Last week, COMPTEL announced that beginning June 3, Angela ("Angie") Kronenberg, former wireline legal advisor for FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, will join the association as its chief advocate and general counsel. In this role, Kronenberg will lead COMPTEL's legal and policy group as the association continues to promote competition and address the issues facing the competitive industry at federal agencies and state commissions, as well as on Capitol Hill. 

"We are excited to welcome Angie to COMPTEL. Her in-depth knowledge and experience in both the wireline and wireless sectors will further enhance the association's talented policy team," COMPTEL CEO Jerry James said in a statement. "There are numerous important issues - from the evolution of networks to IP technology, copper retirement to special access and universal service reform - that are now under review. We look forward to working with Angie to bring additional insight and resources to our advocacy on these issues as we continue to represent the interests of our members and the competitive industry."

Kronenberg served for three years in her advisor role for Commissioner Clyburn. Prior to that, she was a special counsel in the Spectrum and Competition Policy Division of the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. She also practiced telecommunications and media law in the Washington, D.C. office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP for more than a decade. Kronenberg earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America where she also earned a certification from The Institute for Communications Law Studies, and she earned a B.A., magna cum laude, from Baylor University and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

"The members of COMPTEL have been at the forefront of investment and innovation in the telecommunications industry, creating jobs in the U.S. and offering valuable communications alternatives that benefit consumers, small and mid-sized businesses, and the economy," Kronenberg said. "I am honored to have the opportunity to represent COMPTEL and its members as chief advocate and general counsel, and I look forward to advancing COMPTEL's message that consumers are best protected by laws and policies that promote effective competition."

Mass.to Investigate Verizon Interconnection Agreement Last week the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable (DTC) opened an investigation and directed Verizon to submit an agreement between the incumbent telco and an unidentified company that provides for the exchange of VoIP traffic in Internet Protocol (IP) format. The investigation centers on whether this agreement is an "interconnection agreement" under Section 251 of the Telecom Act, which would require the document to be filed with the DTC for approval in accordance with federal law. In addition, the DTC noted that it was declining to issue an advisory ruling as requested by competitive carriers and denied Verizon's motion to dismiss or stay the proceeding.

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission granted, in part US Telecom's Petition for forbearance from enforcing certain legacy telecommunications regulations. The FCC granted full forbearance from the  Equal Access Scripting Requirements, certain record keeping requirements, ARMIS Report 43-01, Annual Revenue and Total Communications Plant Reporting, Cash Working Capital Allowance Requirements and  recording of telephone conversations with phone companies rules. It also granted partial forbearance from the property record rules, structural separation requirements for independent  price cap ILECs, rules governing unsecured extension of credit to candidates for federal office and prepaid calling card reporting requirements.   Finally, it consolidated US Telecom's Petition with an number of other dockets and has opened a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) seeking comment on how it should streamline or eliminate legacy regulations from the Computer Inquiry Proceedings and a Second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) looking to streamline or eliminate the structural separation requirements for rate of return ILECs. To view the full decision, click here. 

 

COMPTEL would like to thank the many companies that are showing their support for the COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2013 Convention & EXPO, which is taking place Monday, September 23 through Thursday, September 26 at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando.

 

Gold Sponsors
Level 3 Communications 

MegaPath
Time Warner Cable Business Class
Verizon

Silver Sponsors
INDATELgroup
Unitel Insurance

Additional sponsors include, Alpheus Communications, LLC, Americatel/Excel, Atlantic-ACM, BTI Systems, Charter Business, CSF Corporation, EarthLink Carrier Services, Edison Carrier Solutions, FairPoint Communications, Fujitsu Network Communications, GeoResults, Inc., GSAssociates, LLC, HyperCube, Impact Telecom, Infinera, IntelePeer, Lumos Networks, Mediacom, Neustar, Inc., Overture Networks, Peerless Network, Inc., Powernet Global, RAD Data Communications, Sales Tax Associates, Inc., SDN Communications, Sprint, Technologies Management, Inc., Tech Valley Communications, TSI, tw telecom, Inc. and Zayo Group.

 

Sponsorships Still Available

As a sponsor at COMPTEL PLUS, your company can stand out from the crowd. In addition, sponsors can improve their chance of securing a meeting room, save money on exhibit costs, and obtain conference passes and content space in the conference program guide. Information on available sponsorships is on the COMPTEL PLUS website. For questions, email Amy Smith or call 202-296-6650.