|
TOP OF THE NEWS
Online Registration for COMPTEL PLUS Ends Thursday
 If you are planning to attend the COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2013 Convention & EXPO in Las Vegas next week, but haven't registered, don't delay. Online registration ends this Thursday, March 7.
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 Terry Jones, founder of Travelocity and author of "ON Innovation, 100 exhibitors in the EXPO hall, educational sessions, workshops and networking events.
|
|
ON CAPITOL HILL
COMPTEL Members Meet Lawmakers on Capitol Hill
 On February 27, nearly a dozen executives from COMPTEL member companies, along with independent wireless companies, participated in a roundtable with Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), the ranking Democrat for the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, to discuss competitive policies in both the wireline and wireless sector, as well as the transition of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) from TDM to IP technology. Following the roundtable, COMPTEL members conducted additional meetings with Republican members of Congress on the House Telecom Subcommittee and senior staff of the House Judiciary and Small Business Committees.
This fly-in is part of COMPTEL's ongoing efforts to educate members of Congress and their staff, as well as provide our members the opportunity to meet their Congressional representatives and discuss their company's contributions to consumers, businesses and local communities
|
|
COPPER RETIREMENT
COMPTEL Meets with FCC on Copper Retirement Issues
COMPTEL filed ex parte comments with the FCC about a meeting last week focusing on copper retirement issues. In its meeting, COMPTEL noted that if copper facilities were to be broadly retired - with no functionally and similarly priced alternative wholesale product available - the cost of providing broadband services to small and medium size business customers could increase dramatically (could increase by 10 to 40 times). COMPTEL asked the Commission to consider, in forming its policy decisions, the fact that a substantial rise in communications cost experienced by these end-user customers will diminish their investment abilities and in some cases may lead them to forgo the broadband services they have been able to obtain from competitors at affordable rates.
The full ex parte and accompanying presentations are available on the COMPTEL website.
|
|
COMPTEL PLUS EDUCATION
COMPTEL PLUS Track Focuses on Innovation
During the COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2013 Convention & EXPO, March 10-13 in Las Vegas, a track of educational sessions will provide a glimpse into various new business strategies that communications providers are employing to gain a competitive edge. This " transformation" track combines with tracks on " transition" and " innovation" to showcase the issues that are combining to make 2013 a high stakes year for the communications industry. In this issue of the Connection, we'll look at the sessions in the "innovation" track, which feature panel discussions on:
- A Key to Network Evolution: Trends in Ethernet over Copper - EoC technology is a proven facilitator to the migration of TDM to IP technology. With continued improvements, service providers will have more capabilities for offering customers high-speed access choices. During this session, speakers will provide details about new EoC products and technologies and forecast future trends in the market.
- Sudden Impact: How Cloud Services Affect the Network and Drive Business Transformation - This session will examine some of the various points within the cloud where telecommunications factors can impact cloud performance. Speakers also will share insights into the latest cloud-based infrastructure and technologies and discuss the practical applications of software defined networking (SDN) technology for planning, managing and verifying network services.
- Cyber Combat: Tools and Tactics for Preventing Attacks - Panelists during this session will discuss DDOS attacks, as well as review risk litigation, explain the limitations of the general liability policy and how it contrasts with professional liability, and discuss security measures for companies adopting "bring your own device" (BYOD) policies.
- Small Cells Solving Big Problems: Improvements in Coverage and Capacity for Carriers - One of the biggest challenges facing Wireless Service Providers (WSPs) is determining how to bring additional capacity to a market that demands a fixed Internet experience whether they are in their office, walking around a campus or on a congested highway. This session will explore the WSP ecosystem for small cell deployments and discuss the business opportunity and service offerings for backhaul providers to support the small cell deployments planned for the next 24 months.
Special Presentation by Metro Ethernet Forum
 As part of the Innovation track, the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) will present a first-of-a-kind, two-hour mini-event, on Tuesday, March 12 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Entitled "Ethernet Access Services - The Secret Sauce for Service Provider Growth," this mini-workshop will reveal how Ethernet access services are enabling a wide group of service providers to capitalize on market opportunities and build new revenue streams. Triggered by recent Carrier Ethernet developments known as CE 2.0, attendees will learn how buying and selling wholesale Ethernet Services can be simplified and accelerated, how key vertical market applications are enabled and gain a better understanding of the fundamentals of the services and technologies involved. For more information on the MEF workshop, please email Niyosha Arthur or visit MEF in Booth 721 in the EXPO hall.
|
|
BUSINESS PLANNER
Schedule Meetings at COMPTEL PLUS Today with
the Interactive Online Business PLANner
One of the innovative features that only COMPTEL PLUS pre-registered attendees have access to is the COMPTEL PLUS Business PLANner. This interactive meeting planning application enables you to start scheduling multiple meetings now with existing and prospective clients during the COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2013 Convention & EXPO, March 10-13 at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. How It WorksOnce registered for COMPTEL PLUS, you will get full access to the Business PLANner. Just log in to download the pre-registered attendee list and send requests to other attendees to set up meetings at your booth in the exhibit hall (during exhibit hours), in your meeting room, or in the COMPTEL PLUS Deal Center in the EXPO hall.
|
|
NARUC TASK FORCE
COMPTEL Comments to NARUC Federalism Task Force
On March 1, COMPTEL provided comments on the initial set of draft principles put forth by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Presidential Task Force on Federalism and Telecommunications. COMPTEL noted that it supports NARUC's efforts to make clear the strong and important role for state commissions in the nation's continuing transition of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to IP technology.
|
|
FORBEARANCE
FCC Partially Grants USTelecom Forbearance Request
On February 28, the FCC issued an order in which it partially granted USTelecom's Petition for Forbearance from enforcement of legacy telephone regulations. It granted forbearance from the rules governing traffic damage claims, extension of unsecured credit for communications services to candidates for federal office and furnishing of facilities to foreign governments for international communications. The FCC has until May 17 to issue a decision on the balance of USTelecom's request.
|
|
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
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.
March 5 Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting 2 p.m. Contact Karen Reidy March 19 Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting 2 p.m. Contact Karen Reidy
|
© 2013. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
