National Cable & Telecommunications Association
Encyclopedia
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) is the principal trade association
for the U.S.
cable TV industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation’s cable households and more than 200 cable program networks
, as well as equipment suppliers and providers of other services to the cable industry. Officially founded in 1952, NCTA's primary mission is to provide its members with a strong national presence by providing a single, unified voice on issues affecting the cable and telecommunications industry.
From its inception, NCTA has promoted the growth of the cable industry while managing the industry’s regulatory and legislative priorities. The cable industry is the nation’s largest broadband
provider of high speed Internet access
after investing $100 billion over 10 years to build a two-way interactive network with fiber optic technology. Cable companies also provide digital telephone service to more than 15 million American consumers.
. They gathered in response to concern over the Internal Revenue Service's attempts to impose an 8% excise
tax
on their operations. These business people quickly became aware of other common interests, leading to a series of organizational meetings during September and October 1951 and January 1952. In January 1952, the organization's name officially was changed to National Community Television Association.
NCTA's growth kept pace with the rapidly expanding CATV industry. Within its first year, nearly 40 CATV systems joined the organization. Membership then grew into hundreds by the end of the 1950s and thousands by the end of the 1960s. In the 1960s, the term "Community Antenna Television (CATV)" gave way to the term "cable," reflecting the industry's expanded categories of service – including local news
, weather
information, and channels of pay television
. Accordingly, in 1968, NCTA – while retaining its acronym – changed its official name for the first time, to "National Cable Television Association."
Following the introduction of global telecommunication satellites, the late 1970s and 1980s saw initial explosive growth in cable content, as entrepreneurs gave birth to such networks as CNN
, ESPN
, MTV
, BET
, TBS, USA
, Discovery
, Lifetime
, C-SPAN
, and eventually hundreds of other channels. During this period, virtually all of the nation’s major programming services also joined NCTA, providing a new dimension to the organization’s representation of cable interests in Washington.
The mid-1990’s marked the beginning of cable’s transformation from a one-way video provider to a much broader interactive telecommunications solution. By 2006, cable operators had largely completed a national fiber optic upgrade which enables them to provide consumers a bounty of new services such as high definition television, high-speed Internet access, digital phone, and digital video recording.
To reflect this transformation, NCTA in 2001 – while again retaining its acronym – changed its name for the second time to the "National Cable & Telecommunications Association.”
Today, NCTA remains headquartered
in Washington, D.C. The association also provides management oversight of two non-profit organizations: Cable in the Classroom
, the cable industry’s education
foundation, and The Walter Kaitz Foundation
, which promotes diversity
in cable’s workforce
, supplier chain, content, and marketing
.
The current President & CEO of NCTA is Michael Powell
, former head of the FCC, who replaced Kyle McSlarrow in April 2011. McSlarrow left for Comcast
.
Other past NCTA presidents include Robert Sachs, Decker Anstrom, Jim Mooney, Tom Wheeler and Bob Schmidt.
in Boston, Ma from May 21-23.
During The Cable Show, the Vanguard Awards are presented by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. Award winners are nominated by the NCTA membership and selected by an Awards Committee composed of members from NCTA Board of Directors as well as former award winners.
to honor excellence in American cable television programming. It was a counterpart to the Emmy which previously did not recognize cable programming. After 1997, the Emmys included cable television programming, making the CableACEs obsolete.
Trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
for the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cable TV industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation’s cable households and more than 200 cable program networks
Cable network
A cable channel is a television channel available via cable television. Such channels are usually also available via satellite television, including direct broadcast satellite providers such as DirecTV, Dish Network and BSkyB...
, as well as equipment suppliers and providers of other services to the cable industry. Officially founded in 1952, NCTA's primary mission is to provide its members with a strong national presence by providing a single, unified voice on issues affecting the cable and telecommunications industry.
From its inception, NCTA has promoted the growth of the cable industry while managing the industry’s regulatory and legislative priorities. The cable industry is the nation’s largest broadband
Broadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
provider of high speed Internet access
Broadband Internet access
Broadband Internet access, often shortened to just "broadband", is a high data rate, low-latency connection to the Internet— typically contrasted with dial-up access using a 56 kbit/s modem or satellite Internet with inherently high latency....
after investing $100 billion over 10 years to build a two-way interactive network with fiber optic technology. Cable companies also provide digital telephone service to more than 15 million American consumers.
History
NCTA first was organized as the National Community Television Council in September 1951, when a small group of community antenna (CATV) operators met at a hotel in Pottsville, PennsylvaniaPottsville, Pennsylvania
Pottsville is the only city in and the county seat of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,549 at the 2000 census. The city lies along the west bank of the Schuylkill River, north-west of Philadelphia...
