ACA To FCC: Ratchet Back Special Data Mandates

The American Cable Association is pressing the FCC to rethink its proposed special access data mandates on small cablecos, saying “the large and disproportionate cost burdens anticipated by these providers would render the agency’s actions unlawful under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).” According to ACA President/CEO Matthew M. Polka, “Because the request imposes such large burdens on small cable operators, ACA submits they are not compliant with the PRA’s directive to minimize the paperwork burden, especially for smaller entities, and needs to be extensively revised before the mandatory data request should be issued.” In its analysis, ACA found that the FCC’s proposed time estimate to comply with its mandates – 134 hours per respondent – was not near enough for what could total 150 ACA members, noting “the burden would be especially onerous for small cable companies that do not have regulatory counsel on staff and do not collect the information sought in the normal course of business.”