Connection MasterHead 600x113
Vol. 10, No. 44October 14, 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
COMPTEL MEMBERS
FCC KEYNOTE
WIRELESS BACKHAUL
OPEN INTERNET COALITION
AT THE FCC
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
THANK YOU FOR MAKING 
COMPTEL PLUS 
A SUCCESS!

The COMPTEL Board of Directors and Staff would like to thank exhibitors, sponsors, speakers and attendees for making the COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2014 Convention & EXPO a great success!

Now it's time to keep the momentum going. Start planning your exhibit or sponsorship for the COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2015 Convention & EXPO, April 12-15 in Orlando.

For more information 
on exhibiting, email Kevin Morris or 
call 202-296-6650.  

For sponsorships, email Amy Smith or
call 202-296-6650.

COMPTEL PLUS
ARCHIVES

Did you miss a session, or not get to see a live interview from the COMPTEL PLUS Hub in the EXPO hall?

If so, check out the audio and video archives from the COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2014 Convention.

Additional videos will be posted soon, so please check back within the next week.
COMPTEL PLUS 
HEADLINES

A collection of news from the 
COMPTEL PLUS
Fall 2014 
Convention & EXPO

COMPTEL PLUS 
Show Daily

Washington Post


Broadcasting & Cable

FierceTelecom





Light Reading
COMPTEL PLUS DRAWING WINNERS

Congratulations to the winners of our EXPO Hall drawing, which was sponsored by COMLINK, CSF Corporation, GeoResults Inc., NetSapiens Inc., RAD Data Communications, Sales Tax Associates Inc. and Sonus Networks.

$1,500
Mark Jordan
Utility Telephone

$1,000
Jordan Pratt
Taqua


$500
Jerry Cady
LSN
MEMBER NEWS











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

October 29

November 14

December 15

April 6

May 18
SOCIALIZE WITH COMPTEL

 

@COMPTEL 

@COMPTELPLUS 

                          

Diamond Rio publicity shot

 
TOP OF THE NEWS
COMPTEL Showcases Membership Growth and Diversity at Opening Session of COMPTEL PLUS Fall Convention

Association Focuses on Competition Across All Networks





In his opening remarks at the COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2014 Convention & EXPO last week in Dallas, COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering highlighted the growth and diversity of the association's membership. During the past year, the association has strengthened its core membership of business and enterprise service providers, and expanded its ranks with top Internet, cloud, fiber, wireless and international companies, key suppliers and professional services firms, and incumbent telcos. 

"COMPTEL's genesis more than 30 years ago was as an advocate for competition in the long distance market, and we extended this leadership into the local markets with our vital role in shaping the '96 Telecom Act and its implementation. While we honor this legacy, COMPTEL is now evolving and growing to address the future of the communications industry, championing the need for competition across all networks," said Pickering. "With our increasingly diverse membership, COMPTEL is now the only trade association that effectively represents the needs of companies using every type of network, platform and technology to deliver communications services. This broadened scope increases the efficacy of our advocacy, strengthens the COMPTEL PLUS shows and enables us to provide enhanced networking opportunities." 

New companies that have recently joined COMPTEL include: 

Business and Enterprise Service Providers
  • ACN 
  • Birch Communications 
  • CoastCom, Inc. 
  • Comspan Communications Inc. 
  • Inteliquent 
  • Neutral Path Communications LLC 
  • TNCI Operating Company 
  • United Fiber & Data 
  • XO Communications 
Internet, Cloud and Fiber Companies
  • Amazon 
  • AngelList 
  • Cogent Communications Inc. 
  • Google Fiber 
  • ICON Cloud Solutions
  • Netflix
  • Spread Networks 
Wireless Carriers
  • Cavalier Wireless, LLC 
  • U.S. Cellular 
  • T-Mobile 
  • Vulcan Wireless
International
  • BT 
  • InfoVista 
  • SoftBank Corp. 
  • Vodafone 
Suppliers and Professional Services
  • Ciena 
  • FAS Tek 
  • Compliance Solutions Inc. 
  • Goodin, MacBride, Squeri, Day & Lamprey, LLC
  • iconectiv
  • INDATEL Services LLC
  • Juvo Technologies
  • NetSapiens, Inc. 
  • Telecom Professionals, Inc. 
  • Transition Networks 
Carrier/Incumbents
  • AT&T
  • Frontier Communications Corp.
CHAIRMAN'S KEYNOTE
COMPTEL Praises FCC Chairman Wheeler for Leadership in Addressing Fundamental Competition Issues
Last week during his keynote speech at the COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2014 Convention & EXPO, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler outlined three core elements the Commission will have to address to ensure that competitive markets continue to grow and flourish: last-mile network access, the future of existing copper and VoIP interconnection.

