NCTA – The Internet and Television Association

Fueled by substantial private investment and innovation, widespread wired and wireless networks keep us connected in the home and on the go. A competitive mix of fast and affordable broadband networks available nationwide underscores how the dynamic marketplace is fueling today’s global digital economy. Since 1996, over $2.2 trillion in funding has been invested in broadband networks. Over $94.7 billion were invested in 2023; last year saw the highest industry capex in 22 years, more than 23 percent above the historic annual average.

As providers of broadband internet access service in many communities across America, we’ve always been committed to an open internet that gives you the freedom to be in charge of your online experience. And that will not change. An open internet means that we do not block, throttle or otherwise impair your online activity. We firmly stand by that commitment because it is good for our customers and good for our business.

Tom Rutledge, Chairman & CEO of Charter Communications, was reelected as Chairman of the Board of Directors of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association (NCTA). In addition, the following officers were reelected for a second one-year term: Pat Esser, President, Cox Communications, as Vice Chairman; and John Skipper, President, ESPN, and Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks, as Secretary. Elected for a first term as Treasurer was Dave Watson, President & CEO, Comcast Cable, and EVP, Comcast Corporation.

Other Board elections included:

• Associate Director: Bob Stanzione, Executive Chairman, ARRIS, was reelected to serve a two-year term.
• At-Large Programmer Directors: David Zaslav, President & CEO, Discovery Communications; Peter Rice, Chairman & CEO, Fox Networks Group; and Josh Sapan, President & CEO, AMC Networks, were elected to serve two-year terms. Bob Bakish, President & CEO, Viacom, was elected for a one-year term to finish out the term of a previous director.
• At-Large System Directors: John Evans, Chairman & CEO, Evans Telecommunications, and Pat McAdaragh, President & CEO, Midco, were reelected to another three-year term.
• Rural/Midsize Director: In March 2017, Jeff DeMond, President & CEO, Vyve Broadband, was reelected for another two-year term.

Additionally, Nancy Dubuc, President & CEO of A+E Networks, and Alfred Liggins, President & CEO of Radio One and Chairman & CEO of TV One, were reappointed to fill At-Large Appointed Director seats that carry two-year terms.

Trade associations representing virtually all of the leading US internet service providers (ISPs) filed a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission to stay broadband privacy rules recently adopted by the FCC, while at the same time releasing detailed and comprehensive principles reiterating ISPs’ commitment to protecting their customers’ privacy online. The stay filed by CTIA, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, USTelecom, ACA, CTA, CCA, ITTA, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, WISPA, and WTA asks the FCC to halt privacy rules while it resolves multiple pending motions for their reconsideration. If granted, the combination of the ISPs’ privacy principles and applicable laws would protect consumers’ privacy without subjecting them to flawed and confusing regulations that would undermine the safe and consistent treatment of their data online.

The ISP privacy principles are:

• Transparency. ISPs will continue to provide their broadband customers with a clear, comprehensible, accurate, and continuously-available privacy notice that describes the customer information we collect, how we will use that information, and when we will share that information with third parties.
• Consumer Choice. ISPs will continue to give broadband customers easy-to-understand privacy choices based on the sensitivity of their personal data and how it will be used or disclosed, consistent with the FTC’s privacy framework. In particular, ISPs will continue to: (i) follow the FTC’s guidance regarding opt-in consent for the use and sharing of sensitive information as defined by the FTC; (ii) offer an opt-out choice to use non-sensitive customer information for personalized third-party marketing; and (iii) rely on implied consent to use customer information in activities like service fulfillment and support, fraud prevention, market research, product development, network management and security, compliance with law, and first-party marketing. This is the same flexible choice approach used across the Internet ecosystem and is very familiar to consumers.
• Data Security. ISPs will continue to take reasonable measures to protect customer information we collect from unauthorized use, disclosure, or access. Consistent with the FTC’s framework, precedent, and guidance, these measures will take into account the nature and scope of the ISP’s activities, the sensitivity of the data, the size of the ISP, and technical feasibility.
• Data Breach Notifications. ISPs will continue to notify consumers of data breaches as appropriate, including complying with all applicable state data breach laws, which contain robust requirements to notify affected customers, regulators, law enforcement, and others, without unreasonable delay, when an unauthorized person acquires the customers’ sensitive personal information as defined in these laws.