Advocacy
The Indiana Cable & Broadband Association not only works to enable a level playing field for broadband providers across Indiana, but also serves as an advocate for Hoosiers on a variety of communications topics.
Expanding Broadband Access
Our investments in Indiana allow us to deliver the fastest speeds, the most robust networks, and seamless connections to millions of Hoosier homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, data centers and more throughout the state. However, the need to connect individuals without physical access to broadband infrastructure continues. Our members are committed to expanding broadband access for unserved Hoosiers. We advocate for removing barriers to broadband deployment, and are working with Indiana’s Next Level Connections and Indiana Connectivity programs to identify public – private partnerships and other opportunities to expand our networks.
Increasing Broadband Adoption
With an internet connection being vital for school assignments, work, healthcare, communicating with friends, our modern world requires the internet. However, many Hoosiers who have broadband access available to them, still haven’t subscribed to service. The top three barriers for broadband adoption are: relevance; digital literacy and trust, and cost. The cable broadband industry is committed to closing the digital divide by promoting the benefits of broadband and offering programs that help Hoosier families overcome these barriers.
Reducing Barriers to Broadband Deployment
Broadband deployment is capital intensive. Several factors can exacerbate costs. The Indiana Cable and Broadband Association advocates for policies that can remove deployment barriers such as pole attachment and franchise reform. Pole attachment fees are payments made to utility pole owners by broadband providers for attaching plant infrastructure to utility poles. Current law states joint use of poles should be encouraged to the maximum extent possible. Most pole owners (investor owned utilities, telecommunications companies) follow a rate formula set by the FCC to recover costs. Electric cooperatives and municipalities are exempt from this formula and frequently use their monopoly position to charge broadband providers high rates to use their poles. -this may be antagonistic In Indiana, their rates can be as much as five times higher than FCC formula poles. These costs make it extremely costly to serve rural areas of Indiana.
Protecting Privacy
Protecting a customer’s personal information is one of the most important responsibilities for service providers. For decades, the cable industry has worked hard to preserve this trust and safeguard consumer data. Internet service providers are firmly committed to providing their customers with transparent privacy policies that allow consumers to understand how their privacy is protected, including the ability to opt out of certain common practices. ICBA supports a unified privacy policy framework that is based on a simple, common set of privacy protections that covers all internet companies – from search engines to service providers.
Ensuring Fair Competition
Indiana cable and broadband companies face intense competition in the telecommunications marketplace. In light of this competition, legislative and regulatory policies must be technology neutral. These equitable policies will further spur investment and deployment. Federal law prohibits local governments from granting exclusive franchise rights to one cable provider. As a result of this competition, a wide array of new services – both video and data based – are available to consumers over several alternative broadband platforms, including cable, telephone, wireless, and satellite.
Fostering a Stable Business Climate
Cable companies, like many businesses, want a regulatory environment to encourage equitable competition. When deciding how to maximize capital investment, cable broadband systems located in states with stable business and regulatory environments are trusted investments. Indiana must avoid excessive and unnecessary regulations that impede innovation and competitiveness. A stable business climate spurs investment, deployment, and job creation.
Promoting Fair Taxation
Fair and predictable taxes are essential to keeping Indiana as the best state in which to do business. The cable broadband industry supports a state revenue system that is equitable and broad-based, fosters a favorable business climate, and encourages economic development.
Transforming Telecommunications
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighed the needed for for fast and reliable broadband in order for Americans to connect to their work, education, and healthcare providers. Cable internet service providers are intensely focused on providing superior network performance and constantly evaluating how networks will handle the increased demand of this new era of remote communications.
