Cablefax The Magazine - August 2021 - 24

OPERATIONS LEADERS
26. BELTWAY BIG SHOTS
Matthew Polka |
President & CEO
ACA Connects-America's
Communications
Association
Years in Media &
Broadband: 33
Education: BS, Journalism,
West Virginia University:
JD, Duquesne University
School of Law
My personal superpower
is: I type like the wind
Michael Powell |
President & CEO
NCTA - The Internet &
Television Association
Years in Media &
Broadband: 25
Education: William & Mary,
Georgetown University
Law Center
These two made sure their members were on the receiving end for
the unprecedented billions doled out by the government for broadband
over the past year. But that also meant making sure existing
ISPs aren't overbuilt by competitors funded by tax dollars. 2021
started with a new president in the White House, which means the
associations they lead are working overtime to lobby (virtually during
the pandemic) against new regulatory burdens. Despite all the
stresses, employees for NCTA and ACAC are quick to credit Powell
and Polka for keeping staffers organized and supported during COVID-19.
Powell's commitment extended outside NCTA, as he made
several (virtual) appearances to discuss 10G, social justice and
more. While Polka pushes ACAC to highlight member achievements,
he also uses his own social media channels to continuously laud all
the things members are doing to keep customers connected.
POLKA
WHAT HABIT ARE YOU KEEPING POST-PANDEMIC?
Probably working primarily from home. Our DC guys have been doing it
for years before the pandemic, and why should they have all the fun?
FAVORITE C-SPAN BUS MEMORY? Lots of them, but I always
loved seeing the bus on the show floor at the National/NCTA Show. It
was just such a great, big example of what our industry has contributed
to our country, among many things.
IF YOU COULD HOST A CLUBHOUSE CHAT WITH
ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE? I had to look up " Clubhouse
chat, " but now that I know what it is, given what I do I think I would invite
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Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan, bring them up to speed on what is going
on in DC these days, and then see what they had to say and whether we
could learn how to make things better in our politics, country, and world.
NUMBER OF TIMES FLOWN IN THE PAST YEAR? Since
March 1, 2020, a grand total of eight. In normal times, I'd do that in a
week. Cannot wait to get back in the air!
MY PREDICTION FOR THE FUTURE OF REGIONAL
SPORTS NETWORKS: Relevant and important but declining.
Streaming may become more of a real thing as RSNs try to keep
subscriber-share, and retrans/programming negotiations will continue
to heat up over them, but as more sports content is streamed online the
RSNs will not be the only games in town.
WHAT SHOW/MOVIE HASN'T BEEN REBOOTED THAT
YOU WISH WOULD BE? Totally putting my superhero geek hat on
here, but DC needs to do a good " Green Lantern " movie. No disrespect
to Ryan Reynolds...
WHAT SORT OF BROADBAND WILL THE AVERAGE U.S.
HOUSEHOLD NEED IN FIVE YEARS? The push is definitely on
for FTTH at symmetric speeds, but it's not a necessity as our Members
have shown through the pandemic. Moving closer to 1 gig downstream
makes sense.
NEW SLANG WORD OR PHRASE YOU'VE LEARNED?
" What vaccine did you get? " I laugh internally every time I hear this, as
if we are choosing a good wine!
LAST PODCAST LISTENED TO: " American Scandal - The
Unabomber " ; a fascinating, yet chilling story, and even more chilling
today because of those who are being drawn to Ted Kaczynski's
philosophy that all technology development, along with the creation of
" big tech, " is harmful to society and must be stopped.
POWELL
MY PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT OVER
THE PAST 12 MONTHS IS... Caring for my team remotely and
maintaining high standards of excellence during the pandemic.
WHAT HABIT ARE YOU KEEPING POST-PANDEMIC?
Morning meditations.
FAVORITE C-SPAN BUS MEMORY? Too many to pick one.
HOW DOES THE COUNTRY NARROW THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE? We need strong public/private partnerships and public
funding that is carefully targeted to the areas most in need. And, we
need a permanent direct subsidy safety net to help low income families
afford broadband.
IF YOU COULD HOST A CLUBHOUSE CHAT WITH
ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE? The scientists who developed
the mRNA vaccine or the Dalai Lama.
FAVORITE MASK? Atoms.
WHAT SHOW/MOVIE HASN'T BEEN REBOOTED THAT
YOU WISH WOULD BE? " The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel "
HOW MANY TIKTOK DANCES HAVE YOU LEARNED?
This will never happen.
WHAT'S YOUR COVID VACCINE SLOGAN? " I am not
throwing away my SHOT. " ■
August 2021
Cablefax: The Magazine
Cablefax The Magazine - August 2021

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