Message from Dave Koren, Executive Director,

OCTA – Ohio's Broadband and Cable Association 

Welcome to February's edition of The OCTA Connection, the monthly newsletter from OCTA – Ohio's Broadband and Cable Association.

We are happy to bring the latest in broadband news to your inbox each month and hope that you find this newsletter informative and insightful. Read on to see updates from OCTA members, important industry news and announcements from our national partner, NCTA.

Be sure to follow OCTA on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn. And you can also visit our website at www.octa.org.

Reminder: ORBEG Round 2 Challenge Deadline is April 19

The Round 2 ORBEG addresses have been posted by BroadbandOhio. All challenges must be submitted to BroadbandOhio by Friday, April 19. More details about the ORBEG Round 2 process can be found here.

Light Reading: FCC Commissioner Stresses Economic Importance of the ACP

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez delivered remarks at the State of the Net 2024 conference in Washington, DC, on Monday, in which she focused exclusively on the importance of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Read More

Wooster Daily Record: Gibbs Says Affordable Connectivity Program is Crucial for Rural Ohio

In an era driven by connectivity, access to the internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has emerged as a crucial lifeline for low-income Americans, bridging the digital divide and providing them with essential online resources - regardless of their line of work or area of residency. With the ACP’s funding projected to expire as soon as the first quarter of next year, leaders in Congress will need to find a commonsense solution to extend this program to ensure the over 18 million American households that rely on the ACP - including almost 1 million households in Ohio - do not get disconnected. Read More

Fierce Telecom: FCC Gathers Feedback on Pole Attachment Proposal

In the wake of the FCC's December decision to change its rules on pole attachments, industry groups and utility companies are continuing to give their input. The proposed reforms, detailed in the Commission's third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, aim to streamline dispute resolution processes and enhance transparency to facilitate the expansion of broadband infrastructure. The FCC also requested feedback on its proposal. While many support the reform broadly, both industry groups (comprising telcos and cable companies) and utility companies (often the pole owners) submitted recommendations to the Commission this week regarding its proposed rule changes around large pole attachment orders, self-help and use of contractors, among other things. Read More

Broadband Breakfast: FCC Chair Unveils Latest ACP Metrics at Net Inclusion 2024

A recent survey revealed that 81 percent of households with schoolchildren receiving a monthly broadband subsidy are worried about the prospect of losing this assistance and its potential effects on their children's education, according to the Universal Service Administrative Company. These metrics “demonstrate with incredible clarity just how important it is to stay connected in modern life and how dangerous it is to threaten disconnection,” said Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, speaking during a Tuesday keynote at the Net Inclusion 2024 event convened by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. Read More

The Wall Street Journal: How One Company Hoovered Up $3 Billion in Broadband Subsidies

The federal government has spent $12.82 billion in the last three years helping low-income households pay for internet service. Almost a quarter of it has gone to one company. Charter Communications received $3.01 billion through the Affordable Connectivity Program, or ACP, and an earlier version of that program known as the Emergency Broadband Benefit, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of federal spending data, a larger slice than any of its competitors. Read More

Charter Communications

Comcast

Cox Communications

NCTA Statement Regarding the 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..." Statement Continues

The Affordable Connectivity Program Needs a Lifeline

Because of dwindling funds in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), the FCC has directed ISPs to stop accepting new customers under the program. It means that, for the moment, households otherwise eligible for ACP will be unable to sign up for the program. And, if Congress fails to appropriate new funds, the program will collapse possibly causing millions of families to lose broadband service they have come to rely on. We continue to be optimistic that Congress can still throw this valuable program a lifeline. Read More

10G: Five Years On, the Future Is Even Closer

As 10G continues to reach more Americans, the U.S. broadband network will remain ahead of the curve and ready for what comes next. The 10G platform will facilitate the next great technological advancements in the coming decades, ensuring fast, reliable, and safe networks continue to power the American economy. Read More

Saving Millions Monthly: How Consumers Are Benefitting From New Competition for Wireless Mobile Services

Consumer appetite for connectivity is continually growing. With more devices and ways to connect, new solutions are required to get people and their devices online. That is why in recent years, cable broadband providers have expanded their offerings to include mobile service, giving Americans more choices for their cell providers than ever before and saving them millions monthly when switching from higher-priced plans offered by traditional phone companies. Read More

Cox Connects the Big Game

Hundreds of thousands of visitors descended upon Las Vegas for the big game. To support this massive influx of people for what usually is the most-watched television event of the year, Cox Communications provided free access to its extensive virtual Wi-Fi hotspot network in the Las Vegas metro area from February 1 through February 12, as well as powering the connections within Allegiant Stadium. Read More