEAKERS, TECH VENDORS AND VARIOUS SUPPORTERS OF THE INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND BROADBAND INDUSTRY. IN KEEPING WITH LONG TRADITION, THIS YEAR'S INDEPENDENT SHOW WAS CO-SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL CONTENT & TECHNOLOGY COOPERATIVE (FORMERLY THE NATIONAL CABLE TELEVISION COOPERATIVE) AND ACA CONNECTS - AMERICA'S COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION. FORMER REP. GREG WALDEN PROVIDES INSIGHTS INTO COMING BROADBAND FUNDING AT 17TH INDEPENDENT SHOW LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL., JULY 26, 2022 REP. GREG WALDEN, IN COMMENTS HERE TODAY AT THE INDEPENDENT SHOW, ADDRESSED A KEY TOPIC ON JUST ABOUT EVERYONE'S MIND: HOW ARE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES GOING TO SPEND THE $42.45 BILLION CONTAINED IN THE BROADBAND EQUITY, ACCESS, AND DEPLOYMENT (BEAD) PROGRAM RUN THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA)? LAST YEAR, CONGRESS EMBARKED ON A HISTORIC AND LIKELY ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME QUEST TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN AMERICA BY INCLUDING TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEY THAT WILL FLOW TO ENTITIES OFFERING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS. IN A ONE-ON-ONE SESSION WITH RETIRING ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO MATTHEW M. POLKA, REP. WALDEN OFFERED HIS CONSIDERED ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION AND THE DIRECTION HE SEES THINGS HEADED. "NO ONE IS MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE STATE OF U.S. BROADBAND POLICY THAN GREG WALDEN. HE LEFT US WITH A LOT TO CONSIDER AS ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEIR STATE BROADBAND OFFICIALS ON HOW BEST TO USE BEAD FUNDING IN THE YEARS AHEAD. ON THIS POINT AND OTHERS, GREG WALDEN'S INSIGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS WERE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL," ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER SAID.REP. WALDEN'S SESSION WITH POLKA CAME DURING THE SECOND DAY OF THE 17TH INDEPENDENT SHOW AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT. IT WAS THE FIRST IN-PERSON SHOW SINCE 2019 BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH RESTRICTIONS PUT IN PLACE TO CURB THE SPREAD OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS. WALDEN'S TALK WAS CAPTIONED: UNCLE SAM'S BROADBAND BUCKS WHO'S HOLDING THE PURSE STRINGS? AS WALDEN AND POLKA NOTED, NTIA IS THE ONE HOLDING THE PURSE STRINGS BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF BEAD MONEY WILL EVENTUALLY FLOW TO THE STATES TO FUND BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT PROJECTS DESIGNED TO SERVE UNSERVED AREAS BASED ON MAPS CREATED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC). REP. WALDEN REPRESENTED THE PEOPLE OF OREGON'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FROM 1999 TO 2021. DURING HIS CAPITOL HILL CAREER, HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE POWERFUL HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE, A PANEL WITH AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE THE NATION'S COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR, INCLUDING ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS THAT OFFER VIDEO AND BROADBAND SERVICES. REP. WALDEN IS CURRENTLY CHAIRMAN OF ALPINE ADVISORS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE INDEPENDENT SHOW IS A SPECIAL GATHERING THAT UNITES A RANGE OF INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING COMPANY LEADERS, INFORMATIVE SPEAKERS, TECH VENDORS AND VARIOUS SUPPORTERS OF THE INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND BROADBAND INDUSTRY. IN KEEPING WITH LONG TRADITION, THIS YEAR'S INDEPENDENT SHOW WAS CO-SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL CONTENT & TECHNOLOGY COOPERATIVE (FORMERLY THE NATIONAL CABLE TELEVISION COOPERATIVE) AND ACA CONNECTS - AMERICA'S COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: | CABLEFAX HONORS RETIRING ACA CONNECTS LEADER MATTHEW M. POLKA WITH FOUNDERS CIRCLE AWARD RESPECTED TRADE JOURNAL ALSO PRESENTS INDEPENDENT OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD TO ARMSTRONG AND THE MSO OF THE YEAR AWARD TO BREEZELINE RETIRED MCTV PRESIDENT BOB GESSNER RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL., JULY 26, 2022 CABLEFAX, A LEADING MEDIA, BROADBAND AND TECHNOLOGY PUBLICATION, TODAY AWARDED ITS HIGHEST HONOR -- THE FOUNDERS CIRCLE AWARD -- TO ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO MATTHEW M. POLKA, WHO IS OFFICIALLY RETIRING JULY 31 AFTER MORE THAN TWO DECADES AS THE ASSOCIATION'S SOLE CHIEF EXECUTIVE. CABLEFAX ALSO GAVE ITS INDEPENDENT OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD TO ARMSTRONG UTILITIES AND ITS MSO OF THE YEAR AWARD TO BREEZELINE. BOTH ARMSTRONG AND BREEZELINE ARE ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS. BOB GESSNER, RETIRED PRESIDENT OF MCTV IN MASSILLON, OH., WAS GIVEN CABLEFAX'S LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. THE AWARDS WERE UNVEILED MONDAY IN THE ANNUAL ISSUE OF CABLEFAX: THE MAGAZINE, AND WERE PRESENTED IN PERSON TODAY TO POLKA AND ARMSTRONG PRESIDENT JEFF ROSS AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOW LUNCHEON AT THE WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT, THIS YEAR'S HOST LOCATION OF THE 17TH ANNUAL INDEPENDENT SHOW. ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING WITH POLKA SINCE JUNE 1 IN PREPARATION FOR HIS OFFICIAL DEPARTURE LATER THIS WEEK, SALUTED POLKA ON HIS 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO ACA CONNECTS AND THE STRONG ASSOCIATION HE LEAVES BEHIND. RETIRING ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO MATTHEW M. POLKA ACCEPTING CABLEFAX'S FOUNDERS CIRCLE AWARD TODAY AT THE INDEPENDENT SHOW. "I CONGRATULATE CABLEFAX FOR RECOGNIZING MATT WITH THIS GREAT AWARD. UNDER MATT'S LEADERSHIP, ACA CONNECTS BECAME A STRONG AND RESPECTED VOICE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND BROADBAND PROVIDERS. I WILL DO MY BEST TO BUILD ON HIS SUCCESS TO ENSURE A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR OUR ACAC MEMBERS," SPELLMEYER SAID. ARMSTRONG PRESIDENT JEFF ROSS SPEAKING AT TODAY'S INDEPENDENT SHOW AFTER RECEIVING CABLEFAX'S INDEPENDENT OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD. POLKA IS THE FIRST RECIPIENT OF CABLEFAX'S FOUNDERS CIRCLE AWARD. CABLEFAX EDITORIAL DIRECTOR AMY MACLEAN SAID, "THIS SPECIAL AWARD IS RESERVED FOR THOSE TRAILBLAZERS WHO HELPED FORM THE BROADBAND AND MEDIA INDUSTRY. THEY LAID THE FOUNDATION THAT CONTINUES TO BE BUILT UPON TODAY. "ACA CONNECTS FLOURISHED INTO A POWERFUL, WELL-RESPECTED ASSOCIATION FOR SMALL AND INDEPENDENT OPERATORS UNDER THE STEADFAST GUIDANCE OF MATTHEW POLKA. HIS ROUND-THE-CLOCK ADVOCACY GAVE ACAC MEMBERS A VOICE, ALERTING LAWMAKERS AND VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES FACED BY SMALLER OPERATORS." GESSNER, WHO SPENT 40 YEARS AT FAMILY-OWNED MCTV, BECAME ACA CONNECTS CHAIRMAN IN JULY, 2014, SERVING FOR FIVE YEARS. IN APRIL 2019, GESSNER RETIRED FROM MCTV, A COMPANY STARTED BY HIS FATHER, THE LATE RICHARD (DICK) WINFIELD GESSNER, AND PASSED THE LEADERSHIP BATON TO HIS DAUGHTER KATHERINE. "I SALUTE BOB ON THIS FANTASTIC AWARD HONORING HIS DECADES OF LEADERSHIP AT MCTV. TWO WEEKS AGO, I TRAVELED TO MASSILLON TO VISIT WITH BOB AND KATHERINE TO SPEND TIME WITH THIS QUINTESSENTIAL INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND BROADBAND PROVIDER. MCTV'S IMPORTANCE TO ITS COMMUNITY WAS PALPABLE," SPELLMEYER SAID. ARMSTRONG PRESIDENT JEFF ROSS SPEAKING AT TODAY'S INDEPENDENT SHOW AFTER RECEIVING CABLEFAX'S INDEPENDENT OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD. CABLEFAX'S MACLEAN NOTED, "BOB GESSNER'S INNOVATIVE THINKING HAS MADE MCTV A PIONEER IN THE INDUSTRY IN AREAS SUCH AS FTTH AND TV EVERYWHERE. PART OF WHAT MAKES HIS FOUR DECADES AT MCTV SO REMARKABLE IS THAT HE'S SHARED HIS LEARNINGS WITH OTHER PROVIDERS AND SERVED AS A VOICE FOR INDEPENDENT OPERATORS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND