Robert Gessner Re-Elected ACA Chairman

MCTV President Robert Gessner was re-elected chairman of the American Cable Association, and Patricia Jo Boyers, president and vice chairman of the board of directors of Boycom, was re-elected ACA vice chairwoman — each to two-year terms — by a vote of the ACA membership announced today at the 11th annual Independent Show in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

“At a time when ACA is facing many challenges in Washington, D.C., I am ready to lead this great organization for another two years in the effort to explain the vital role that independent cable plays in the field of communications and the need for policymakers to craft laws and regulations that stimulate investment and foster innovation,” Gessner said.

“I look forward to working with Bob and the ACA Board over the next two years because I am proud of what Boycom and other small cable operators have delivered to their communities, and I want there to be more opportunity for us to invest private capital to maintain and expand our world-class communications networks,” Boyers said.

MCTV is based in Massillon, Ohio, and Boycom is headquartered in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Among the issues front and center for independent cable operators, ACA said, are the FCC’s proposals on set-top boxes, broadband privacy, broadband transparency, and Business Data Services (special access).

ACA is also an active player on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers have advanced bills that would ban regulation of retail broadband rates and would provide smaller Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with a multi-year exemption from the FCC’s Open Internet enhanced transparency requirements.

“With Bob Gessner and Patty Boyers continuing in their leadership roles, ACA is ready to move forward in a way that will show how ACA’s diverse membership is having a big impact in communities that need advanced communications services to thrive in a global economy,” ACA President-CEO Matthew M. Polka said. “ACA has a strong brand and we will always fight for rational and balanced policies.”

In other election results, the following individuals were re-elected to new three-year board terms:

• Leslie Brown: SVP-general counsel, Atlantic Broadband

• Jim Bruder: CEO-chairman, Harron Communications

• John Conrad: Legal/HR director, Liberty Cablevision of PR

• Earle MacKenzie: EVP-COO, Shentel

• Drew Petersen: VP of external affairs and corporate communications, TDS

• Bob Wieand: Controller, Service Electric Cablevision

ACA’s Board also filled two open seats on its board of directors:

• Diana Block: EVP, Block Communications (filling remaining term of Bill Beaty of Comporium, who has retired)

• Kathy Ford: VP, legal, WOW! (filling the remaining term of Cathy Kuo of WOW!)