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Vol. 11, No. 11March 16, 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
OPEN INTERNET
COMPTEL PLUS
RURAL CALL COMPLETION
ON THE HILL
WEBINAR PROGRAM
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
JUST ADDDED!

COMPTEL PLUS GENERAL SESSION FEATURING 
SEN. BILL NELSON

Monday, April 13
9:15 -10:15 a.m.
 Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, Ranking Democrat on Senate Committee on  Commerce, 
Science and Transportation, will join COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering for a general session focusing on key telecommunications issues on Capitol Hill.

Other COMPTEL PLUS keynote addresses include: 

Monday, April 13
10:30 a.m.
Milo Medin
Vice President, 
Access Services
Google, Inc.

Tuesday, April 14
2:30 p.m.
Marcelo Claure
President & CEO
Sprint

For more information, visit the 
MEMBER NEWS










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

April 6


May 18
SOCIALIZE WITH COMPTEL

 

@COMPTEL 

@COMPTELPLUS 

                          

Diamond Rio publicity shot

 
TOP OF THE NEWS
FCC Releases Text of Open Internet Order 

On March 12, the FCC released the full text of its Open Internet Order. To read COMPTEL's statement about the order, visit the association's website.

 

The same day, COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering published a blog on Medium entitled Conservative Precedent, Bipartisan History:The FCC and Future Forward Internet Policy. The blog discussed how the Commission is building from the foundation of the sustainable rules set forth in the 1996 Telecom Act, to follow the light touch approach that has unleashed innovation, investment and job growth. 

 

The blog examined the bipartisan history and precedents from past court decisions that resulted in the Commission's current approach in the Open Internet Order, and why interconnection is the first amendment of the Open Internet. The blog also points a more detailed analysis of the Open Internet and bipartisan support during the past decade, in a white paper, "Historical Perspective - Reclassification is the Best Solution," released by COMPTEL last week.

COMPTEL PLUS
XO CEO Chris Ancell to Headline CEO Breakfast 
XO CEO Chris Ancell
Chris Ancell, CEO of XO Communications, will be the featured speaker at the CEO Breakfast during the COMPTEL PLUS Business Expo 2015, which takes place April 12-15 in Orlando. Ancell will join COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering for an interactive Q&A session that will range from XO's business model and growth, to investment, market trends and public policy issues impacting the industry.

The CEO Breakfast is an exclusive, invitation-only event scheduled for Monday, April 13, from 7 a.m. to 8 :15 a.m. at the Gaylord Palms.

"Competition is the key ingredient to building networks of the future. The COMPTEL show brings together the broadband industry's leading voices, and provides a launching pad for new opportunities and new ideas," Ancell said in a press release. "I look forward to joining other industry executives at the CEO Breakfast, sharing our experience in building networks and discussing the many issues facing our industry today."

CEO Breakfast attendees also will have time to network with other top executives of COMPTEL member companies at the breakfast and throughout the convention. For more information about the breakfast, please email Tracy MacDonald or 202-296-6650.


Deadlines Approaching for Hotel Reservations 
and Discounted Registration Rates
This week marks two important deadlines for the COMPTEL PLUS Business EXPO 2015.
  • Tuesday, March 17 - To guarantee a room at our host hotel, the Gaylord Palms, you must make your reservation. Please note that our room block, and COMPTEL PLUS rate, are available for registered attendees only, so make sure your register for the show too.
  • Friday, March 20 - This is the last day to take advantage of discounted registration rates for COMPTEL PLUS. After this date, you'll have to pay the full rate. 

COMPTEL Thanks Spring 2015 Sponsors and Exhibitors
COMPTEL would like to thank the many companies that are generously sponsoring the COMPTEL PLUS Business Expo 2015 and exhibiting in the trade show.

Some select sponsorships and booth spaces still remain. If you're interested in sponsoring, email Amy Smith. To exhibit, email Kevin Morris. You also can call 202-296-6650 for more information.
RURAL CALL COMPLETION
COMPTEL Members Invited to Attend 
April 22 Rural Call Completion Workshop
Attendees Must Register by March 31

COMPTEL members are encouraged to attend a Rural Call Completion Industry Workshop, hosted by Verizon, on Wednesday, April 22 from Noon to 5 p.m., at 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor in Washington, D.C.

During the workshop, there will be panels on the technical causes of rural call completion issues, and strategies and best practices to prevent, identify and resolve rural call completion problems.

To attend the workshop, you must register by Tuesday, March 31.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSITIONS
COMPTEL Files Tech Transitions Reply Comments 
Last week, COMPTEL filed reply comments in the FCC's technology transitions proceeding, noting that it "should go without saying that the technology transitions should not just be about cost efficiencies for providers but, rather, should result in improved (or at least as good) quality of service to consumers - retail and wholesale, residential, businesses of all sizes, government entities and non-profits. It certainly should not result in consumers' loss of important - sometimes life altering - functionalities of their service or services necessary for the operation and/or growth of a business. Such an outcome would be a step backward not progress."

COMPTEL again stressed that "robust retail competition currently exists in the business and wireless markets as a result of existing wholesale access policies. In order to maintain the more robust retail competition in these markets, which enable business and wireless consumers to get the services they need without as much Commission oversight of retail products, the Commission needs to take action to ensure the continued availability of viable wholesale input access services and facilities used to provision retail services as proposed by the Commission, COMPTEL and other commenters."
ON THE HILL
Hearing Scheduled This Week on Capitol Hill 
Several Congressional hearings centered on the Federal Communications Commission are scheduled this week:
WEBINAR PROGRAM
Last Chance to Register for March 17 UNITEL Webinar  
Today is the last chance to sign up for tomorrow's free webinar on the outsourced HR advisory service offered by COMPTEL partner UNITEL Insurance.
 
Learn more about UNITEL HR Solutions during a FREE, live webinar on March 17 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. 
 
During the webinar, UNITEL account executive Carl Zeutzius will explain how this unique HR service can help you save money and reduce the overall risk related to managing people and safety within your company. 
 
To register, click here.
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.

March 17          Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy

March 24         Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting 
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy
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