ACA Connects

In this new ACA Connects podcast episode, ACA Connects President and CEO Matthew M. Polka has a chat with Diane Christman, who is Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer at the Cable Center in Denver. Among other things, Diane oversees the center’s Hauser Oral History Project, which includes more than 400 interviews with cable industry insiders spanning the decades. Would you believe the longest interview on file runs more than 11 hours! “There are so many stories. But I think the common thread is grit and determination and a willingness to kind of think outside the box. They are superfun to listen to,” Diane says. Diane also explains the center’s “Intrepreneurship Academy.” That’s right, “Intrepreneurship,” not “Entrepreneurship.” The IA program is designed to empower younger workers to be more creative and innovative in the workplace in an effort to expand their decisionmaking authority within their firms. So far, the program has 92 graduates. The podcast was recorded in late July at the ACA Connects booth on the exhibit floor at The Independent Show in Chicago.

Matt Polka sits down with Duke Wimberly of RideTV's Cowgirls at this year's Independent Show in Chicago, IL.

Matt Polka sits down with CCSA's Jay Thomson at this year's Independent Show in Chicago.

Matt Polka sits down at this year's Independent Show with two industry leaders, Todd Schurz of Schurz Communications and Katherine Gessner of MCTV in Ohio to discuss current industry topics.

Matt Polka sits down at this year's Independent Show in Chicago, IL to discuss the industry's current topics with three of ACA Connects' leaders.

In this episode of DC2U, ACA Connects’ podcast and videocast, ACA Connects President and CEO Matthew M. Polka hosts Rep. Bill Johnson, Republican of Ohio and a member of the House Communications & Technology Subcommittee. Rep. Johnson, a federal lawmaker since 2011, discusses the heavily rural profile of his 18-county district and his long effort to ensure quality broadband service to his constituents. “I can’t think of a single county that does not have significant challenges with broadband access.” Rep. Johnson said the answer primarily lies in better mapping and the availability of multiple access technologies.

In this new episode of DC2U, ACA Connects’ podcast and videocast, ACA Connects President and CEO Matthew M. Polka talks with Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), who is the ranking member on the House Communications & Technology Subcommittee. In terms of his legislative agenda, Rep. Latta points to fixing the robocalls problem, addressing Internet privacy concerns, and promoting broadband deployment in rural America. Rep. Latta said he is also pressing for the creation of accurate broadband maps so financial support reaches communities and schools districts in the most need for robust Internet access. “You can’t do a good job if you don’t have a correct map,” Rep. Latta says.

In this new episode of DC2U, ACA Connects’ podcast and videocast, ACA Connects President and CEO Matthew M. Polka sits down with Rep. Peter Welch, Democrat of Vermont, to discuss a few key communications policy issues facing the 116th Congress. Welch, who is a member of the House Subcommittee on Communications & Technology as well as Co-Chairman of the House Rural Broadband Caucus, said rural broadband buildout should be viewed as a national commitment. He said online privacy legislation is also important, saying there’s bipartisan support for the notion that “we can’t just leave it up to Google and Facebook.” Welch also said that the reauthorization of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization Act of 2014 (STELAR) is must-pass legislation.

On ACA Connects’ first episode of DC2U, a special ACA Connects podcast and videocast, ACA Connects President and CEO Matt Polka sits down with Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to discuss advancements in broadband over the years, solving communications issues by bringing people together, this year’s “STELAR” reauthorization, and much more! Join us in our new video podcast series DC2U, where ACA Connects bring Washington’s influencers to you – DC2U!

In this ACA Connects podcast, ACA Connects President and CEO Matthew M. Polka discusses a range of important topics with Julie Laulis, who is President and CEO of Sparklight (formerly Cable ONE). Under Laulis, Phoenix-based Sparklight, the company’s new name as of May 28, has pushed ahead with its broadband-centric business model that gives consumers more of the video choice they want using their broadband connections. “Revenues are growing and adjusted EBITDA and margins are expanding and they are expanding rapidly,” Laulis says. “As that has happened, we have gained the confidence that this path is well-suited for us. That confidence is not getting diminished as each quarter rolls on.”

Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Makan Delrahim speaks to the ACA Connects Summit 26 audience.

FCC Commissioner, Michael O'Rielly speaks to ACA Connects Members at the 26th Annual Summit in Washington DC.

ACA Connects President and CEO, Matt Polka sits down with FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai at ACA Connects' 26th Annual Summit in Washington DC to talk about ACA Connects members, broadband deployment, robocalls, and much more!

ACA Connects President and CEO, Matt Polka sits down with Rep. Steve Scalise to talk about ACA Connects support in Scalise's efforts to reform Retransmission Consent, and the STELAR bill.

ACA Connects President and CEO Matt Polka sits down with CobbleCord founder and CEO, Virginia Juliano to speak about CobbleCord, OTT, DTC, and the future of our industry.

ACA Connects is pleased to have Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA-1) join the podcast to discuss his focus on ensuring broadband service for all, the unique broadband challenges of Virginia’s First Congressional District, his work on and plans as Co-Chair of the House Rural Broadband Caucus, current internet legislation moving through the House of Representatives, and the Congressman’s own legislative ideas on how to encourage more broadband investment and deployment.

What’s in a name? Or, more to the point, what’s in a NEW name? Matt Polka, President and CEO of ACA Connects-America’s Communications Association, announces a new name for the association, formerly known as ACA, the American Cable Association, and discusses the reasons behind the new name. Matt then talks with ACA Connects Board Member Mike Bowker, who is COO of CableONE, soon to be renamed and rebranded as Sparklight. Matt and Mike talk about rapid changes in our industry and technology that require us all to embrace our cable past, but with a firm broadband and new technology view of our future.

Gene Kimmelman, President and CEO of Public Knowledge, joins ACA’s Matt Polka on the first episode under our new podcast name, “ACA Connects.” Gene has served in many capacities in Washington, D.C., from the Department of Justice and Senate Judiciary Committee, to Consumers Union and now Public Knowledge, among many others. Public Knowledge works at the intersection of copyright, telecommunications, and internet law to advocate for policies that serve the public interest. On today’s podcast, Gene and Matt talk about forging solutions in today’s political environment, privacy and net neutrality, the impact of “Big Tech” companies and what can be done to protect consumers, and the harm of big media mergers ACA Connects the people, influencers and thought leaders to today’s important communications policies and issues.

We are changing the name of the podcast! From now on our podcast will be known as the ACAConnects Podcast. Listen to this quick episode to find out why!

Veteran cable publisher, editor and journalist Paul S. Maxwell joins ACA’s CableTalk for a wide-ranging discussion on the foundations of the cable industry and its many entrepreneurial personalities that have transformed it into the “connections” industry, connecting customers and communities to a broadband world. In a 50-plus year career writing and reporting on media, Paul started and/or ran some 45+ publications. He has also served as an advisor to major media companies and media start-ups alike. Paul is widely well known and respected in the industry, and is not only a Cable TV Pioneer, but also a member of the Cable Center’s Hall of Fame. Paul has been a great friend of ACA and its members, encouraging their continued entrepreneurial spirit both in our industry and in their advocacy in Washington, D.C.