The Montana Cable Telecommunications Association (MCTA), after serving cable operators in Montana since 1959, is shutting down operations, effective Dec. 31.
The MCTA's board made the decision during the 2019 Annual Summer Meeting, which will be the association's last. The primary reasons given for the decision are video programming rate pressure on smaller Montana operators and a declining number of video subscribers because of cord-cutting.
The MCTA has served Montana cable operators for six decades as their voice and representative on state cable and communications issues in Montana's capital, Helena, and to provide legislative, educational and social opportunities for members through meetings and events throughout the state.
"On behalf of the board and all of the members of MCTA, we thank all those who have supported us through the years," said Kristin Bekker, product developer at Nemont and president of the MCTA's board. "This is a sad day for us, but we will do our best individually as Montana companies to keep the spirit of MCTA alive and to work together on important state issues as best as we can."
Secretary/Treasurer Tom Glendenning, who has been involved with the MCTA since 1979, will continue on while winding up the corporate matters of the association.
"It has been an honor and privilege to be a part of this great organization and its members for many years," he said, "and while this is a day we never hoped would come for MCTA, I have all of the confidence in the world in our members to give Montanans the broadband and communications services they demand and deserve and to make their voices heard in our capital."