PITTSBURGH, February 24, 2009 - The American Cable Association (ACA) applauded the Federal Communications Commission's decision Monday to extend the deadline for Form 477 from March 2 to March 16.  Delays to the posting of Form 477 to the Commission's website prompted the ACA to file a request on February 10 with the FCC (available here) urging the Commission to extend the deadline.  According to the Office of Management and Budget, Form 477 would have taken a minimum of nine full business days to complete.

"ACA and its members were willing to report the data being sought by the Commission," said ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka, "but there was a limit to how much of a burden small and mid-sized operators could bear.  We are pleased that the form is now available online, and the Commission has seen fit to grant operators more time."

FCC Form 477 collects data on local telephone and broadband Internet access lines from providers on a semi-annual basis (usually, on March 1 and September 1).  Data obtained from this form is used to describe the deployment of broadband infrastructure and competition to provide local telecommunications services. 

For the first time, Form 477 can only be submitted to the Commission electronically.  Moreover, interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers must file, and broadband subscribership information must be reported by census tract.   

In its February 10 filing, ACA asked the Commission to consider an extension for broadband and telephone providers to submit the new Form 477.  The Association argued for the extension in subsequent meetings with the Office of Acting Chairman Copps and Commissioner McDowell.  

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About the American Cable Association

Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing nearly 1,000 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.