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Vol. 10, No. 5      February 3, 2014
In This Issue
COMPTEL PLUS
AT THE FCC
COMPTEL PLUS
NEW STAFF
ON THE HILL
NARUC
WEBINAR ARCHIVES
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
WELCOME NEW MEMBER

 

United Fiber & Data

For more information about joining COMPTEL, e-mail Kevin Morris or call 202-296-6650. 

MEMBER NEWS












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

February 5

February 13

February 18

February 28

SOCIALIZE WITH COMPTEL

 

@COMPTEL 

@COMPTELPLUS 

@COMPTELADVOCACY
                          

Diamond Rio publicity shot

 
TOP OF THE NEWS
Nominations for COMPTEL Board of Directors
Due by Friday, February 7 
COMPTEL is now accepting nominations for candidates for the Board of Directors. Elections will be held for five Directors in the Small Member category (annual revenues under $25 million), six Directors in the Medium Member category ($25-$300 million in revenue), and eight Directors in the Large Member category (revenue above $300 million). All voting member companies whose dues are current are entitled to run for the Board and to vote for candidates in their Membership category.

How to Nominate
  • Companies may nominate themselves or other member companies within their membership voting category to be candidates. 
  • All nominations should indicate the company and the name of the company representative who will hold the company's seat on the Board.
  • Nominations should be e-mailed to COMPTEL CFO Steve Trotman as soon as possible, but no later than noon E.S.T., Friday February 7, 2013.
  • Board nominees are invited to submit a brief biography and a short statement (no more than 150 words) indicating why he/she is interested in serving on the Board. COMPTEL will post this information on the Members Only web page. Bios should be e-mailed to Mary Albert. 

COMPTEL will hold its annual Board elections during the COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2014 Convention & EXPO, which is scheduled for March 16-19 at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Elections will take place immediately following the COMPTEL Annual Meeting of the Membership on Monday, March 17, 2014, at 2 p.m. in the Aria's Pinyon Ballroom 1. Each voting member company is entitled to cast one vote.  

 

Please note that member dues must be paid prior to the election in order for a company to be eligible to vote and/or run for a seat on the Board. All inquiries regarding dues or member voting categories should be e-mailed to Kevin Morris. 

AT THE FCC
FCC Order Initiates Technology Transition Experiments
At its open meeting on January 30, the FCC approved an order that sets the stage for technology transition experiments. Following the meeting, COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering said in a statement, "As the FCC prepares to embark on technology experiments and developing a managerial framework for identifying associated key legal and competition policy issues, we are grateful for the leadership of the Chairman and the Commission in protecting the enduring values, including competition that ensures functioning networks and functioning markets. The successful laws and policies that have promoted competition in the communications industry have resulted in tremendous innovation, investment and economic growth in the U.S."

He added that the "Task Force presentation acknowledges the importance of competition and reaffirms the Commission's commitment to ensure that the foundation of competition will prevail in the future so that all Americans can benefit from it. COMPTEL and its members, representing all sectors of the communications marketplace, look forward to fully participating and engaging in the Commission's processes. Our members' experience in operating IP networks for the past decade has demonstrated the benefits of this technology and shown the advanced services it can enable for consumers and businesses across the nation."
 
For full information on the technology transition, including statements from FCC Commissioners, visit the FCC website.
 
FCC Reverses USAC Audit Determination 
Last week the FCC released an order reversing USAC audit determinations that CLECs must identify an interstate portion of fixed local exchange service revenues for universal service fund (USF) assessment purposes. To read the full order, click here. 
COMPTEL PLUS
Show Daily News Submission Due March 3
Exhibitors, sponsors and COMPTEL members - it's time to start planning your news for the COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2014 Convention & EXPO.

The editors of the COMPTEL PLUS Show Daily have announced that the deadline to submit news is Monday, March 3. The Show Daily will hit the newsstands in the Aria Resort at COMPTEL PLUS the mornings of Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18.

For full details about how to submit your news to the Show Daily and other editorial guidelines, please visit the Official Publications page on the COMPTEL PLUS website. Companies wishing to advertise in the Show Daily should e-mail Publisher Berge Kaprelian or call 480-503-0770. 
 
