PITTSBURGH, May 28, 2008 - Citing the unfair and undue burden the new leased access reporting obligations would place on small cable operators, the American Cable Association (ACA) formally voiced its objection with the FCC today and called on the Office of Management and Budget to strike down the "New Requirements."   In today's filing (available here), ACA said the FCC's information collection requirements for commercial leased access were a violation of the federal Paper Work Reduction Act, adding that the FCC considerably underestimated the time required for independent cable operators to meet the new mandate.

"More than half of ACA's members serve fewer than 1,000 subscribers," said ACA President and Chief Executive Officer Matthew M. Polka.  "These are, by every definition, small businesses trying to serve their communities, and they have few resources and precious time to spare away from serving their customers.  Unfortunately, the Commission has dramatically underestimated the impact additional information collection requirements will have on independent cable businesses and their ability to serve their customers.  This order is contrary to other FCC efforts and orders that reduce reporting burdens for small businesses, and it should be discouraged and ultimately disapproved by OMB."

In its filing, the ACA highlighted the dramatic impact the New Requirements would have on small operators in terms of time and resources.  Though the Commission estimated compliance would require a "mere 27 hours per cable system," many ACA members report higher time requirements and a more significant effect on business.

The ACA's filing also cited and strongly supported comments filed by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and Comcast Corporation earlier in this docket.

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About the American Cable Association

Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing 1,100 smaller and medium-sized, independent cable companies who provide broadband services for more than 7 million cable subscribers primarily located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America.  Through active participation in the regulatory and legislative process in Washington, D.C., ACA's members work together to advance the interests of their customers and ensure the future competitiveness and viability of their business. For more information, visit www.americancable.org.