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Vol. 10, No. 48November 10, 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
TOP OF THE NEWS
SESSION PROPOSALS
COMPETITORS RECEPTION
AT THE FCC
HR SOLUTIONS
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
MEMBER NEWS









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

November 14

December 15

April 6

May 18
CAREER CENTER


Enventis seeks Electronics Technician


 

Walker and Associates seeks

 Regional Account Manager


 

SmartRG Applications Engineer

SOCIALIZE WITH COMPTEL

 

@COMPTEL 

@COMPTELPLUS 

                          

Diamond Rio publicity shot

 
TOP OF THE NEWS
President Obama Introduces Plan to Protect Open Internet, Urges Title II Reclassification for Broadband
President Obama's Statement on Keeping the Internet Open and Free
President Obama's Statement 
on Open Internet
Today, President Obama laid out his plan to protect the free and open Internet. He noted that "an open Internet is essential to the American economy, and increasingly to our very way of life. By lowering the cost of launching a new idea, igniting new political movements, and bringing communities closer together, it has been one of the most significant democratizing influences the world has ever known."

Specifically, the President noted that "the time has come for the FCC to recognize that broadband service is of the same importance and must carry the same obligations as so many of the other vital services do. To do that, I believe the FCC should reclassify consumer broadband service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act - while at the same time forbearing from rate regulation and other provisions less relevant to broadband services. This is a basic acknowledgment of the services ISPs provide to American homes and businesses, and the straightforward obligations necessary to ensure the network works for everyone - not just one or two companies."

President Obama said he believed the FCC should create a new set of rules to protect net neutrality and ensure that neither cable companies or phone companies are able to act as gatekeepers, restricting what anyone can do or see online. He proposed "simple, common-sense steps" for the FCC to consider as they approach the net neutrality debate:
  • No blocking. If a consumer requests access to a website or service, and the content is legal, an ISP should not be permitted to block it.
  • No throttling. Nor should ISPs be able to intentionally slow down some content or speed up other content based on the type of service or an ISP's preferences.
  • Increased transparency. The connection between consumers and ISPs - the so-called "last mile" - is not the only place some sites might get special treatment. The FCC should make full use of the transparency authorities the court recently upheld, and if necessary apply net neutrality rules to points of interconnection between the ISP and the rest of the Internet.
  • No paid prioritization. No service should be stuck in a "slow lane" because it does not pay a fee. That kind of gatekeeping would undermine the level playing field essential to the Internet's growth. There should be an explicit ban on paid prioritization and any other restriction that has a similar effect.

Hear more about President Obama's plan in a video and read a statement posted on the White House website.

 

COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering commented on the proposal: "COMPTEL commends the President for his leadership on the need for strong, enforceable rules to protect the free and open Internet - rules that will prohibit Internet service providers from blocking access to or throttling content from websites that American consumers want to reach, and preserving interconnection norms and practices without tolls or other barriers to entry. This is the best means to safeguard competition and consumer choice over the Internet. We look forward to working with the FCC, stakeholders, the Administration and Congress to expeditiously develop and adopt legally sustainable rules."

SESSION PROPOSALS
COMPTEL Now Accepting Spring 2015 Session Proposals 
What new strategies are driving your company and the industry?Are there innovative technologies your company is deploying to boost profits, improve service and meet customer demand? How is the evolving market impacting your business?  COMPTEL is seeking your insights into these issues and more, as we prepare for the COMPTEL PLUS Business EXPO 2015, which is taking place April 12-15 in Orlando.

We're looking for session proposals that encourage interactive discussions about current and future trends, and allow for an exchange of ideas to propel the industry forward. The topics in which we are interested include, but are not limited to:
  • Cloud Services
  • Data Centers
  • Ethernet
  • Municipal Investment in Fiber Networks
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Next-Generation Networks
  • Open Internet
  • SDN/NFV
  • Security/Privacy
  • Revenue Opportunities in the Over-the-Top (OTT) Market and Services
  • Telemedicine 
  • Voice over LTE
  • Wireless Backhaul 

Session proposals must be submitted by Friday, December 5, 2014

Please note that sales pitches and promotion of specific products will not be considered. Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.

If you have questions, please email Tracy MacDonald or call 202-296-6650.
RECEPTION
COMPTEL Invites You to November 15 
Competitors' Reception in San Francisco
NARUC is holding its Annual Meeting November 16-19, 2014, in San Francisco. COMPTEL invites you to join us at the Competitors' Reception on Saturday, November 15, at the San Francisco Marriott. Please note that the Competitors' Reception is not sponsored by NARUC, nor is it a part of the Annual Meeting agenda.

AT THE FCC 
FCC Extends CenturyLink Forbearance Date
Last week, the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau issued an Order that extends the date on which the petition seeking forbearance filed by CenturyLink shall be deemed granted, in the absence of a Commission denial of the petition. The new date is March 13, 2015. This petition relates to CenturyLink's request to be exempt from dominant carrier and certain Computer Inquiry regulations on certain enterprise broadband services.
HR SOLUTIONS
UNITEL Delivers HR Solutions for COMPTEL Members
When you need answers to tough human resource questions, who can you trust? Your attorney? Colleagues? The web? These options either cost too much or leave you with incomplete answers in a constantly changing environment.

COMPTEL members can now get the HR information they need, when they need it, through UNITEL HR Solutions, a revolutionary HR advisory service offered by UNITEL Insurance. This enhanced benefit of membership will help association members navigate the constantly changing health care environment, including new Affordable Care Act requirements, as well as hundreds of complex employment law issues that businesses face with regard 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
  • HR Library
  • HR Training

The UNITEL HR Solutions offering is already delivering benefits to several COMPTEL member companies. "UNITEL HR Solutions has been a valuable resource for us," said Deb Ward, CEO of TSI and COMPTEL's chairwoman. "We have been very impressed with the professionalism and expertise their certified professionals have displayed. This is an exceptional service that can help companies stay compliant, and save time and money, by having HR support available when they need it. I highly recommend you check out UNITEL HR Solutions."


For more information, visit the COMPTEL website, email Carl Zeutzius or call 800-755-0048, ext. 7275.
 

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.

November 18    Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy

November 25   Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting 
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy
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