The Montana Cable Telecommunications Association is closing its doors after 60 years. 

The wind-down will be complete by Dec. 31, 2019, according to MCTA. 

The decision was made by the board Tuesday (July 23) during its annual summer meeting, which it goes without saying, but MCTA said anyway, will be its last. 

MCTA primarily blamed "video programming rate pressure on smaller Montana operators and a declining number of video subscribers because of cord-cutting." 

“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, president of the MCTA 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.” 

ACA Connects, which represents smaller subs on the national stage, continues to press Washington to provide smaller operators some regulatory relief in the face of a declining video business that FCC rules remain geared to, including leased access rates.  

ACA has often made the point that without that help from Washington, some smaller operators have a hard time staying in business.