Just announced - GTT President and CEO Richard "Rick" D. Calder, Jr. will deliver the Monday keynote address at The INCOMPAS Show (October 23-25 at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas).

Calder has more than two decades of experience in the telecom arena and is the recipient of numerous awards, including a gold Golden Bridge� Award for Executive of the Year - Telecommunications, Gold Stevie� for Executive of the Year in the telecommunications category and EY Entrepreneur of The Year 2016 Mid-Atlantic.

When he joined GTT in 2007, the company was an unprofitable business with $50 million in revenues. Calder quickly led the company to profitability, growing revenue ten-fold and moving GTT to the NYSE Big Board in 2014. He has successfully integrated 24 companies into GTT, with each acquisition bringing added infrastructure, services and talented employees. Today, GTT has evolved into a global communications provider that delivers WAN services, Internet, managed services, voice and unified communications services to large multinational clients. GTT also owns and operates a top-five IP network that spans more than 250 POPs globally and serves more than 5,000 clients across diverse verticals.

Previously Calder held executive roles at InPhonic Inc., Broadwing Communications, Winstar Communications, GO Communications, MCI Communications and Tellabs, Inc.

Calder's keynote will take place Monday, October 24 at 9 a.m. at The Hub in the exhibit hall.

Register today to attend The INCOMPAS Show and you also can take advantage of multiple daily networking events and the new Buyers Forum. Check out the full schedule on The INCOMPAS Show website and start planning today.

FCC Chairman to Introduce

Order Unlocking Set-Top Box

Last week, in an op-ed in The Los Angeles Times, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler announced that he would be proposing rules to unlock the set-top box. The Chairman then released a fact sheet that further explained how the proposed final rules will allow consumers to access their pay-TV content via free apps on a variety of devices so they no longer have to pay monthly rental fees, enable integrated search, and protect content and privacy. The proposal follows the recommendations of the Consumer Video Choice Coalition, which proposed competition and innovation principals designed to unlock the box.

An order on set-top box reform is expected to be included in the agenda for the Commission's September 29 Open Meeting (see story below).

INCOMPAS Praises Action

INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering praised the Chairman's action in a statement: "Unlocking the set-top box is a win for competition, consumers and innovators. Competition is the law, and we commend Chairman Wheeler and the FCC for standing up for consumers who want lower prices, more choice, and the freedom to discover new and exciting content streaming online.

"The FCC has made the critical key choice for an open, not closed, future. By presenting a balanced approach, which takes input from all sides of the debate, the FCC has come down on the side of the consumer, and the innovators of the future."

Pickering also was quoted in several stories on the topic, including those by Wired, CNBC and CNN Money.

Pickering Calls Competition
"Gold Medal Investment Policy"

INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering said that "competition is gold medal investment policy" in a recent op-ed in The Hill. The op-ed noted that "[w]hile at the Olympics, competition is everywhere, but for business data services it's virtually non-existent. The FCC just conducted the most comprehensive data collection in its history, and the data shows overwhelmingly that purchasers of business data services lack real choice - 77 percent of commercial locations have only one provider and 22 percent have only two providers."

To read the full op-ed, visit The Hill.

INCOMPAS's Kronenberg Joins Panel to Discuss BDS Market

On September 9, INCOMPAS Chief Advocate and General Counsel Angie Kronenberg (second from right) joined Steven Berry (Competitive Carriers Association), Matt Wood (Free Press), John Windhausen (Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition) and Colleen Boothby (Ad Hoc Telecommunications Users Committee) for a panel discussion examining the need for FCC action in reforming the business data services (BDS) marketplace. The panel, hosted by the Open Technology Institute at New America, and moderated by Michael Calabrese (far right), director of the group's Wireless Future Project.

The event also featured presentation of a new study by Dr. Raul Katz, a telecom expert from Telecom Advisory Services LLC, that examines how the current BDS marketplace harms innovation and competition among competitive wireless providers, ultimately putting consumers at a disadvantage and hindering 5G deployment.

FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for September 29 Meeting

The FCC announced the tentative agenda for its September 29 Open Meeting. In addition to the item for expanding consumer choice by unlocking the set-top box, the Commission will address:

Improving Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) - The Commission will consider a Report and Order and FNPRM that would leverage advancements in technology to improve wireless emergency alert content, delivery and testing, while seeking comment on further measures to ensure effective alerts.
Review of Foreign Ownership Policies - The Commission will consider a Report and Order that extends to broadcast licensees the same streamlined rules and procedures that common carrier wireless licensees use to seek approval for foreign ownership, with appropriate broadcast-specific modifications. The item also establishes a framework for a publicly traded common carrier or broadcast licensee or controlling U.S. parent to ascertain its foreign ownership levels.
Independent Programming - The Commission will consider a NPRM that proposes steps the Commission can take to promote the distribution of independent and diverse programming to consumers.

The meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at Commission headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Senate to Hold FCC Oversight Hearing on September 15

On September 15, the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee will hold a hearing: "Oversight of the FCC," during which it will raise issues about important policy questions the Commission will be considering this fall. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioners Mignon Cleburne, Michael O'reilly, Ajit Pai and Jessica Rosenworcel will testify.

For witness testimonies or to view the hearing live online, visit the Commerce Committee website.

UNITEL to Host Webinar on Cyber Security and Data Breach Risks

There are only two days left to register for a free webinar hosted by INCOMPAS partner UNITEL. Entitled "Cyber Security and Data Breach," the webinar will take place Wednesday, September 14 at 1 p.m. ET.

During this webinar, UNITEL will provide information about cyber issues facing the communications industry. Cyber security and data breaches are a significant problem, and only expected to evolve and become more complex over time. Speakers will discuss what types of claims are being made in the industry and share solutions to the potential exposures your company faces.

To attend this webinar, register here.