Statement of Michael Powell, NCTA President & CEO, Regarding the American Privacy Rights Act
"In today's digital age where our lives increasingly unfold online, it's crucial that consumers have confidence that their personal data will be kept secure and used in line with reasonable expectations. We welcome the arrival of the American Privacy Rights Act, a new bipartisan privacy draft released by House and Senate Commerce Committee Chairs McMorris Rodgers and Cantwell and the efforts being made to bridge past divides that have slowed our progress. It is important that a streamlined national privacy standard balances robust consumer protections with the practical needs of the online
Statement of NCTA President & CEO Michael Powell Regarding the FCC’s April 25 Vote to Reimpose Heavy-Handed Title II Regulation on Broadband Networks
“In the absence of any harm, the FCC is barreling ahead with a backward-looking, unnecessary proposal. Its repeated legal flip-flopping has become a tiresome political ritual unmoored from congressional direction that radically upends what should be a stable regulatory environment. But this time, reimposing heavy-handed regulation will not just hobble network investment and innovation, it will also seriously jeopardize our nation’s collective efforts to build and sustain reliable broadband in rural and unserved communities. We urge the FCC to reverse course to avoid years of litigation and
Statements of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association Regarding Actions at Today’s FCC Meeting
Comment on the Section 706 Report “Today’s decision is a missed opportunity for the FCC to acknowledge the substantial and undeniable progress that has been made in deploying broadband to all Americans, and to take credit for its role in that success. “Indeed, just two days ago, the FCC’s own annual performance report stated that ‘this past year at the agency will be remembered for our progress toward [the] objective’ of ensuring 100% broadband coverage. The FCC’s decision not to recognize this progress in today’s report seems to be driven by an effort to bolster its regulatory authority more
Statement of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association Regarding the Release of the Implementation Plan for the National Spectrum Strategy
“Today's release of the Implementation Plan for the National Spectrum Strategy importantly outlines a schedule and process for new work that will engage all relevant stakeholders in exploring how additional spectrum can be made available for commercial use. The cable industry is confident that a focus on innovative and pragmatic approaches to co-existence can benefit consumers and enterprises through faster access to spectrum enabled through spectrum sharing, as well as supporting the continued growth of Wi-Fi and the unlicensed economy. As this work continues, we pledge to roll up our sleeves
Statement of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association Regarding the FCC’s Cybersecurity Labeling Program for Connected Smart Products
“We commend the FCC for establishing the first voluntary cybersecurity labeling program for connected smart products. Cable providers are committed to protecting consumers by maintaining strong cybersecurity practices and enhancing the security of devices connecting to the network. The FCC’s new voluntary “Cyber Trust Mark” program, if adopted, would be an important first step that will help consumers make informed choices when shopping for IoT products. We look forward to continuing our work with the FCC and other stakeholders on this important initiative.”
Statement of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association Regarding House Passage of the Bipartisan Tax Package
“We applaud the House for passage of the bipartisan tax package (H.R. 7024). The cable industry has invested over $310 billion in the past two decades to improve the next-generation broadband platform that is powering the economy and empowering consumers everywhere. As the country targets efforts to connect every community to broadband, it is important to maintain private sector investment to continue enhancing this essential infrastructure that keeps Americans connected. We look forward to the Senate passing this important legislation.”
Robert Cantu Joins NCTA’s Technology Team
Washington, D.C. – NCTA – The Internet & Television Association today announced the addition of Robert Cantu to its Technology team as Vice President, Cybersecurity and Broadband Technology. He brings to NCTA over 25 years of distinguished experience in transformative architectural and cybersecurity programs spanning government and commercial sectors. Robert joins NCTA from Inova Health Systems where he served as Director, Cybersecurity Operations. Before joining Inova, Robert was Director, Cybersecurity at CTIA and held several positions at the U.S. Department of Energy including Chief
Statement of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association Regarding the Introduction of the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act
“With more than 22 million American households now relying on it, the bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is vital to bridging the digital divide, and we must ensure it continues to receive funding. We thank Sens. Welch, Vance, Rosen and Cramer and Reps. Fitzpatrick, Clarke, Lawler, Torres, Molinaro, Dingell, D’Esposito and Soto for their leadership on this important issue and urge Congress to swiftly approve the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024. With the internet such an integral part of our daily lives, ensuring the ACP has adequate funding is a critical
Statement of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association Regarding the U.S. WRC Delegation’s Work in Advancing Wi-Fi and Unlicensed Technologies
“We appreciate the tireless work of the U.S. delegation to the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) in advancing the future interests of Wi-Fi and unlicensed technologies. As U.S. innovators continue to lead the world in developing and commercializing these technologies, it is critical that we work both at home and abroad to ensure that U.S. policy promotes the continued growth of unlicensed economy through policies that will spark new competition, rapid innovation, and global scale. We look forward to working with others both at home and abroad to develop the foundation for the
Statements of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association Regarding the FCC’s Actions on Pole Attachments and Early Termination Fees
Pole Attachments “We appreciate the FCC’s recognition of the importance of broadband providers' timely access to utility poles. Today is a first step towards removing obstacles that slow the construction of broadband networks in needy areas. But other important issues still remain, including the fair allocation of the cost of pole replacements, which will require continued attention and future action by the FCC to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of reliable internet service to every community.” Early Termination Fees “We look forward to participating in this proceeding to ensure it