COMPTEL PLUS Business PLANner Opens Next Week 
Starting February 10, you can get a jump on  networking by using the COMPTEL PLUS Business PLANner, an interactive meeting planning application that enables you to schedule meetings with existing and prospective clients at COMPTEL PLUS, March 16-19 at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas.   

How the COMPTEL PLUS Business PLANner Works
Once registered for COMPTEL PLUS, you will get full access to the Business PLANner beginning next Monday. Just log in to download the pre-registered attendee list and send requests to other attendees to set up meetings in the COMPTEL PLUS Deal Center, at a booth during exhibit hours or in a meeting room. 
COMPTEL STAFF
COMPTEL Names Zinn as Marketing Manager 
David Zinn
COMPTEL today welcomes David Zinn as its new marketing manager. David will be responsible for the association's overall brand management, as well as strategic marketing and messaging.

David comes to COMPTEL from The Ad Group, a company he founded that focused on issues advocacy, creative and marketing communications. Among his clients were the American Federation of School Administrators, Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and Exxon-Mobil. He also served as a partner/creative and marketing director for Brand Strategies Group and was a creative/marketing/PR director and business strategist for i-3 Media Group. He earned a B.S. in Design from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Art and Architecture. 
ON THE HILL
COMPTEL Responds to Committee's Questions on "Modernizing the Communications Act"
On January 31, COMPTEL responded to questions from the House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding its first white paper, entitled "Modernizing the Communications Act." COMPTEL noted that Congress should identify bipartisan goals for improving consumer access to the nation's communications networks and services, with the goals of:
  • Ensuring that the communications networks serve everyone, including residential, business, and wholesale customers;
  • Promoting competition, universal service, and public safety and security; and
  • Ensuring all consumers have access to advanced services and technologies and protecting the public interest. 
COMPTEL also stated that "where the marketplace does not produce reasonably comparable services for businesses or individual consumers across the country, or deliver such service to rural or remote areas, then our nation's laws and policies must continue to require or incent providers to make such services available and maximize network coverage so that every American may take advantage of the opportunities and benefits of a connected nation."
 
Rep. Waxman Announces Retirement 
Last week, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) announced that he does not plan to seek a 21st term in Congress. COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering commented, "COMPTEL and its member companies are grateful for Congressman Waxman's 40 years of service and his long-standing advocacy on behalf of consumers and competition."
NARUC
Join COMPTEL and Sponsors at Competitors' Reception 
Prior to NARUC Winter Committee Meeting
COMPTEL invites you to attend the popular Competitors' Reception before the NARUC Winter Committee Meeting. The reception is scheduled for Saturday, February 8 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Penn Quarter Room at the Renaissance Washington, D.C., Downtown Hotel. 
 
 
For more information, e-mail Karen Reidy or call 202-296-6650.
 
NARUC to Consider Five Telecom Resolutions 
at Winter Committee Meeting
At the NARUC Winter Committee Meeting, February 9-12 in Washington, D.C., state regulators will consider five draft telecom resolutions:  
  • Supporting Reform of the Universal Service Fund Contribution System 
  • Promoting Rural Broadband Deployment
  • Urging the Federal Communications Commission to Improve Public Safety through Improved Location Accuracy Requirements
  • Supporting of State-based, Non-Profit Public Affairs Network
  • Concerning Consumer Protections During Internet Protocol-Technology Transition Trials
WEBINAR ARCHIVES
HR Solutions Webinar Now Available in the Archives
On January 29, UNITEL account executives Carl Zeutzius and Mike Reed hosted a webinar to share details about UNITEL HR Solutions, an innovative human resources advisory service available to COMPTEL member companies. The webinar detailed how this outsourced HR advisory service can save companies money and reduce the overall risk related to managing people and safety within your company. UNITEL HR Solutions can help users 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.

For more information on UNITEL HR Solutions please e-mail Carl Zeutzius or call 800-755-0048 ext. 7275.

The COMPTEL Webinar Program is 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.

February 4      Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy

February 11    Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting 
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy
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