"We are heartened that the Chairman is committed to completing special access reform and that he has instructed Commission staff to deliver options for addressing exclusionary contracts. These contracts currently lock in our members to unreasonable terms and conditions and significantly impede competition in this market. For these reasons, COMPTEL supports a comprehensive investigation of such contracts," said Chip Pickering, COMPTEL's CEO. "Special access services are critical to the delivery of competitive broadband services in the business marketplace, but this market has been broken for a decade. We applaud the Chairman for his leadership in this proceeding in order to quickly find answers to address a failed market."

Pickering also said that COMPTEL supports Chairman Wheeler's vision for ensuring that every consumer and business can benefit from the ongoing technology transitions. "The Chairman understands that business consumers value the choices they have today and that choice should not be disrupted by technological changes. COMPTEL supports the Chairman's efforts to ensure that competition is protected and promoted during these technology transitions."

"Interconnection is a fundamental component for competition. The Chairman is absolutely correct that consumers will benefit from managed VoIP interconnection, such as HD voice. However, certain large providers only want to interconnect on their terms, which means no protection from the Act will apply," Pickering added. "Our members stand ready to negotiate interconnection agreements for managed VoIP services, and we appreciate Chairman Wheeler's assurance that the Commission will enforce the Act and require interconnection if these providers continue to refuse to negotiate with us."


Chairman Wheeler meets with customers at the Hub in the EXPO Hall.


Jeff Gardner, president and CEO of Windstream (left), shows FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler around the Windstream booth.
WIRELESS BACKHAUL
COMPTEL Forms Advisory Committee to Explore 
How to Facilitate Strategic Partnerships Between Wireless Carriers and Backhaul Providers
On October 7, COMPTEL announced that it will be forming an advisory committee to facilitate strategic partnerships between wireline backhaul providers and wireless carriers.

Rapid mobile app innovation, robust demand for mobile data capacity and increasing network sophistication is creating a dilemma for both mobile carriers and backhaul network operators, as neither have clear visibility into the capabilities or requirements of the other. Traditional network maps and carrier announcements cannot keep up with the rapid pace of change in today's market. What's needed is a dynamic exchange, where network operators can match their supply and demand.

"Wireless providers rely on wireline networks to handle backhaul of data consumption, which is predicted to tremendously increase in the coming years. The growing use of small cells, as well as the upcoming spectrum auctions, will only increase the demand for these backhaul services," said COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering. "The formation of this advisory committee will help identify ways for wireline and wireless companies to leverage existing resources and networks, as well as help identify new opportunities and markets for competitive providers."

The advisory committee will consist of wireline and wireless companies, as well as technical experts, and be led by a neutral technical advisor.
OPEN INTERNET COALITION 
COMPTEL Joins New Open Internet Alliance
On October 9, a new D.C.-based coalition, the Internet Freedom Business Alliance (IFBA) was launched to advocate for open Internet that serves the needs of citizens and small businesses around the country. Founding and steering committee members of IFBA include COMPTEL, National Association of Realtors, Tumblr and Etsy.

The alliance will push for a solution that allows the FCC to take the most legally sound and simplest path to ensure Internet access to Americans. IFBA will also actively engage and educate members
of Congress to underscore how only a free market approach will enable entrepreneurs to continue to thrive and help the U.S. economy grow.

"As the leading association of competitive communications service providers, we know firsthand that solid open Internet protections will promote, not hinder, broadband investment and innovation," said COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering. "Internet openness enables a self-reinforcing cycle of investment and innovation - and we're ready to take this message to bipartisan policymakers with our new alliance of conservatives, Main Street, small businesses and technology companies."

For more information about the IFBA or to see the full list of founding members, click here.
AT THE FCC 
FCC Debuts Portal for Submitting Special Access Data
On October 1, the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau activated a secure web portal interface for the electronic filing of information and certifications in response to the special access data collection. To assist companies that will be submitting data, the Bureau released a guidebook with step-by-step instructions on how to use the web portal. The FCC also adopted a protective order governing the process for designating, submitting and accessing confidential and highly confidential information and data submitted in the special access data collection proceed.

Commissioner O'Rielly Renominated to FCC
Commissioner O'Rielly
Last week, President Barack Obama nominated Republican FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly to a full, five-year term on the FCC. O'Rielly, a former Senate staffer, initially joined the FCC to finish out the term of Commissioner Robert McDowell, who left a little less than a year before his term expired.

"COMPTEL congratulates Commissioner O'Rielly on his nomination for a full term at the FCC," said COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering. "We look forward to continuing to work with Commissioner O'Rielly on the many policy issues currently under consideration at the Commission to ensure that consumers and businesses across the country can reap the benefits of a competitive marketplace."

FCC Announces Agenda for October 17 Open Meeting
The following items will tentatively be on the agenda for the October open meeting of the FCC: 
  • Spectrum Frontiers NOI
  • Aggregate Interference and Inter-Service Interference Second Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
  • Digital Low Power Television Third NPRM and Suspension Public Notice 
  • 911 Outage Presentation
For more details on these items, visit the FCC website.  The Open Meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 17 at 10:30 a.m. in Room TW-C305 in FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. The meeting will be shown live at FCC.gov/live.
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.

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

October 28      Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting 
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy
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