ACA Says FCC’s Wheeler Is Marching in Wrong Direction

American Cable Association President Matt Polka says he agrees with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler that consumers, in this case ACA members' customers should come first, but signaled it was hard to do that when "saddled" with "needless" or "burdensome" regulation.

Polka was responding to Wheeler's remarks at the closing general session of the INTX show in Boston, where he emphasized that both regulators and regulatees have to prioritize consumers. “Despite limited capital and modest profits, small and mid-sized providers [Polka's constituency] are investing in innovative video services and solutions in navigation devices for their rural and urban customers." One of the ways Wheeler has suggested the FCC is putting consumers first is "unlocking" them from rented MVPD set-top boxes. But Polka said his members were already offering novel new navigation options.