BEYOND." CABLEFAX'S INDEPENDENT OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD HONORS AN INDEPENDENT OPERATOR THAT HAS BEST DEMONSTRATED EXCELLENCE IN OVERALL OPERATIONS DURING THE PRIOR YEAR. ARMSTRONG WAS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS LEADERSHIP IN 10G AND BRINGING BROADBAND TO THE UNSERVED. CABLEFAX'S MSO OF THE YEAR AWARD HONORS THE MULTIPLE CABLE SYSTEM OPERATOR (MSO) THAT HAS BEST DEMONSTRATED EXCELLENCE IN OVERALL OPERATIONS DURING THE PRIOR YEAR. BREEZELINE WAS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXPANSION INTO NEW MARKETS, INCLUDING AGAINST LARGE INCUMBENTS, ITS REBRANDING AND ITS CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OVERHAUL. "ARMSTRONG AND BREEZELINE RICHLY DESERVES THESE GREAT AWARDS FROM CABLEFAX," SPELLMEYER SAID. "ARMSTRONG AND BREEZELINE ARE INDUSTRY LEADERS IN SHOWING THAT BROADBAND INVESTMENTS ARE CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND PROVIDING THE KEY RESOURCES NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT CONSUMERS AND OUR GREAT ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES AND HOSPITALS CAN THRIVE IN A DIGITAL ECONOMY." ACAC'S TOP AWARDS GIVEN OUT AT 17TH INDEPENDENT SHOW AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL., JULY 25, 2022 ACA CONNECTS TODAY HONORED SEVERAL PROMINENT LEADERS AND THEIR COMPANIES IN RECOGNITION NOT JUST OF THEIR CLOSE INVOLVEMENT WITH ACA CONNECTS BUT ALSO THE STEPS THEY HAVE TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY, AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY OF BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS AT A TIME WHEN THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE SOUGHT AND VALUED. "I AM SO PLEASED THAT ACA CONNECTS IS AGAIN HIGHLIGHTING THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF THESE WINNERS. THEY BRING TREMENDOUS BENEFITS TO THEIR DIFFICULT-TO-SERVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES." ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER SAID. "I THANK THEM ALL FOR THEIR SERVICE AND COMMITMENT." ACA CONNECTS AWARD SELECTIONS THIS YEAR SERVE AS ROLE MODELS WHOSE INFLUENCE IS FELT AND RESPECTED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ACAC MEMBERSHIP FOOTPRINT -- WHICH INCLUDES OPERATOR MEMBERS IN ALL 50 STATES AND THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY. "ALONG WITH THE ACAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS, I'M PLEASED TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ACAC'S GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY, WHO CARE ABOUT THE ADVANCEMENT OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND WHO ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS IN A TIME OF GREAT STRESS AND NEED SUCH AS WAS DEMONSTRATED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC," SPELLMEYER SAID. ACAC'S ANNUAL AWARDS PRESENTATION TOOK PLACE TODAY T ACAC'S ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING AT THE 17TH INDEPENDENT SHOW AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT. AT THE SAME MEETING, ACAC'S MEMBERS RE-ELECTED PATRICIA JO BOYERS, PRESIDENT/CEO & CO-FOUNDER OF BOYCOM VISION, AS CHAIRMAN, AND MIKE BOWKER, COO OF CABLE ONE, AS ACAC'S VICE CHAIRMAN. THE INDEPENDENT SHOW IS A SPECIAL OCCASION THAT UNITES A RANGE OF INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING COMPANY LEADERS, INFORMATIVE SPEAKERS, TECH VENDORS AND VARIOUS SUPPORTERS OF THE INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND BROADBAND INDUSTRY. AS IN THE PAST, THIS YEAR'S SHOW WAS CO-SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL CONTENT & TECHNOLOGY COOPERATIVE (FORMERLY THE NATIONAL CABLE TELEVISION COOPERATIVE) AND ACA CONNECTS - AMERICA'S COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION. ACAC'S TOP HONORS WERE PRESENTED AS FOLLOWS: ACAC PAC LEADERSHIP/COMPANY ASTOUND BROADBAND, EVP & CAO JOHN GDOVIN THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES ASTOUND FOR GREATLY INCREASING PAC CONTRIBUTION TOTALS AND SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF ACA PAC DONORS IN THE PAST YEAR. ACAC EAGLE AWARD JAMES GLEASON, PRESIDENT & CEO OF VEXUS FIBER PRESENTED FOR MAKING OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO INDEPENDENT CABLE OPERATORS AND PROVIDING CRITICAL LEADERSHIP TO HELP BUILD SUPPORT FOR NEW LAWS AND REGULATIONS DESIGNED FOR SMALLER, FULL-SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS. LYN SIMPSON GRASSROOTS SPIRIT AWARD MARTY CAROLLO, ALL WEST COMMUNICATIONS PRESENTED TO A COMPANY OR INDIVIDUAL EMBODYING THE PASSION AND COMMITMENT THAT LYN BROUGHT TO THE SMALL OPERATOR COMMUNITY IN HER ROLE AS AN ACAC FOUNDING MEMBER IN THE EARLY 1990S. THE AWARD UNDERSCORES THE VALUE OF COMMITMENT, DEDICATION, AND SACRIFICE TO THE INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND BROADBAND BUSINESS. ACAC PARTNERSHIP AWARD OPENVAULT FOUNDER & CEO MARK TRUDEAU THIS AWARD IS FOR PARTNERSHIP, COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT FOR ACAC AND INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND BROADBAND BUSINESSES EVERYWHERE. OPENVAULT IS A MARKET-LEADING SOURCE OF BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS AND DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS INTO WORLDWIDE BROADBAND CONSUMPTION PATTERNS. ROB SHEMA SERVANT LEADERSHIP AWARD MIKE BOWKER, COO OF CABLE ONE, ACAC VICE CHAIRMAN PAT THOMPSON, PRESIDENT OF PAT THOMPSON CO. LLC THIS AWARD IS GIVEN TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO THROUGH HIS OR HER CAREER HAS PUT SELFLESS SERVICE TO OTHERS ABOVE THEMSELVES. THE FIRST WINNER OF THE AWARD WAS ITS NAMESAKE, ROB SHEMA, WHO SERVED AT ACA CONNECTS FOR 15 YEARS AS ITS EVP OF MEMBERSHIP AND FINANCE. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: | ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS VOTE TO RE-ELECT PATRICIA JO BOYERS AS CHAIRMAN AND MIKE BOWKER AS VICE CHAIRMAN RESULTS UNDERSCORE STABILITY AND CONTINUITY AT THE TOP OF THE ASSOCIATION LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL., JULY 25, 2022 PATRICIA JO BOYERS, PRESIDENT/CEO & CO-FOUNDER OF BOYCOM VISION, TODAY WAS RE-ELECTED TO A NEW TWO-YEAR TERM AS CHAIRMAN OF ACA CONNECTS. VICE CHAIRMAN MIKE BOWKER, WHO IS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF CABLE ONE, WAS ALSO RE-ELECTED TO A NEW TWO-YEAR TERM. THE ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS ALSO VOTED TO EXTEND THE TERMS OF FIVE INCUMBENT ACAC BOARD DIRECTORS. THE ELECTION RESULTS DEMONSTRATE STABILITY AND CONTINUITY AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION AS IT PREPARES FOR MANY LEGAL AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES, INCLUDING MAJOR GOVERNMENT ACTION IN PROMOTING BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT VIA THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT'S $42.45 BILLION BROADBAND EQUITY, ACCESS, AND DEPLOYMENT (BEAD) PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA). "I AM HONORED TO CONTINUE AS CHAIRMAN OF ACA CONNECTS AT A TIME WHEN THE CHALLENGES HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE SERIOUS OR CONSEQUENTIAL. AS IN THE PAST, MY ROLE IS TO ENSURE THAT ACAC STAFF HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO WORK ON OUR BEHALF AND OUR MEMBERS HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO ENSURE POSITIVE OUTCOMES, ESPECIALLY AS GOVERNMENT BROADBAND DOLLARS BEGIN TO FLOW TO THE STATES," BOYERS SAID. "I'M VERY PLEASED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE WITH PATTY BOYERS IN THESE IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP ROLES AT ACA CONNECTS, AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROTECTS AND PROMOTES THE INTERESTS OF MORE THAN 600 INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND BROADBAND PROVIDERS IN THE HALLWAYS OF GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND INCREASINGLY ACROSS THE U.S.," BOWKER SAID. "WITH A MASSIVE INFLUX OF GOVERNMENT BROADBAND MONEY ON THE WAY, WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THIS FUNDING IS USED WISELY IN HELPING CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE." BOWKER OVERSEES THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF CABLE ONE AND ITS FAMILY OF BRANDS - SPARKLIGHT, FIDELITY, VALU-NET, HARGRAY AND CABLEAMERICA. BASED IN PHOENIX, ARIZ., CABLE ONE IS A LEADING BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDER SERVING MORE THAN 1.1 MILLION RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS CUSTOMERS IN 24 STATES. BOYERS IS THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF A SMALL, RURAL CABLE AND BROADBAND COMPANY WITH HER HUSBAND, STEVE, IN POPLAR BLUFF, MO., A VENTURE THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PAIR STARTED ABOUT THREE DECADES AGO. TODAY, THEIR COMPANY SERVES ABOUT 5,100 CUSTOMERS. ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER, WHO BECAME ACAC'S NEW LEADER ON JUNE 1, THANKED BOYERS AND BOWKER FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO THE ORGANIZATION. "AS ACAC'S NEW LEADER, I AM TRULY APPRECIATIVE THAT PATTY AND MIKE HAVE AGREED TO WORK WITH ME AND THE ACAC STAFF OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO BUILD ON THE MANY SUCCESSES WE HAD OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. WITH PATTY AND MIKE AT MY SIDE, I AM CONFIDENT THAT ACAC CAN MEET THE CHALLENGES AHEAD IN ADVANCING THE INTERESTS OF OUR MEMBERS." ACAC'S ELECTION RESULTS WERE ANNOUNCED TODAY AT ACAC'S ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING AT THE 17TH INDEPENDENT SHOW AT DISNEY WORLD. THE INDEPENDENT SHOW IS A SPECIAL GATHERING THAT UNITES A RANGE OF INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING COMPANY LEADERS, INFORMATIVE SPEAKERS, TECH VENDORS AND VARIOUS SUPPORTERS OF THE INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND BROADBAND INDUSTRY. IN KEEPING WITH LONG TRADITION, THIS YEAR'S INDEPENDENT SHOW WAS CO-SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL CONTENT & TECHNOLOGY COOPERATIVE (FORMERLY THE NATIONAL CABLE TELEVISION COOPERATIVE) AND ACA CONNECTS - AMERICA'S COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION. IN OTHER ELECTION RESULTS, THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS WERE ELECTED TO NEW THREE-YEAR TERMS ON THE ACAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS: - LESLIE BROWN, SVP & GENERAL COUNSEL, BREEZELINE - CARLA FRAMIL-FERRAN, VP OF LEGAL, LIBERTY PUERTO RICO - ED MCKAY, EVP & COO, SHENTEL - DREW PETERSEN, SVP-CORPORATE AFFAIRS, TDS - BOB WIEAND, CONTROLLER, SERVICE ELECTRIC CABLEVISION "THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTED TODAY HAVE THE TALENT AND DEEP EXPERIENCE THAT WILL SURELY TRANSLATE INTO FUTURE SUCCESS FOR ACAC. THEIR ADVICE AND GUIDANCE WILL BE INVALUABLE IN TELLING OUR MEMBERS' STORY AND HIGHLIGHTING ALL THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN THEIR MARKETS AND COMMUNITIES FUELED BY A LIGHT-TOUCH, INVESTMENT-FRIENDLY REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT," SPELLMEYER SAID. VAST MAJORITY OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS BENEFIT FROM ROBUST FIXED BROADBAND COMPETITION THAT WILL GROW AND BECOME MORE INTENSE IN NEAR FUTURE, A NEW ACA CONNECTS' STUDY FINDS MAJOR BROADBAND COMPETITION STUDY SETS TABLE FOR UPCOMING RENEWED DEBATE ON TIGHTER FEDERAL CONTROLS OVER PROVISION OF BROADBAND SERVICE PITTSBURGH, JUNE 23, 2022 ACA CONNECTS TODAY RELEASED AN IN-DEPTH STUDY OF THE U.S. BROADBAND MARKET THAT FOUND THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS NOW ENJOY THE FRUITS OF ROBUST BROADBAND COMPETITION, AND THE COMPETITIVE MARKET WILL FURTHER EXPAND AND INTENSIFY IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. THE STUDY MADE THESE KEY FINDINGS: - A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS HAVE ACCESS TO MULTIPLE BROADBAND PROVIDERS OFFERING ROBUST FIXED SERVICE, AND THE COMPETITIVE MARKET WILL FURTHER GROW AND BECOME MORE INTENSE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS; - THE PERCENTAGE OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS WITH A CHOICE OF SUCH PROVIDERS HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY SINCE 2014; AND - OF THE LIMITED NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT ACCESS TO MULTIPLE PROVIDERS, MOST HAVE OR SOON WILL HAVE ACCESS TO A PROVIDER OF ROBUST, FIXED BROADBAND SERVICE WHOSE SERVICE IS SUBSIDIZED BY GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND WHOSE PRICES AND OTHER TERMS OF SERVICE ARE SUBJECT TO REGULATORY OVERSIGHT. AS A RESULT, THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT WHATEVER CASE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN TO IMPOSE COMMON-CARRIER STYLE REGULATION ON FIXED BROADBAND PROVIDERS HAS VANISHED, ESPECIALLY FOR SMALLER PROVIDERS. ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY'S FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: "AFTER DECADES OF INVESTMENT BY MULTIPLE FIXED BROADBAND PROVIDERS IN EVERY LOCAL MARKET AMOUNTING TO WELL OVER $1 TRILLION DURING THAT TIME THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICAN CONSUMERS NOW HAVE A CHOICE OF BROADBAND PROVIDERS OFFERING ROBUST, RELIABLE, FIXED BROADBAND SERVICE. AND THE REACH AND INTENSITY OF COMPETITION WILL ONLY INCREASE AS BROADBAND PROVIDERS CONTINUE TO INVEST MANY TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY," SAID SPELLMEYER. ACAC REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 500 SMALLER, INDEPENDENT BROADBAND PROVIDERS. THE STUDY DEMONSTRATES THAT A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS HAVE A CHOICE OF FIXED BROADBAND PROVIDERS TODAY. IT REVEALS THAT MORE THAN 90% OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE ACCESS TO AT LEAST ONE BROADBAND PROVIDER OFFERING 100/20+ SERVICE AND AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL PROVIDER OFFERING 25/3+ SERVICE. THE STUDY ALSO SHOWS THAT BY 2025, 74% OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO AT LEAST TWO BROADBAND PROVIDERS BOTH OFFERING 100/20+ SERVICE. HOWEVER, THESE PROJECTIONS, WHICH ARE BASED SOLELY ON HISTORIC DATA, ARE CONSERVATIVE, GIVEN THE ANNOUNCED PLANS OF MAJOR INCUMBENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS TO DRAMATICALLY ACCELERATE THE PACE OF THEIR INVESTMENTS IN FIBER-TO-THE-PREMISES (FTTP ) INFRASTRUCTURE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. TAKING THESE ALREADY-ANNOUNCED PLANS INTO ACCOUNT, THE STUDY PROJECTS THAT APPROXIMATELY 84% OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO AT LEAST TWO PROVIDERS OFFERING 100/20+ SERVICE BY END-OF-YEAR 2025. ACA CONNECTS' ANALYSIS OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION'S DEPLOYMENT DATA SHOWS THAT IN A MERE SIX YEARS FROM 2014 TO 2020 THE PERCENTAGE OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS WITH ACCESS TO AT LEAST ONE BROADBAND PROVIDER OFFERING 100/20+ SERVICE AND AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL PROVIDER OFFERING 25/3+ MBPS BROADBAND SERVICE MORE THAN DOUBLED FROM 32% TO 84%. IN THAT SAME TIMESPAN, THE PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH ACCESS TO TWO PROVIDERS OFFERING SPEEDS OF 100/20+ MBPS INCREASED MORE THAN THREE-FOLD, FROM 17% TO 58%. