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Vol. 10, No. 2        January 13, 2014
In This Issue
TOP OF THE NEWS
IN THE STATES
ON THE HILL
NARUC
MEMBER PROFILE
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS

 

January 14

 COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering - Press Briefing, 10 a.m. ET

 

January 29

 

MEMBER NEWS










For more information about submitting member company news, please contact Gail Norris.
FCC DEADLINES

January 13

January 16

January 21

January 28

February 5

February 18

February 28
SOCIALIZE WITH COMPTEL

 

@COMPTEL 

@COMPTELPLUS 

@COMPTELADVOCACY
                          

Diamond Rio publicity shot

 
TOP OF THE NEWS

Windstream CEO Jeff Gardner to Deliver Keynote Address at COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2014 Convention

Windstream CEO
Jeff Gardner
Jeff Gardner, president and CEO of Windstream, will deliver the keynote address at the COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2014 Convention & EXPO on Monday, March 17. In this special keynote, Gardner and COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering will have a one-on-one discussion about market trends impacting the industry, the state of competition, legislative and regulatory reform efforts now underway and the technology transition of the public switched telephone network. 
 
"This year is shaping up to be quite dynamic in terms of the various forces that could have an effect on communications service providers and their customers," said Gardner in a press release. "I look forward to sharing with Chip and the COMPTEL PLUS audience what issues I believe should be top of mind for industry leaders, how Windstream prepares for the constant evolution of our market, and the business opportunities that will arise from these changes." 
 
Gardner has worked in the telecommunications industry for more than 25 years, and was appointed to his current role as Windstream's CEO in December 2005. At Windstream, he is executing a focused strategy to transform the company into the premier enterprise communications and services provider in the United States. Windstream has completed nine acquisitions since its 2006 spinoff from Alltel Corp., adding more than $4 billion in revenue and creating a robust portfolio of advanced communications and technology services, including multi-site networking, VoIP services, cloud computing and Ethernet managed services to help businesses succeed in the global marketplace. Before joining Windstream, Gardner served as executive vice president and CFO of Alltel Corp., which he joined in 1998 when the company merged with 360° Communications. He also is former chairman of the United States Telecom Association. 
 
"We are honored to have Jeff, a recognized leader who can share perspectives from both the incumbent and competitive sides of the communications industry, join us at COMPTEL PLUS," said COMPTEL's Pickering. "With his wealth of experience, I look forward to Jeff's insights into the state of the market today and his wisdom concerning policy decisions and options before the FCC and Congress." 
 
Early Bird Discounts Extended to Friday, January 17 
In case you missed last week's registration deadline, we've extended the early bird discount on Full Conference and Networking passes to this Friday, January 17. Register today before the savings are gone for good!

Visit the COMPTEL PLUS website to see what else we have to offer - from a sneak peek of our improved preliminary agenda, with dedicated exhibit hours and a new schedule for the educational sessions, to details about our golf tournament, sponsorship opportunities and cutting-edge exhibitors in our EXPO hall. 
AT THE FCC
AT&T Withdraws Special Access Tariffs
Last week, AT&T withdrew its proposed tariff, which would eliminate discounts for longer-term special access contracts. According to press reports, the company said it is withdrawing the tariff changes "to address the needs and concerns of our customers and the FCC." However, AT&T indicated in its filing that "[g]iven the changes are a necessary part of the transition from TDM-based services to all IP-based services, we intend to re-file these tariff changes very soon."
 
FCC Open Meeting Scheduled for January 30
The FCC's next open meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 30 at Commission headquarters in Washington, D.C.  On the tentative agenda is:
  • Advancing Technology Transitions While Protecting Network Values: The Commission will consider a Report and Order, NPRM and NOI that invites diverse technology transitions experiments to examine how to best accelerate technology transitions by preserving and enhancing the values consumers have come to expect from communication networks.
  • Enabling Nationwide Text-to-911 Service for the 21st Century: The Commission will consider a Policy Statement and FNPRM that sets forth the agency's policy goals regarding this critical public safety function, and seeks comment on proposals for widespread implementation and achievement of those goals.
  • Incentive Auction Task Force Presentation: The Commission will receive an update on the timeline and project plan for the broadcast television incentive auction.
  • Process Reform Working Group Presentation: The Commission will receive a presentation from the Staff Working Group on Process Reform at the FCC.
The meeting can be viewed live online at FCC.gov/live. 
ON THE HILL
House to Host Hearing with Past FCC Chairs
The U.S. House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), has scheduled a hearing entitled "#CommActUpdate: Perspectives from Former FCC Chairmen" for Wednesday, January 15 at 10 a.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. 

This hearing will be the subcommittee's first one focused on potentially updating the Telecommunications Act. Members will hear from former chairmen of the FCC as they assess how the Act functions in today's communications and technology sectors.

As part of its examination of the Act, the committee has produced a white paper, "Modernizing the Communications Act." For all of the committee's work on this topic, follow #CommActUpdate on Twitter.
NARUC
COMPTEL Seeks Sponsors for NARUC Reception
COMPTEL is seeking sponsors for its popular Competitors' Reception during the NARUC Winter Committee Meeting, which is taking place February 9-12 in Washington, D.C. 
 
For more information, or to secure your sponsorship, e-mail Karen Reidy or call 202-296-6650.
MEMBER BENEFITS
COMPTEL Expands Partnership with UNITEL to 
Offer HR Advisory Services to Members
 UNITEL to Host January 29 Webinar to Discuss New Offering

COMPTEL last week announced that it has expanded its relationship with UNITEL Insurance, and UNITEL will now offer innovative human resources advisory services to member companies. UNITEL HR Solutions will be available to assist COMPTEL members navigate the constantly changing health care environment, including new Affordable Care Act requirements, as well as hundreds of complex employment law issues relating to hiring, termination, discrimination, pay and classification, time off/FMLA continuation, COBRA, employee relations and employee safety.

UNITEL HR Solutions is comprised of three main components:
  • HR Hotline - Calls answered live by senior level, experienced HR professionals with Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification, as well as national and state-level expertise. Written summaries of the calls are provided with links to valuable resources. Email support is offered as an alternative to live telephone support team.
  • HR Library - Access to thousands of online tools, forms, templates and compliance guides for state and Federal employment law.
  • HR Training - Unlimited access to more than 200 courses through which subscribers can train employees and management. These professional, online courses were developed by the training experts at Business & Legal Resources (BLR). With this training, users can track and receive reports on progress, and provide certificates of completion.

In addition to these core components, UNITEL HR Solutions package includes HRIC-approved webinars, whitepapers and state/Federal compliance alerts.

UNITEL HR Solutions is the second offering for COMPTEL member companies. In June 2013, UNITEL began offering life and disability insurance packages designed to help COMPTEL members control costs and deliver additional benefits to their employees

Learn More During January 29 Webinar
COMPTEL members are invited to join UNITEL Insurance account executives Carl Zeutzius and Mike Reed for a live webinar on Wednesday, January 29 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT. The webinar will provide members with an opportunity to learn more about how UNITEL's outsourced HR advisory service can reduce costs and overall risk related, and ask questions about the program.

To register for the webinar, visit the COMPTEL Webinar Program page.  COMPTEL webinars are powered by PGi.    

COMMITTEE MEETINGS 
All COMPTEL Committee meetings are held at the Association's headquarters, 1200 G St NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20005, unless otherwise noted.  All times listed are Eastern. For more information, call 202-296-6650.

January 14      Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy

January 21      Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting 
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy
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