When it's not disputing Comcast's right to rule the world, the American Cable Association (ACA) is battling for the rights of its small-fry members. It contends those members are not getting a fair piece of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2008 pie because of NTIA and RUS rules.
The stimulus act gave NTIA and RUS $7.2 billion in funds to pass around by September 30, 2010 but the rules "seem to favor every entity except small cable operators who are well positioned to deliver state-of-the-art broadband facilities in rural; and remote communities at low costs," said Matthew Polka, ACA's CEO in a news release.
ACA did admit that NTIA and RUS have listened to some of its concerns. The two bodies are sending out about 1,400 letters to ACA members and others who missed out on first round funding telling them whether they should apply again for second round funding. The odds for ACA folks aren't good. Last year, 80 ACA members sought more than $1.3 billion; only one application was granted, the release said.
For more:
- read the release
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