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: | ACA CONNECTS' SPELLMEYER EXPLAINED THAT THE STUDY'S FINDINGS DEMONSTRATE THAT POLICYMAKERS MADE THE RIGHT CALL IN ALLOWING MARKET FORCES TO ADVANCE DEPLOYMENT TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE AND THEN, IN ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGING AREAS, PROVIDING GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO ENSURE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE SERVICE. "THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ESTABLISHED A TWO-PRONG APPROACH FOR BRINGING FAST AND RELIABLE FIXED BROADBAND SERVICE TO ALL AMERICANS: ENABLE AND ENCOURAGE ENTRY AND COMPETITION IN A LIGHT-TOUCH REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT; AND, WHERE THE ECONOMICS ARE TOO CHALLENGING, SUBSIDIZE AND REGULATE THE PROVISION OF SERVICE. AFTER TWO DECADES, THE RESULTS ARE NOW IN. WE HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE UNITED STATES A BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS ROBUST, RELIABLE, AND COMPETITIVE BECAUSE OF THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS. WORKING TOGETHER, THE TWO SECTORS ARE MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN CLOSING THE BROADBAND AVAILABILITY AND ADOPTION GAPS THAT REMAIN" ACAC'S SPELLMEYER SAID. THE STUDY ADDITIONALLY DEMONSTRATES THAT FOR HOUSEHOLDS WHERE MULTIPLE PROVIDERS MAY NOT BE PRESENT, A SIGNIFICANT SHARE IS ALREADY SERVED, OR SOON WILL BE, BY A PROVIDER RECEIVING DEPLOYMENT SUBSIDIES THAT SUBJECT THE PROVIDER'S RATES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS TO GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT. NEARLY 7% OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY TODAY, AND THAT PERCENTAGE WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS STATES BEGIN TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS PROVIDED UNDER THE BROADBAND EQUITY ACCESS AND DEPLOYMENT (BEAD) PROGRAM AND VARIOUS BROADBAND PROGRAMS FUNDED BY FEDERAL STIMULUS LAWS CONTINUE TO GAIN TRACTION. ACA CONNECTS' STUDY SHOWS THAT BROADBAND COMPETITION IS ALREADY WIDESPREAD AND WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN, THUS BENEFITING CONSUMERS AND ELIMINATING ANY NEED TO IMPOSE REGULATIONS RESTRICTING PROVIDERS' PRICES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS, WHICH WOULD CAUSE HARM WITHOUT ANY GAIN. "GIVEN THAT COMPETITION IS WIDESPREAD AND THRIVING, AND GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY AMPLE REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO PROTECT CONSUMERS WHERE COMPETITION IS LACKING, THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION TO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL HEAVY-HAND COMMON-CARRIER-STYLE REGULATION ON FIXED BROADBAND PROVIDERS AS A WHOLE," SAID SPELLMEYER. "DOING SO WOULD YIELD FEW, IF ANY, TANGIBLE BENEFITS BUT WOULD DISCOURAGE ENTRY, INVESTMENT, AND INNOVATION, TO THE DETRIMENT OF CONSUMERS. HOWEVER, EVEN IF NEW REGULATION WERE TO BE IMPOSED ON LARGER PROVIDERS, THERE IS A STRONG CASE FOR EXEMPTING SMALLER PROVIDERS FROM ANY SUCH REGULATION." AS THE STUDY EXPLAINS, IF THE GOVERNMENT APPLIED COMMON-CARRIER-STYLE REGULATION ONLY TO LARGER PROVIDERS, REGULATORY PRESSURE WOULD STILL BE PLACED ON SMALLER PROVIDERS TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY SERVE AN AREA THAT IS ALSO SERVED BY A LARGER PROVIDER AND THUS WOULD HAVE TO COMPETE FOR CUSTOMERS WITH THE LARGER REGULATED PROVIDER. APPROXIMATELY 97% OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS ARE IN AREAS SERVED BY AT LEAST ONE LARGER BROADBAND PROVIDER. FURTHERMORE, MANY OF THE REMAINING 3% OF HOUSEHOLDS ARE LOCATED IN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO SMALLER PROVIDERS ALREADY OFFERING SERVICE AT 100/20+ (AND ARE THUS ALREADY PROTECTED BY COMPETITION) OR IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS CURRENTLY A PROVIDER OF BROADBAND SERVICE RECEIVING FCC HIGH-COST SUBSIDY SUPPORT (THAT IS ALREADY SUBJECT TO REGULATORY OVERSIGHT BECAUSE IT IS SUBSIDIZED). THUS, THE SHARE OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY BENEFIT FROM EXTENDING ADDITIONAL REGULATION TO SMALLER PROVIDERS IS EXCEEDINGLY SMALL AND WILL ONLY DECREASE. "SMALLER PROVIDERS, MANY OF WHICH ARE FAMILY BUSINESSES, COOPERATIVES, OR MUNICIPAL ENTITIES, SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL SOPHISTICATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE CAPABILITY TO COMPLY WITH A COMPLEX SET OF NEW REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES WITHOUT INCURRING SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL COSTS. CUSTOMERS OF THESE FIRMS WILL ULTIMATELY BEAR A SUBSTANTIAL FRACTION OF THESE COST INCREASES. BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS COSTS IT WOULD IMPOSE, RELYING ON COMMON CARRIER REGULATION SHOULD BE SEEN AS A LAST, NOT FIRST, RESORT, ESPECIALLY FOR SMALLER PROVIDERS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS ABOUT COMPETITION AND EXISTING REGULATION, IT IS TIME TO TAKE COMMON-CARRIER-STYLE REGULATION FOR BROADBAND SERVICE OFF THE TABLE," SAID SPELLMEYER. ACA CONNECTS UPDATES WEBSITE TO IMPROVE MEMBER ACCESS TO KEY INFORMATION PITTSBURGH, JUNE 14, 2022 ACA CONNECTS YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED THE UNVEILING OF ITS UPDATED WEBSITE, COMPLETE WITH NEW TOOLS THAT WILL IMPROVE THE LOOK AND LAYOUT OF THE SITE AS WELL AS MAKE SEARCH AS EASY AND SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE AT A TIME WHEN ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS WILL NEED TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE DETAILS OF BROADBAND SPENDING PROGRAMS DEVELOPING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. "THE ACA CONNECTS WEBSITE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN IMMENSELY USEFUL AND IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR OUR MEMBERS. THE CHANGES WE ARE ANNOUNCING TODAY NOT ONLY BUILD ON THAT TRADITION BUT ADD TO IT BY PROVIDING MEMBERS WITH IMPROVED AND MORE INTUITIVE ACCESS TO THE CRITICAL RESOURCES THAT THEY WILL NEED TO RELY ON AS GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF LOCAL BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS RAMPS UP," SAID ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER, WHO BECAME THE ASSOCIATION'S TOP OFFICIAL ON JUNE 1. THE ACA CONNECTS WEBSITE SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR OUR MEMBERS. FOR MANY YEARS, IT HAS BEEN THE GO-TO LOCATION WHERE MEMBERS COULD FIND IMPORTANT CONTENT, SUCH AS MEMBER ADVISORIES, ON-DEMAND WEBINARS, PRESS RELEASES, FILINGS, UPCOMING EVENTS, AND SO MUCH MORE. BECAUSE THE WEBSITE SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT TOOL AND RESOURCE FOR OUR MEMBERS, IT IS VITAL THAT WE MAINTAIN ITS HEALTH, RELIABILITY, AND FUNCTIONALITY. ACA CONNECTS STAFF, LED BY DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST NATHAN PENROD, SPENT THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS GAINING AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ADDITIONALLY ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS NEEDED IN TERMS OF WEBSITE RESOURCES. "DURING THE RESEARCH STAGE, WE SOUGHT ADVICE FROM SEVERAL ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WERE DOING WELL AND WHAT NEEDED IMPROVEMENT ON THE WEBSITE. IN RESPONSE, WE FOCUSED OUR ATTENTION ON THE FOLLOWING: AN UPDATED MEMBERS' LOUNGE, A HOMEPAGE WITH CONTENT CURATED SPECIALLY FOR MEMBERS, A MORE ORGANIZED MENU, A MORE FUNCTIONAL SEARCH FEATURE, AND A MORE SEAMLESS MOBILE EXPERIENCE," PENROD SAID. ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS SHOULD FIND THE NEW WEBSITE APPEALING AND INTUITIVE A DESTINATION THAT WILL PROVIDE THE SAME GREAT CONTENT THAT OUR MEMBERS RELY ON TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS AND SERVE THEIR CUSTOMERS. ACA CONNECTS CONGRATULATES THE U.S. TREASURY ON LAUNCH OF THE $10 BILLION FUND TO ADVANCE DEPLOYMENT AND ADOPTION OF HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS PITTSBURGH, JUNE 7, 2022 THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO GRANT SPELLMEYER: "ACA CONNECTS SALUTES THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY FOR AWARDING MORE THAN $500 MILLION IN NEW BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING TO FOUR STATES LOUISIANA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA TO ASSIST A RANGE OF COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS IN ADVANCING THE GOAL OF UNIVERSAL AND AFFORDABLE BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS." "TREASURY'S ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY CAME UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN'S CORONAVIRUS CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND (CPF) AND SHOULD RESULT IN THE COMPLETION OF NETWORKS CAPABLE OF SYMMETRICAL UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD SPEEDS OF 100 MEGABITS PER SECOND (MBPS) TO MORE THAN 200,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES." "TODAY'S FIRST STATE ALLOCATIONS UNDER THE CPF MARK THE BEGINNING PHASE OF A PROGRAM