This year’s Independent Show, taking place August 10–13 in Salt Lake City, brings together leaders from the National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC) and ACA Connects to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing smaller broadband and cable operators. Lou Borrelli, CEO of NCTC, and Grant Spellmeyer, CEO of ACA Connects, joined me for a wide-ranging conversation about industry trends, regulatory priorities, and how technology is reshaping the competitive landscape.
NCTC and ACA Connects: Complementary Roles
While their missions differ, NCTC and ACA Connects serve overlapping memberships and often collaborate. NCTC, which began as a cooperative to negotiate better programming rates, now supports more than 650 members across all 50 states with services ranging from broadband and managed Wi-Fi to mobile offerings and AI-driven initiatives. ACA Connects, founded after the 1992 Cable Act, focuses on advocacy in Washington, representing more than 500 members and ensuring that policymakers understand the realities of smaller, often rural, providers.
Both organizations emphasize the importance of cooperation to protect the interests of independent operators who, unlike the large national players, have limited market power yet play a vital role in connecting underserved areas.
Technology Priorities: AI, Mobile, and Managed Services
Borrelli highlighted NCTC’s dual focus on mobile services and the creation of an AI Center of Excellence. The goal is to help members integrate AI into customer experience, network management, and operations—without each company needing to make large, individual investments. “We’re trying to create options and opportunities for our members where the puck is headed, not where it is,” he explained.
The show will also showcase broadband TV products for members moving away from traditional video bundles, as well as over 100 booths of technology, service, and support vendors.
Policy Challenges: BEAD, Spectrum, and Regulation
The bid piece of the agenda will be centered around politics and regulations. In Washington, few topics loom larger for independent broadband providers than the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Designed to close the digital divide, BEAD allocates billions in federal funds to extend high-speed internet to unserved and underserved households. Yet, its rollout has been anything but straightforward.
Spellmeyer explained that delays under the Biden administration stalled early progress, and while the transition to the Trump administration brought positive changes—such as more flexible rules for smaller providers—there has been another pause as each state reevaluates its funding strategies. This reset, he argues, could ultimately work in favor of independents, giving them a stronger shot at securing grants. Final awards are expected by the end of 2025, with funds beginning to flow in 2026, though some states may move faster than others.
Spectrum policy is another major front. ACA Connects is closely watching developments around the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), the 6 GHz band used for Wi-Fi, and potential reallocation of C-band satellite spectrum. The restoration of the FCC’s auction authority opens the door for spectrum reviews that could reshape how rural and small-town providers access critical frequencies. Many members already hold CBRS licenses or use its unlicensed spectrum, making future policy decisions directly relevant to their operations and expansion plans.
Regulation, particularly state-level interventions, remains a persistent concern. Recent attempts by states like New York to impose broadband rate regulation have prompted ACA Connects to push back, warning that “every dollar diverted to compliance is a dollar not invested in infrastructure”. A recent win came when the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) clarified that BEAD funds will not go to states enforcing such rules, helping to safeguard providers’ ability to invest in networks.
Finally, there’s the less glamorous but critically important issue of permitting reform. Complex, slow-moving local approval processes can add months—or even years—to broadband deployment projects. ACA Connects is advocating for streamlined procedures at both the federal and local levels, arguing that without these changes, BEAD’s billions could be undermined by red tape.
Advocating for Smaller Operators
Borrelli underscored that much industry analysis focuses on a handful of publicly traded giants, ignoring the realities of rural and second-tier markets. In his view, ACA Connects’ advocacy is essential to ensure larger competitors and tech platforms do not overshadow small providers.
Both leaders acknowledged common ground with organizations like WISPA, which represents wireless ISPs, noting that while technologies may differ, the challenges for small, local operators are strikingly similar.
Looking Ahead
Artificial intelligence, which was once rarely discussed, is now a core element of strategic planning. New technologies, changing customer expectations, and evolving regulatory environments will continue to reshape how independent operators create value.
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