Sachs bagged for Nat'l Cable Assn.
Prexy replacing ankling Anstrom
Sachs will replace Decker Anstrom, who is ankling the NCTA to become prexy-CEO of the Weather Channel.
An NCTA spokesman refused to comment on Sachs' pending appointment, and calls to Sachs' office at Continental Consulting Group in Boston were not returned late Thursday. But several people in the cable lobbying community confirmed that Sachs had been tapped for the post.
The official announcement is expected as early as next week. Sachs' appointment was first reported Thursday on Multichannel News' online Web site (www.multichannel.com), part of Cahners Business Information, which also includes Daily Variety.
Coaxial career
Sachs, 50, has spent much of his career in the cable industry, where he served as vice president and general counsel for Boston-based Continental Cablevision. Sachs continued with the company when it was purchased by MediaOne, but left when the cabler's headquarters were relocated to Denver in 1997.
During his tenure at Continental and MediaOne, Sachs spent a great deal of time lobbying the Federal Communications Commission on a variety of issues, including rate regulation. Former FCC chief of staff Blair Levin praised Sachs, saying he had a reputation for his knowledge of the issues and integrity.
Cable lobbyists also praised Sachs, saying his experience within the industry will be a valuable asset in Washington.
Sachs beat out five other finalists for the job. Among these finalists were at least two former congressmen, former Rep. Jack Fields (R-Texas), who once chaired the House Telecommunications Subcommittee, and former Rep. Dennis Eckardt, an Ohio Democrat. Both are lobbyists in Washington.