WITH $10 BILLION TOTAL SET ASIDE FOR BROADBAND. WITH THE BULK OF THE FUNDS STILL TO BE ALLOCATED, ACA CONNECTS' MEMBERS LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH STATE FUND RECIPIENTS TO ENSURE THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS AND FULFILL THE GOAL OF CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE ONCE AND FOR ALL." |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: | ACA CONNECTS NAMES VETERAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE GRANT SPELLMEYER AS NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO TRADE GROUP'S NEW LEADER TO FOCUS ON PILOTING INDEPENDENT BROADBAND PROVIDERS IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING MARKET CLIMATE PITTSBURGH, MAY 17, 2022 ACA CONNECTS CHAIRMAN PATRICIA JO BOYERS ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE ACA BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AFTER A THOROUGH AND INCLUSIVE EXECUTIVE SEARCH, HAS SELECTED GRANT SPELLMEYER TO BECOME THE NEXT ACAC PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. SPELLMEYER, WHO HAS AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN THE WIRELINE AND WIRELESS INDUSTRIES, WILL SUCCEED 25-YEAR VETERAN MATT POLKA, WHO RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO STEP DOWN IN JULY, 2022. "AFTER NUMEROUS INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS AND A THOUGHTFUL, EXTENDED SEARCH, WE'RE SO PLEASED GRANT SPELLMEYER IS JOINING US AS THE NEW LEADER OF OUR ESTEEMED SERVICE-FIRST ORGANIZATION," SAID MRS. BOYERS, WHO IS CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF BOYCOM VISION IN POPLAR BLUFF, MO. "GRANT SPELLMEYER IS HIGHLY RESPECTED FOR HIS KNOWLEDGE AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP. HE UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES ACAC MEMBERS FACE EVERY DAY, AND HE HAS THE EXPERTISE TO ADVOCATE ON OUR BEHALF TO INFLUENCE POSITIVE CHANGE." MRS. BOYERS, ALONG WITH ACAC VICE CHAIRMAN MIKE BOWKER, WHO IS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF CABLE ONE IN PHOENIX, WORKED WITH THE SELECTION COMMITTEE IN CAREFULLY ASSESSING THE KNOWN AND POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD FOR ACAC. THE COMMITTEE WAS UNITED IN CHOOSING SPELLMEYER AS THE NEW LEADER OWING TO HIS SOLID GROUNDING IN THE ISSUES AND SERVICE-FIRST MINDSET NECESSARY TO SUCCEED IN THE JOB. BOWKER COMMENTED, "GRANT SPELLMEYER'S INDISPUTABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND HIS UNDERSTANDING OF SMALLER, INDEPENDENT COMPANIES MADE IT CLEAR TO ME HE'S THE PRESIDENT AND CEO WE NEED AT THIS TIME." "SIMPLY PUT," MRS. BOYERS ADDED, "MR. SPELLMEYER HAS A REPUTATION FOR GETTING THINGS DONE AND WE LIKE THAT AT ACAC." SPELLMEYER IS A TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY VETERAN WITH A SOLID RECORD OF SUCCESS AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS. HE JOINS ACA CONNECTS FROM U.S. CELLULAR CORP., WHERE MOST RECENTLY HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS. "I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ACAC'S EXPERIENCED STAFF, ACAC MEMBERS, AND FEDERAL AND STATE POLICY MAKERS TO STRENGTHEN THE POSITION OF INDEPENDENT COMPANIES IN THE COMMUNICATIONS MARKETPLACE," SPELLMEYER SAID. "ONE OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO ENSURE ACAC MEMBERS CONTINUE TO SUCCEED IN PROVIDING CONSUMERS WITH A VARIETY OF COMPETITIVE SERVICES REGARDLESS OF COMPANY SIZE OR GEOGRAPHY TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE." ACA CONNECTS IS A NATIONAL TRADE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING MORE THAN 600 SMALLER AND MEDIUM-SIZED, INDEPENDENT COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE BROADBAND, PHONE AND VIDEO SERVICES TO NEARLY 8 MILLION CUSTOMERS PRIMARILY LOCATED IN RURAL AND SMALLER SUBURBAN MARKETS ACROSS AMERICA. "I HAVE BEEN A CLOSE OBSERVER OF ACAC FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE A DEEP RESPECT FOR MATT POLKA'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT INDEPENDENT COMPANIES THRIVE," SPELLMEYER SAID. "HE IS LEAVING BEHIND A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE, AND MY PLAN IS TO SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED TO US IN THIS RAPIDLY CHANGING BUSINESS." ON MAY 2, POLKA ANNOUNCED HIS DECISION TO STEP DOWN EFFECTIVE IN LATE JULY 2022. "I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN BOYERS, VICE CHAIRMAN BOWKER, AND THE SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR THEIR TIME AND DEDICATION TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT PERSON TO BE OUR NEXT ACAC LEADER," POLKA SAID. "GRANT SPELLMEYER HAS AN IMPECCABLE RECORD AND THE ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY GUIDE THE ACAC TEAM AND OUR MEMBERS INTO THE NEXT 25 YEARS." AT U.S. CELLULAR, SPELLMEYER'S PRIMARY DUTIES INCLUDED DIRECTING THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY EFFORTS ACROSS THE COMPANY'S 21-STATE OPERATING TERRITORY ON ALL POLICY MATTERS. U.S. CELLULAR IS THE FOURTH-LARGEST FULL-SERVICE WIRELESS CARRIER IN THE U.S., PROVIDING NATIONAL NETWORK COVERAGE AND INDUSTRY-LEADING INNOVATIONS DESIGNED TO ELEVATE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE. SPELLMEYER JOINED U.S. CELLULAR IN 2006 FROM ACA CONNECTS MEMBER COMPANY TDS TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP. (TDS), WHERE HE HAD BEEN DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AFFAIRS & CARRIER RELATIONS, A POSITION WHOSE DUTIES INCLUDED DIRECTING THE TDS LEGAL ACTIVITIES IN THE 28 TDS STATE OPERATING TERRITORY AND REPORTING TO THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CFO. TDS DELIVERS HIGH-SPEED INTERNET, TV ENTERTAINMENT, AND PHONE SERVICES TO MORE THAN 1,100 RURAL AND SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U.S., WITH 1.2 MILLION TOTAL CONNECTIONS. SPELLMEYER HOLDS A JURIS DOCTOR FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LAW SCHOOL AND A MASTER'S IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FROM THE KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY. SPELLMEYER WILL START WITH THE ORGANIZATION ON JUNE 1. HE WILL OFFICIALLY BE INTRODUCED TO MEMBERS FOR THE FIRST TIME AS ACAC PRESIDENT AND CEO AT THE INDEPENDENT SHOW AT DISNEY WORLD IN LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL., JULY 24-27, 2022. ACA CONNECTS: COMMERCE, NTIA TAKE MAJOR STEP TOWARD CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE PITTSBURGH, MAY 13, 2022 THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO MATTHEW M. POLKA: "LAST YEAR, AS PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA), CONGRESS ENACTED NEW BROADBAND SUPPORT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO NARROW, IF NOT PERMANENTLY CLOSE, THE COUNTRY'S BROADBAND AVAILABILITY AND ADOPTION GAPS. WITH TODAY'S RELEASE OF THE NOTICES OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BEAD, MIDDLE-MILE, AND DIGITAL EQUITY PROGRAMS, COMMERCE SECRETARY RAIMONDO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY DAVIDSON, AND THE ENTIRE THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA) TEAM TAKE A MAJOR NEXT STEP TOWARD ACHIEVING THAT GOAL." "THESE NOTICES SET OUT GROUND RULES THAT ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS -- MORE THAN 600 SMALLER, EXPERIENCED, COMMUNITY-BASED BROADBAND PROVIDERS -- CAN WORK WITH TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE ALL WANT; NAMELY, CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE ONCE AND FOR ALL. WE APPRECIATE THAT THEY INCORPORATE IDEAS THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH THE AGENCY IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS." "NOW, WE NEED TO TURN TO THE NEXT STAGES IN THE PROCESS. ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS NOT ONLY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO BUILD FUTURE-PROOF BROADBAND NETWORKS, BUT THEY ARE COMMITTED TO GETTING LOWER-INCOME CONSUMERS TO SUBSCRIBE. THEY LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH NTIA AS FUNDING GETS ALLOCATED AND WITH THE STATES AS THEY AWARD FUNDS TO PROMOTE BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT, ADOPTION AND OTHER PROJECTS." ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS MAKE MAJOR STRIDES IN CLOSING THE BROADBAND ADOPTION GAP MANY MEMBERS ARE OFFERING ROBUST, RELIABLE BROADBAND AT NO COST TO IN-NEED CONSUMERS PITTSBURGH, MAY 9, 2022 THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO MATTHEW M. POLKA: "ACA CONNECTS LAUDS ITS MEMBERS AND OTHERS IN THE AMERICAN ISP COMMUNITY WHO HAVE STEPPED UP TO OFFER AT NO-COST A ROBUST, HIGH-SPEED TIER OF BROADBAND SERVICE TO U.S. HOUSEHOLDS IN FINANCIAL NEED. THEIR ACTIONS, WHICH MEANS REDUCING PRICES AND/OR RAISING SPEEDS, WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE ONCE AND FOR ALL." "THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE THOUGHT THE GOAL OF ENSURING THAT AMERICA WAS 100% CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET WAS OUT OF REACH. THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FIRST ENACTED THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM AND THEN ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS AND OTHERS -- 20 INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS IN TOTAL -- SEIZED THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A ROBUST AND RELIABLE BROADBAND SERVICE AVAILABLE TO IN-NEED HOUSEHOLDS AT NO-COST. THIS PUBLIC-PRIVATE EFFORT WILL GREATLY BENEFIT THOSE MOST IN NEED AND ENABLE THEM TO FULLY ACCESS QUALITY EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, ENRICHMENT AND FUN ENTERTAINMENT SO MUCH IN ABUNDANCE ONLINE." "ACA CONNECTS APPRECIATES THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS RECOGNIZED THE 11 ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS OFFERING THIS LEVEL OF SERVICE TODAY: ALLO COMMUNICATIONS, HAWAIIAN TELCOM, ASTOUND, BREEZELINE, COMPORIUM, JACKSON ENERGY AUTHORITY, MEDIACOM, MLGC, VERMONT TELEPHONE CO., VEXUS FIBER, AND WOW! INTERNET, CABLE & PHONE." "THE INVOLVEMENT OF THESE BROADBAND PROVIDERS EXEMPLIFIES THE EFFORTS THAT ALL ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS ARE MAKING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING BY OFFERING AFFORDABLE SERVICES TO ALL CUSTOMERS AND PARTICIPATING IN THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM." |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: | ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT & CEO MATTHEW M. POLKA TO STEP DOWN AFTER 25 SUCCESSFUL YEARS, POLKA SAYS IT'S TIME TO EMBRACE CHANGE PITTSBURGH, MAY 2, 2022 ACA CONNECTS CHAIRMAN PATRICIA JO BOYERS, VICE CHAIR MIKE BOWKER AND PRESIDENT AND CEO MATTHEW M. POLKA TODAY ANNOUNCED THEIR PLAN INITIATED BY POLKA TO MAKE A LEADERSHIP CHANGE IN JULY 2022. THE COLLECTIVE'S GOAL IS TO PREPARE AND POSITION THE ORGANIZATION FOR SUCCESS AMID RAPID TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS AND EXPANSIVE LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY CHALLENGES. "I HAVE BEEN BLESSED EVERY DAY TO LEAD ACA CONNECTS, BUT AFTER 25 YEARS I BELIEVE IT IS TIME TO PASS ON THE PRIVILEGE OF LEADERSHIP FOR THE HEALTHY GROWTH AND FUTURE SUCCESS OF THE ORGANIZATION," POLKA SAID. "I KNOW THAT NEW VISION AND ENERGY WILL TAKE ACA CONNECTS TO EVEN GREATER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUILT UPON OUR SOLID FOUNDATION OF DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY AND NEVER BACKING DOWN OR GIVING UP." MRS. BOYERS, ACA CONNECTS CHAIRMAN SINCE 2019, EXPRESSED HER DEEP APPRECIATION FOR POLKA'S DECADES OF SERVICE TO THE ORGANIZATION AND HIS COMMITMENT TO COMPLETING A SMOOTH LEADERSHIP TRANSITION OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. "FIRST AND FOREMOST, ACA CONNECTS WILL CONTINUE ITS STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO ITS MEMBERS JUST AS MATT HAS DEMONSTRATED EVERY DAY," MRS. BOYERS SAID. "AS THE PREMIER COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION, WE STAND BY OUR MISSION TO DELIVER CRITICAL ADVOCACY SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT BROADBAND, VIDEO AND COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS. THIS IS WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY." BOWKER, WHO IS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR CABLE ONE IN PHOENIX AND JOINED THE ACA CONNECTS BOARD IN 2018, THANKED POLKA FOR HIS VISION AND LEADERSHIP OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME THAT WITNESSED CONSTANT DISRUPTIVE CHANGE. "MATT RECOGNIZED THAT THE PACE OF CHANGE IN OUR BUSINESSES, COMBINED WITH THE DYNAMICS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., CREATED THE PERFECT TIME FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO LOOK FORWARD AND ENSURE CONTINUED THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, INFLUENCE AND IMPACT," BOWKER SAID. MRS. BOYERS, BOWKER, AND POLKA BEGAN DISCUSSIONS LAST FALL TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO BRING NEW LEADERSHIP TO ACA CONNECTS THIS YEAR WHILE KEEPING THE TRADE ASSOCIATION FOCUSED ON ITS KEY PRIORITIES. "THIS DECISION WAS MATT'S AS HE HAS ALWAYS LOOKED OUT FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR THE ASSOCIATION," SAID BOYERS, WHO IS THE CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF BOYCOM VISION IN POPLAR BLUFF, MO. "IN FACT, HE FIRST CAME TO ME IN OCTOBER 2021 WITH A PLAN THAT ALLOWED FOR A CAREFUL TRANSITION OF LEADERSHIP AND WOULD RESULT IN HEALTHY GROWTH FOR THE ORGANIZATION. AND HERE WE ARE." POLKA SUMS IT UP THIS WAY, "IT'S ONWARD AND UPWARD FOR ACA CONNECTS. I WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR OUR MEMBERS, THE BOARD, AND THE EXPERIENCED ACAC TEAM, WHOM I HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED, HONORED, AND BLESSED TO SERVE FOR 25 YEARS. BUT WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF OUR MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATION, AND THAT'S BIGGER THAN ANY ONE PERSON." AFTER STEPPING DOWN FROM ACA CONNECTS, POLKA SAID HE PLANS TO WRITE, ENJOY TIME WITH HIS WIFE, SHARMAN, AND THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS, AND MORE DEEPLY COMMIT TO SERVING IN HIS LOCAL CHURCH, ADDING THAT HE ALSO HOPES "TO FIND WAYS TO GIVE BACK TO OUR MEMBERS, ASSOCIATION AND INDUSTRY FOR ALL I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO RECEIVE." THE SEARCH FOR A NEW ACAC PRESIDENT AND CEO IS NEAR COMPLETION, AND BOYERS PLANS TO ANNOUNCE THE ASSOCIATION'S SEARCH COMMITTEE'S SELECTION DURING THE ACA CONNECTS BOARD MEETING IN MID-MAY. AN OFFICIAL INTRODUCTION AND CELEBRATION ARE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE DURING THE 17TH ANNUAL INDEPENDENT SHOW IN ORLANDO, FLA., JULY 24-27. FOR MORE ON TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT, POLKA RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH ACA CONNECTS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER JOHN HIGGINBOTHAM FOR A DISCUSSION ON HIS DECISION TO STEP DOWN, THE TRANSITION TO A NEW LEADER, AND HIS OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE. ACA CONNECTS CONGRATULATES ACA CONNECTS CHAIRMAN PATRICIA JO BOYERS ON HER INDUCTION INTO THE CABLE HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2022 CABLE CENTER TO HONOR BOYERS AT NYC DINNER IN SEPTEMBER PITTSBURGH, MARCH 30, 2022 ACA CONNECTS IS THRILLED TO SHARE THE NEWS THAT ACA CONNECTS CHAIRMAN PATRICIA JO BOYERS, A CABLE INDUSTRY VETERAN FOR THREE DECADES AND ACAC'S TOP OFFICIAL SINCE 2019, HAS BEEN NAMED TO JOIN THE CABLE HALL OF FAME'S CLASS OF 2022. "THIS IS ONE OF THE CABLE INDUSTRY'S HIGHEST HONORS AND IT MEANS THAT ANYONE INTERESTED IN KNOWING THE HISTORY OF CABLE TV AND THE EVOLUTION OF BROADBAND WILL NEED TO FOCUS ON THE CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PATTY BOYERS," ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO MATTHEW M. POLKA SAID. "WE AT ACA CONNECTS HAVE KNOWN FOR DECADES ALL ABOUT PATTY'S OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP QUALITIES AND DEDICATION TO THE TASK. NOW, WITH HER ENTRY INTO THE AUGUST CABLE HALL OF FAME, EVERYONE ELSE WILL KNOW, TOO." AS ACA CONNECTS CHAIRMAN, MRS. BOYERS ALSO LEADS THE TRADE ASSOCIATION'S SIX-PERSON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. "WORKING