. They gathered in response to concern over the Internal Revenue Service's attempts to impose an 8% excise
Excise
Excise tax in the United States is a indirect tax on listed items. Excise taxes can be and are made by federal, state and local governments and are far from uniform throughout the United States...
tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
on their operations. These business people quickly became aware of other common interests, leading to a series of organizational meetings during September and October 1951 and January 1952. In January 1952, the organization's name officially was changed to National Community Television Association.
NCTA's growth kept pace with the rapidly expanding CATV industry. Within its first year, nearly 40 CATV systems joined the organization. Membership then grew into hundreds by the end of the 1950s and thousands by the end of the 1960s. In the 1960s, the term "Community Antenna Television (CATV)" gave way to the term "cable," reflecting the industry's expanded categories of service – including local news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
, weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
information, and channels of pay television
Pay TV
Pay television, premium television, or premium channels refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television...
. Accordingly, in 1968, NCTA – while retaining its acronym – changed its official name for the first time, to "National Cable Television Association."
Following the introduction of global telecommunication satellites, the late 1970s and 1980s saw initial explosive growth in cable content, as entrepreneurs gave birth to such networks as CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
, TBS, USA
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
, Discovery
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
, Lifetime
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
, C-SPAN
C-SPAN
C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
, and eventually hundreds of other channels. During this period, virtually all of the nation’s major programming services also joined NCTA, providing a new dimension to the organization’s representation of cable interests in Washington.
The mid-1990’s marked the beginning of cable’s transformation from a one-way video provider to a much broader interactive telecommunications solution. By 2006, cable operators had largely completed a national fiber optic upgrade which enables them to provide consumers a bounty of new services such as high definition television, high-speed Internet access, digital phone, and digital video recording.
To reflect this transformation, NCTA in 2001 – while again retaining its acronym – changed its name for the second time to the "National Cable & Telecommunications Association.”
Today, NCTA remains headquartered
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
in Washington, D.C. The association also provides management oversight of two non-profit organizations: Cable in the Classroom
Cable in the Classroom
Cable in the Classroom is an American organization that assists the cable television industry in providing educational content to schools. The organization was founded in 1989...
, the cable industry’s education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
foundation, and The Walter Kaitz Foundation
Walter Kaitz Foundation
The Walter Kaitz Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that promotes inclusion and participation of women and people of color in the cable telecommunications industry....
, which promotes diversity
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
in cable’s workforce
Workforce
The workforce is the labour pool in employment. It is generally used to describe those working for a single company or industry, but can also apply to a geographic region like a city, country, state, etc. The term generally excludes the employers or management, and implies those involved in...
, supplier chain, content, and marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
.
Leadership
NCTA is governed by a Board of Directors. The current (May 2010) Chairman of the Board of Directors is Pat Esser, President of Cox Communications.The current President & CEO of NCTA is Michael Powell
Michael Powell (politician)
Michael Kevin Powell is an American Republican politician and lobbyist. He is the incoming president of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association . He was appointed to the Federal Communications Commission by President Bill Clinton on 3 November 1997. President George W. Bush designated...
, former head of the FCC, who replaced Kyle McSlarrow in April 2011. McSlarrow left for Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
.
Other past NCTA presidents include Robert Sachs, Decker Anstrom, Jim Mooney, Tom Wheeler and Bob Schmidt.
The Cable Show
NCTA is host to The Cable Show (formerly The National Show), the largest annual cable and telecommunications convention and trade show in the United States. The location and time for this event changes yearly. In 2012, The Cable Show will be at Boston Convention and Exhibition CenterBoston Convention and Exhibition Center
The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center is the largest exhibition center in the Northeast United States, with some 516,000 square feet of contiguous exhibition space. It is located on Summer Street near the South Boston waterfront, Boston's World Trade Center, and across the harbor from Logan...
in Boston, Ma from May 21-23.
During The Cable Show, the Vanguard Awards are presented by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. Award winners are nominated by the NCTA membership and selected by an Awards Committee composed of members from NCTA Board of Directors as well as former award winners.
CableACE Awards
From 1978 through 1997, NCTA sponsored the CableACE AwardCableACE Award
The CableACE Award was an award that was given from 1978 to 1997 to honor excellence in American cable television programming...
to honor excellence in American cable television programming. It was a counterpart to the Emmy which previously did not recognize cable programming. After 1997, the Emmys included cable television programming, making the CableACEs obsolete.