The dual problems of rising programming costs and cord cutters moving away from pay TV because of those higher costs is driving small cable operators to the brink of extinction, American Cable Association President Matt Polka said during a conversation with FierceCable editor Steve Donohue. Programming costs, Polka said, "are a real concern, with 80 percent of our member companies having 5,000 or fewer subscribers." Read the full hot seat interview here.