WASHINGTON & OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC) and ACA Connects (ACAC) will host their 19th annual Independent Show (TIS) themed “Faster, Farther and Together” on August 19-22, 2024 at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
“We are as relevant to broadband and video service providers today as the day we started 40 years ago. We were the first organization to create a co-op buying experience offering significantly discounted video pricing that allowed our members to feature video channels at prices comparable to those of the largest companies. Our members represent nearly one third of all broadband customers in the country,” said Lou Borrelli, CEO of NCTC. “Our history of innovation, cost savings and meeting the needs of our members has never been more important as the industry experiences lightning-fast change. Our mission and mandate are to ensure our members stay current and can keep up with everything from streaming to AI applications.”
NCTC’s 700+ service provider members are participating in some of the cooperative’s most recently launched strategic initiatives, including becoming Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO), allowing operators to provide member-branded mobile services to their broadband subscribers, and the NCTC Connectivity Exchange, the NCTC’s quote to order wholesale platform that enables members to bid for and win national broadband network service contracts.
NCTC is also exploring new cybersecurity services and AI, and will be announcing NCTC Broadband TV, which, when launched later this year, will provide NCTC members the opportunity to offer a lower-cost general entertainment OTT video service to their broadband-only subscribers by leveraging NCTC negotiated content rights and the members’ existing video service platforms.
“We have a great agenda planned for The Independent Show this year,” said ACA Connects’ President and CEO Grant Spellmeyer. “ACA Connects' top priority is to ensure attendees leave Nashville feeling better equipped to navigate the policymaking and regulatory world. We are looking forward to hosting events and panels with industry experts who can share valuable knowledge with our members who are eager to harness historic investments in rural broadband to grow their businesses, deploy more infrastructure and connect more Americans.”
ACAC has already proven indispensable for its members to navigate the regulatory and policy environment, including helping its members understand the federal government’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. BEAD has $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access across the United States and U.S. territories. The latest version of the ACA Connects BEAD Program Framework estimates that 5.4 million unserved and underserved locations will be eligible for BEAD program funding and that the program should be able to provide robust broadband service to all these eligible locations.
Panels, speakers and sessions will cover topics such as:
- Practical applications, marketing and the legal landscape in the age of AI
- The future of video consumption in multi-device households
- Advocacy and BEAD updates from Washington
- The critical role of broadband in Nashville's tech economy
- The implications of an FCC proposal to ban bulk billing
- The fate of the FCC's attempt to reinstate Title II regulation of broadband service.
Keynotes on the show’s agenda include:
- Crystal Washington: Harness Generative AI like ChatGPT for Enhanced Performance
- Evan Shapiro: Future of Programming
The invitation-only event, held over four days, will have activities for the whole family, as well as countless networking opportunities with NCTC and ACAC members, consisting of broadband, telco, cable, municipal and electric cooperative members from across the U.S. and Canada.
Mark Your Calendars for Next Year:
- NCTC’s Winter Educational Conference (WEC) will be held February 23-25, 2025, at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center.
- ACAC Summit 2025 will be held in Washington, D.C., from March 4-6, 2025.
- TIS 2025 will be held in Salt Lake City from August 10-13, 2025.
About NCTC
The National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC) was founded as a not-for-profit with one mission: to help members competitively acquire the video programming and vital technologies needed to offer world class services that define their communities’ infrastructure with vision, value and purpose. NCTC makes purchasing and implementation easy and affordable for its 700+ independent communications service providers who connect one third of all households and businesses throughout North America and U.S. territories. Going beyond significant cost savings, the organization helps members unlock new revenue through emerging technologies, best practices and new ideas ensuring the profitability, competitive stature and long-term sustainability of its member companies. For more than 40 years, NCTC has been actively engaged in helping network providers and suppliers evolve their business models to deploy new video/data solutions to match the changes in the media landscape. For more information, visit www.nctconline.org
About ACA Connects: America’s Communications Association
ACA Connects is a trade organization representing more than 500 smaller and medium-sized, independent companies that provide broadband, video, and phone services covering 31.9 million households, 7.3 million of which are located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America. ACA Connects Members operate in every state, providing advanced communications to connect homes, companies, main street, schools, hospitals and more. America’s economic prosperity in smaller communities and rural areas depends on the growth and success of ACA Connects Members, who believe a connected nation is a prosperous nation. For more information, visit www.acaconnects.org