WITH PATTY BOYERS TO KEEP ACA CONNECTS AHEAD OF THE CURVE HAS BEEN AN EXCITING AND REWARDING EXPERIENCE. UNDER PATTY'S LEADERSHIP, ACA CONNECTS CONTINUES TO MAP THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF EXTENDING WORLD-CLASS BROADBAND TO ALL AMERICANS AND HELPING CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE," SAID ACA CONNECTS VICE CHAIRMAN AND CABLE ONE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER MIKE BOWKER. "I SALUTE HER ON THIS WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION BY THE CABLE HALL OF FAME." ACA CONNECTS CHAIRMAN PATRICIA JO BOYERS WITH ACA CONNECTS PRES. & CEO MATTHEW M. POLKA. MRS. BOYERS THANKED THE CABLE CENTER AND HER INDUSTRY COLLEAGUES FOR THIS SPECIAL HONOR. "I AM DEEPLY HUMBLED TO BE HONORED BY THE CABLE HALL OF FAME. I SHALL ACCEPT THIS AWARD IN THE SPIRIT OF EVERY ENTREPRENEUR IN OUR INDUSTRY -- MAN OR WOMAN -- WHO STARTED EARLIER, STAYED LATER, AND GAVE ABOVE AND BEYOND. AS Y'ALL KNOW, THERE IS NEVER A TRAFFIC JAM ALONG THAT EXTRA MILE! I AM GRATEFUL AND FRANKLY A LITTLE SHELL SHOCKED ALMOST RENDERED ME SPEECHLESSALMOST!" MRS. BOYERS SAID. MRS. BOYERS OWNS AND OPERATES A SMALL, RURAL CABLE AND BROADBAND COMPANY -- BOYCOM VISION -- WITH HER HUSBAND, STEVE, IN POPLAR BLUFF, MO. THEY BEGAN THE COMMUNICATIONS VENTURE ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO AND TODAY SERVE ABOUT 3,000 CUSTOMERS. MRS. BOYERS, WHO BECAME ACA CONNECTS VICE CHAIRMAN IN JULY, 2014, IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE 2015 CLASS OF CABLE TV PIONEERS, AN ORGANIZATION THAT BEGAN TO HONOR INDUSTRY LEADERS STARTING IN 1966. HUSBAND STEVE JOINED THE CABLE TV PIONEERS IN 2010. THE 25TH ANNUAL CABLE HALL OF FAME DINNER IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD AT THE ZIEGFELD BALLROOM IN NEW YORK CITY ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2022. SINCE 1998, 147 CABLE LEADERS HAVE BEEN INDUCTED INTO THE CABLE HALL OF FAME. JOINING MRS. BOYERS IN THE YEAR'S CABLE HALL OF FAME CLASS ARE: - KEVIN CASEY PRESIDENT, NORTHEAST DIVISION OF COMCAST CABLE - CHRIS LAMMERS COO EMERITUS AND SENIOR EXECUTIVE ADVISOR, CABLELABS - TINA PERRY PRESIDENT, OWN TV NETWORK & OTT STREAMING - JOHN C. PORTER II CEO, TELENET GROUP HOLDING - THE HONORABLE MICHAEL K. POWELL PRESIDENT & CEO, NCTA; FORMER FCC CHAIRMAN ACA CONNECTS SINCERELY CONGRATULATES ALL HALL OF FAME HONOREES AND THANKS THEM FOR THEIR MANY CONTRIBUTIONS. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: | ACA CONNECTS COMMENTS ON NTIA AND STATE IMPLEMENTATION OF $42.5B BEAD PROGRAM SUCCESS DEPENDS ON NTIA ESTABLISHING UNIFORM, TRANSPARENT, AND IMPARTIAL PROCESSES, OBJECTIVE EVALUATION STANDARDS, AND QUANTITATIVE METRICS FOR STATES TO USE IN AWARDING GRANTS PITTSBURGH, FEB. 7, 2022 -- ACA CONNECTS ON FEB. 4 RESPONDED TO THE REQUEST FOR COMMENT ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA) REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BROADBAND EQUITY, ACCESS, AND DEPLOYMENT (BEAD) PROGRAM. IN THE COMMENTS, ACA CONNECTS RECOMMENDS MEASURES NTIA SHOULD ADOPT TO ENSURE THE BEAD PROGRAM IS IMPLEMENTED BY NTIA AND STATES IN A FAIR, EFFECTIVE, TRANSPARENT, AND ACCOUNTABLE MANNER. ACA CONNECTS' SUGGESTED APPROACH, WHICH STEMS FROM LESSONS LEARNED FROM PRIOR GRANT PROGRAMS, SHOULD INCREASE THE CHANCES THE PROGRAM CARRIES OUT CONGRESS' INTENT AND CLOSES THE BROADBAND AVAILABILITY AND ADOPTION GAPS WHILE GIVING STATES THE FREEDOM TO USE FUNDING TO MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS. SPECIFICALLY, NTIA SHOULD: - ESTABLISH AND REQUIRE STATES TO USE UNIFORM GRANT PROCESSES, INCLUDING THE USE OF A STANDARD APPLICATION FORM AND A SINGLE ROUND, SEALED BID PROCESS; THE PROCESSES SHOULD BE CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE, IMPARTIAL, AND AUDITABLE; - ESTABLISH AND MANDATE THAT STATES IN EVALUATING BIDS APPLY STANDARDS AND QUANTITATIVE METRICS THAT CARRY OUT THE DIRECTIVES, PRIORITIES, AND PREFERENCES IN THE STATUTE, INCLUDING BY PRIORITIZING THE DEPLOYMENT OF FUTURE-PROOF (FIBER) NETWORKS AND APPLICATIONS FROM EXPERIENCED AND FINANCIALLY CAPABLE PROVIDERS; PROJECT AREAS WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED AREAS; APPLICATIONS THAT ARE COST-EFFECTIVE (I.E., PRICE-PER-LOCATION REQUESTED IS LOWEST); AND APPLICATIONS FROM PROVIDERS WHO COMMIT TO SIGNING UP THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLDS TO SERVICE; - HARMONIZE THE DEFINITIONS OF "UNSERVED AND "UNDERSERVED" LOCATIONS USED IN THE PROGRAM WITH THOSE USED BY THE FCC FOR ITS BROADBAND DATA MAP; - ENSURE FUNDING IS PROPERLY ALLOCATED TO STATES BY REQUIRING THAT NTIA AND STATES USE A VERSION OF THE FCC'S MAP THAT ACCURATELY IDENTIFIES LOCATIONS THAT ARE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED; - ENSURE STATES PROPERLY AWARD FUNDING BY ESTABLISHING AND REQUIRING STATES TO APPLY A UNIFORM CHALLENGE PROCESS THAT IS TRANSPARENT, IMPARTIAL, AND AUDITABLE; - CLARIFY THAT A PROVIDER'S PARTICIPATION IN THE FCC'S AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM COMPLIES WITH THE OBLIGATION TO OFFER A "LOW-COST BROADBAND SERVICE OPTION AND THAT STATES MAY NOT REGULATE THE RATES CHARGED FOR A "LOW-COST BROADBAND SERVICE OPTION" OFFERED BY A PROVIDER WHO RECEIVES FUNDING; - MAXIMIZES USE OF LIMITED FUNDING BY REFRAINING FROM REQUIRING STATES TO PRIORITIZE, OR OTHERWISE GIVE PREFERENCES TO, PROJECTS THAT MEET POLICIES AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE NOT MANDATED BY THE STATUTE AND DO NOT APPLY TO ALL BROADBAND PROVIDERS; AND, - IMPLEMENT ROBUST ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES FOR NTIA AND STATES TO PREVENT WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE OF BEAD PROGRAM FUNDS. "THE BEAD PROGRAM REPRESENTS AN HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT ALL AMERICANS, BUT IT WILL ONLY SUCCEED IF NTIA AND THE STATES PROPERLY IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM," SAID ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO MATTHEW M. POLKA. "ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS HAVE LEARNED THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN PRIOR GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS WHICH APPROACHES WORK AND WHICH ONES CAN UNDERMINE A BROADBAND GRANT PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVES. NTIA NOW NEEDS TO APPLY THESE LESSONS LEARNED AND ESTABLISH AND REQUIRE STATES TO USE CLEAR, OBJECTIVE RULES AND METRICS THAT ENSURE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED HOUSEHOLDS GET THE BROADBAND SERVICE THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED TODAY AND TOMORROW." ACA CONNECTS TO FCC: THE RETRANSMISSION CONSENT MARKET STILL HARMS CONSUMERS AND VIDEO OPERATORS BUYING GROUP RULES HAVE HELPED SMALLER OPERATORS TO SOME DEGREE, BUT FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS REMAIN PITTSBURGH, FEBRUARY 4, 2022 IN COMMENTS FILED YESTERDAY WITH THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC), ACA CONNECTS REPORTED THAT VIDEO SUBSCRIBERS, ESPECIALLY IN SMALL TOWNS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES, CONTINUE TO PAY TOO MUCH FOR LOCAL BROADCAST STATIONS BECAUSE OF THE BROKEN RETRANSMISSION CONSENT REGIME. LARGE BROADCASTERS, WHO KEEP BULKING UP, CONTINUE TO EXPLOIT THEIR UNFAIR LEVERAGE OVER SMALLER CABLE OPERATORS TO EXTRACT HIGH FEES AND DEMAND SUBSTANTIAL FEE INCREASES EACH YEAR FOR THE RIGHT TO DELIVER "FREE" TV. WHEN OPERATORS RESIST THESE DEMANDS, BROADCASTERS OFTEN BLACK OUT SIGNALS TO BRING THEM AND THEIR SUBSCRIBERS IN LINE. "ACA MEMBERS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS HAVE LONG BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT HIGH AND RISING RETRANS FEES," SAID ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO MATTHEW M. POLKA. "THE FCC'S OWN DATA REVEALS THAT SMALLER CABLE OPERATORS PAY UNREASONABLY HIGH FEES TO CARRY LOCAL BROADCAST STATIONS FAR MORE THAN THEIR LARGER COUNTERPARTS. MOREOVER, SMALLER OPERATORS FACE A HOBSON'S CHOICE EITHER MEET THE BROADCASTER'S UNCONSCIONABLE DEMAND OR GET CUT OFF FROM CARRYING THE STATION. AND, THE REAL LOSERS ARE