If you are planning to attend the COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2012 Convention & EXPO in Dallas next week, but haven't registered, don't delay. Online registration ends this Thursday, October 4.

By registering online, you can avoid the lines onsite and even start your networking early by taking advantage of the COMPTEL PLUS Business PLANner. The Business PLANner is our interactive meeting planning tool, which enables you to search and contact other pre-registered attendees and set up meetings in the EXPO hall during exhibit hours or in meeting rooms.

Register today! You won't want to miss our keynote address by Larissa L. Herda, chairman, CEO and president of tw telecom inc.; more than 100 exhibitors in the EXPO hall; educational sessions on topics such as The Cloud Market, The Road Map Ahead and Policy Perspectives; the Wednesday Workshop and and a number of networking events (see story below).

Today COMPTEL filed an ex parte as a follow up to a meeting with the FCC, during which COMPTEL discussed the impact of copper retirement and how a policy that provides certainty with regard to access to copper facilities would dramatically enhance the ability to achieve the broadband deployment goals set forth by the FCC and White House. There have been many technological advancements that have made copper the most ubiquitous existing broadband infrastructure and, in many cases, the only way to economically provide broadband to consumers and businesses.

In the ex parte, COMPTEL included details from a representative sample of COMPTEL member companies, which rely on the use of Ethernet over Copper (EoC) to provide broadband services. Their customers include schools, banks, healthcare facilities, major pipeline companies, realtors, restaurants and news organizations, to name just a few. These offerings demonstrate the ability to provide innovative and affordable broadband options when a provider has access to copper facilities.

Opening Night Reception, Monday Night Concert on the Schedule
The COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2012 Convention & EXPO isn't all business. We've got some fun events on the schedule, too. On Sunday, Oct. 7, join us for drinks and appetizers during the opening night reception, sponsored by tw telecom inc., in the EXPO hall from 4:30 p.m.- 7 p.m. Musical entertainment will be provided by 3 Fools on 3 Stools.

Then, on Monday, October 8, don't miss our Music & Mixer, featuring a performance by The Dealmakers, a musical rock band comprised of BTI Systems employees who are finalists in the 2012 Fortune Magazine Corporate Battle of the Band competition. The Dealmakers return to perform at COMPTEL PLUS after being the featured act at the COMPTEL 30th Anniversary Party in Las Vegas in Spring 2011. Open to COMPTEL PLUS attendees (badge or ticket required for entry), the Monday Music & Mixer will feature appetizers, cocktails and special prizes. This event, sponsored by BTI Systems, takes place in Grapevine C from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Visiting the COMPTEL PLUS EXPO can yield you even more than valuable business contacts.  You could have a chance to win American Express gift cards worth $1,500, $1,000 or $500 simply by visiting the booths of our EXPO hall drawing sponsors.

When you get your badge at the show, you also will receive an entry card. To be eligible for the drawing, you must visit each sponsor's booth, get your card stamped, then once complete, deposit the card in the bin at the COMPTEL booth (724). Only entry cards with all eight sponsors' stamps are qualified for entry. Entrants must be present at the COMPTEL booth at the time of drawing - 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9 - to claim their prize.

EXPO Hall drawing sponsors include CSF Corporation (Booth 210), DDR Broadband (Booth 307), GENBAND (Booth 507), GeoResults (Booth 506)
Overture Networks (Booth 201), Sales Tax Associates (Booth 215), Transition Networks Inc. (Booth 525) and Verify Systems (Booth 301).

If you're arriving to Dallas early or planning to stay in town after COMPTEL PLUS, there are a lot of great things to see in North Texas. One nearby destination is historic Grapevine, Texas, which has a collection of shops, restaurants and art galleries. The Gaylord Texan offers shuttles to and from Grapevine.  For more information, visit the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau website.

Complete Surveys and Enter to Win COMPTEL PLUS Registration

In an effort to better serve you as well as provide networking and new business opportunities, COMPTEL is expanding the information in its member database. We've added several new categories, which will enable members to better define their businesses and showcase their offerings to prospective partners and customers, and allow them to do more granular searches to find the solutions best suited for their needs. The information provided also will help COMPTEL become more informed about its membership, making us a stronger advocate on your behalf.

The online survey, in addition to the annual Revenue Information Form, was e-mailed this morning to primary member contacts.  If you complete the survey, and return your completed and signed Revenue Information Form, by midnight ET on Friday, October 5, your company will be entered into a drawing for a free full conference registration for a future COMPTEL PLUS convention.

If you did not receive this e-mail or have questions, please e-mail Anna Bayer or call 202-296-6650.

All COMPTEL Committee meetings are held at the Association's headquarters, 900 17th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20006, unless otherwise noted.  All times listed are Eastern. For more information, call 202-296-6650.

October 2        Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy

October 16      Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy