ACA Names Beard To Board

The American Cable Association Monday appointed Bruce Beard, senior vice president and general counsel of Broadstripe, formerly Millennium Digital Media, to its board.

Beard previously served on the ACA board, from 2002 to 2006.

“I am delighted to return to the ACA Board of Directors,” he said in a prepared statement. “The issues facing independent cable operators are at a critical point, and the industry is fighting for a fair and competitive marketplace.  I look forward to working with the Association as it elevates the needs of independent cable operators and the customers we serve to policymakers in Washington, D.C.”

In his current role at Broadstripe, Beard facilitates the growth of the company’s footprint by negotiating and structuring acquisition agreements. Prior to joining Broadstripe, Beard was senior counsel with Cinnamon Mueller, a Chicago-based law firm focused on representing independent cable and telecommunications companies.

Beard previously served as general counsel for Millennium Digital Media from 2000 to 2006 and was also employed as an attorney for the telephone and wireless operations at SBC Communications, now AT&T, from 1988 to 2000.

“ACA is making sure that the voice of independent cable is heard loudly and clearly throughout Congress and the FCC,” ACA chairman Patrick Knorr, chief operating officer of Sunflower Broadband and The World Co., said in a prepared statement.  “As we fight to end the blatant discrimination against independent cable at the hands of broadcasters and programmers, the insight of Bruce Beard will be extremely valuable and will greatly benefit both our members and their customers.”