VIDEO SUBSCRIBERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN SMALLER AND MORE RURAL MARKETS, WHO MUST FOOT THE BILL." AS THE COMMENTS NOTED, CABLE OPERATORS PAID $5.5 BILLION IN RETRANSMISSION CONSENT FEES IN 2019. THIS REPRESENTED A 11.2% INCREASE OVER TOTAL FEES (AND A 17.8% INCREASE IN PER SUBSCRIBER FEES) PAID THE PREVIOUS YEAR. MOREOVER, THE FCC REPORTED IN 2020 THAT SMALL CABLE OPERATORS PAID ON AVERAGE AT LEAST 43% MORE THAN LARGER OPERATORS FOR RETRANSMISSION CONSENT. THAT FIGURE LIKELY UNDERSTATES THE DISPARITY, WHICH CONTINUES TO GROW. IN ITS COMMENTS, ACA CONNECTS ADDRESSED THE IMPACT OF FCC RULES ADOPTED UNDER THE TELEVISION VIEWER PROTECTION ACT OF 2019 (TVPA) THAT GRANTED SMALL CABLE OPERATORS THE RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE WITH LARGE STATION GROUPS FOR RETRANSMISSION CONSENT THROUGH "BUYING GROUPS." AS THE COMMENTS EXPLAINED, THE NATIONAL CABLE TELEVISION COOPERATIVE (NCTC) IS THE PRIMARY BUYING GROUP REPRESENTING SUCH OPERATORS. "THE BUYING GROUP RULES HAVE SERVED THEIR PURPOSE, BUT THEY CAN ONLY GO SO FAR," SAID POLKA. "NCTC HAS BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE DEALS WITH MOST OF THE LARGE STATION GROUPS ON BEHALF OF SMALL OPERATORS, REDUCING TRANSACTION COSTS AND LIKELY RESULTING IN BETTER RATES THAN MOST OPERATORS COULD GET THROUGH INDIVIDUAL DEALS. BUT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THESE 'BUYING GROUP' DEALS WERE BY NO MEANS GREAT FOR OPERATORS. BROADCASTERS STILL POSSESS TREMENDOUS LEVERAGE OVER OUR MEMBERS AND THEY CONTINUE TO USE IT, WHETHER NEGOTIATING WITH INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES OR WITH THE BUYING GROUP. THE NEED TO REFORM THE RETRANSMISSION CONSENT RULES REMAINS." ACA CONNECTS' COMMENTS ALSO ADDRESSED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CABLE VIDEO "TRUTH-IN-BILLING REQUIREMENTS" ENACTED AS PART OF THE TVPA. AS EXPLAINED IN THE COMMENTS, ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS HAVE MADE THE EXTENSIVE CHANGES TO THEIR SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES THAT WERE NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE REQUIREMENTS. MORE THAN ONE YEAR LATER, ACA CONNECTS MEMBERS REPORT THAT THE REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN FULLY INCORPORATED INTO THEIR BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND HAVE FULFILLED THEIR PURPOSE. "OUR MEMBERS WERE ALREADY COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY IN THEIR SALES AND BILLING PRACTICES BEFORE CONGRESS PASSED THE TVPA," SAID POLKA. "THE NEW REQUIREMENTS DID NOT FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE WAY OUR MEMBERS DO BUSINESS. SO, IT NOT SURPRISING THAT THE IMPACT OF THESE REQUIREMENTS ON THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MODEST." ACA CONNECTS SALUTES DIANE CHRISTMAN AS NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CABLE CENTER PITTSBURGH, JANUARY 11, 2022 ACA CONNECTS PRESIDENT AND CEO MATTHEW M. POLKA ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF DIANE CHRISTMAN AS THE CABLE CENTER'S NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO: "ALL OF US AT ACA CONNECTS ARE THRILLED TO HEAR OF DIANE'S NEW ROLE AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CABLE CENTER! DIANE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GOOD FRIEND TO ACAC AND OUR MEMBERS, AND SHE HAS WORKED HARD IN HER PREVIOUS ROLE THERE TO ENSURE OUR MEMBERS' STORIES WERE INCLUDED IN THE TERRIFIC ONGOING STORY OF OUR GREAT INDUSTRY. "WE WISH HER ALL THE VERY BEST, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS AHEAD FROM DIANE AND THE CABLE CENTER!" |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 1A | AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE CHAIRPERSON, VICE CHAIRPERSON, TREASURER AND TWO (2) MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO: - THE APPROVAL OF ANY ACTION FOR WHICH THE NONPROFIT LAW ALSO REQUIRES APPROVAL OF THE MEMBERS; - THE FILING OF VACANCIES ON THE BOARD OR ON ANY COMMITTEE WHICH HAS THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD; - THE FIXING OF COMPENSATION OF THE DIRECTORS FOR SERVING ON THE BOARD OR ON ANY COMMITTEE; - THE AMENDMENT OR REPEAL OF BYLAWS OR THE ADOPTION OF NEW BYLAWS; - THE AMENDMENT OR REPEAL OF ANY RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD WHICH BY ITS EXPRESS TERMS IS NOT SO AMENDABLE OR REPEALABLE; - THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OR THE MEMBERS THEREOF; - THE EXPENDITURE OF CORPORATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT A NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR AFTER THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE NOMINATED FOR DIRECTOR THAN CAN BE ELECTED; OR - WITH RESPECT TO ASSEST HELD IN CHARITABLE TRUST, THE APPROVAL OF ANY SELF-DEALING TRANSACTION AS DEFINED BY SECTION 5728 OF THE NONPROFIT LAW OR ANY SUCCESSOR SECTION THERETO, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY LAW. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 | AMERICAN CABLE ASSOCIATION, INC. SHALL HAVE ONE (1) CLASS OF VOTING MEMBERS. ONLY CABLE TELEVISION BUSINESSES MAY BECOME VOTING MEMBERS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A | THE DIRECTORS SHALL BE ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS AR A REGULAR OR SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS CALLED FOR SUCH PURPOSES OR BY WRITTEN BALLOT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, AT ANY MEETING OF THE MEMBERS WHERE DIRECTORS ARE TO BE ELECTED, EACH MEMBER SHALL DESIGNATE A PROXY TO CAST SUCH MEMBER'S VOTE FOR DIRECTORS AT A MEETING CALLED AND HELD FOR SUCH PURPOSES. AT THE MEETING CALLED FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, EACH SUCH PROXY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO CAST THE NUMBER OF VOTES HELD FOR EACH OFFICE OF DIRECTOR TO BE FILLED, WITHOUT THE RIGHT TO CUMULATE VOTES. IN ANY ELECTION OF DIRECTORS BY MEMBERS, THE CANDIDATES RECEIVING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES ARE ELECTED. ONLY THOSE PERSONS NOMINATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED IN THE BYLAWS MAY STAND FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTOR. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B | THE FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE TREASURER. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 | THE EVP OF FINANCE REVIEWS SEVERAL (5 OR MORE) SIMILAR ASSOCIATION FORM 990'S FOR CEO COMPENSATION. THIS INCLUDES ASSOCIATIONS BOTH IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE EVP OF FINANCE PURCHASES THE CEO UPDATE SALARY GUIDE FOR NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND NON-PROFITS AND CREATES A COMPENSATION PROPOSAL FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD SHARES THIS PROPOSAL WITH THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD DETERMINES THE CEO'S COMPENSATION. THE EVP OF FINANCE USES THE SAME PROCESS FOR ALL OFFICERS AND PRESENTS THE COMPENSATION SUGGESTIONS TO THE CEO. THE CEO DETERMINES THE COMPENSATION FOR ALL OTHER OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION. THE COMPENSATION FOR THE REMAINING STAFF MEMBERS IS REVIEWED BY THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS PART OF THE BUDGET DISCUSSION AND IS APPROVED BY THE FULL BOARD AS PART OF THE BUDGET APPROVAL. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | THE ASSOCIATION'S FORM 1024 AND ANNUAL RETURNS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. |
| FORM 990, PART VII, EMERITUS TRUSTEES: | THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS SERVE ON THE BOARD OF AMERICAN CABLE ASSOCIATION, INC. WITH NO VOTING RIGHTS: DICK BEARD; PAT THOMPSON; STEVE FRIEDMAN; DOUG FULLER; AND ROBERT GESSNER. |
| FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: | THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASSUMES THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM PRIOR YEAR. |
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Cat. No. 51056K
Schedule O (Form 990) 2021
Additional Data
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |