ACA Asks FCC to Scrap Proof of Performance Testing

The American Cable Association has asked the Federal Communications Commission not to graft analog-era proof-of-performance signal testing on a more robust and reliable digital-delivery system, agreeing with the National Cable and Telecommunications Association that self-certification rather than what ACA calls "needless and ineffective" testing is the right route in the digital age. But if the FCC does impose the rules on cable operators, ACA wants it to allow self-certification for the smaller operators it represents. "At the very least, if the Commission does adopt such testing requirements, it should permit smaller cable operators serving 400,000 or fewer subscribers to self-certify signal quality," ACA says.