Live from NXTcomm08 June 17th, 2008

A stroll around the two floors of exhibits here at the Las Vegas Convention Center is enough for anyone to see that this is certainly a vibrant and dynamic time for the telecom and broadband industries. Four areas on the floor caught my eye in particular: the IPTV/Content Studio, the Green Village, the Broadband Wireless World,and the BSS/OSS Corridor. For more on some of the very cool exhbits and events in these areas, click here. If you’re here in Vegas, be sure to check them out. (And also stop by the USTelecom/NextGenWeb booth!) But if you couldn’t make it to NXTcomm this year, don’t despair: you can follow the reporting at Telephony Online, and you can get daily updates plus see some keynote speeches live online at www.nxtcommshow.com.

USTelecom Updates New York State Telephone Association on Developments in DC June 6th, 2008

Earlier this week, I joined the New York State Telephone Association at its annual convention to provide an update on issues of interest to telecommunications carriers that are currently in play in Washington, DC, specifically issues that are under consideration in Congress and before the FCC. Of particular focus were USTelecom’s efforts on such vital policies as universal service reform, intercarrier compensation, net regulation, and broadband deployment.  I also presented information about USTelecom’s work on behalf of the industry regarding pole attachment rate parity, inter-modal local number porting, and implementation of the FCC’s post-Katrina order on emergency power requirements. Part of the goal of my presentation was to provide the attendees with some useful context on the issues, so I also discussed background on recent FCC decisions, and the status of ongoing Congressional efforts.

NextGenWeb and USTelecom Show County Officials the Power of Broadband June 6th, 2008

On Tuesday, NextGenWeb hosted a briefing dinner in Washington, DC for roughly 30 county officials from across the country that are part of the Large Urban County Caucus of the National Association of Counties. I had the pleasure of presenting an overview of the NextGenWeb site and bringing to the audience’s attention a variety of state-based initiatives to increase access to broadband throughout the country. Of course we all know about the many benefits of broadband, such as a cleaner environment and the ability to make health care more accessible and affordable, especially in rural areas, so it was a pleasure to be able to share with county officials the work that NextGenWeb and USTelecom are doing to provide information about broadband’s potential to policymakers, industry insiders, and the general public.

Carriers Small and Large Discuss Strategies for Success June 6th, 2008

On Tuesday, I moderated a panel discussion at the Global Telecommunications Meeting, sponsored by Intelsat. The panel was entitled “Modern Telecom Carriers: Success Amidst the Turmoil,” and it focused on broadband connectivity and advanced services. The speakers ranged from among the most advanced communications companies in the world–Verizon and KT of Korea–to Microcom, a small carrier providing service in the jungles of the Congo via Wi-Max, and OPT, which provides voice, data, and video services in French Polynesia. These service providers discussed their strategies for success in the highly competitive telecommunications marketplace of today and tomorrow.

I kicked off the panel with a short presentation on the range of technologies available today and the market forces that present challenges and opportunities to service providers. I also presented slides reminding the audience of the evolution of communications network from the traditional voice PSTN to the voice/data/video IP-environment of today and the potential for the next-generation network that is just around the corner that will provide ubiquitous broadband connectivity across any platform, connecting the enterprise and consumer to any device, anywhere in the world.

The panelists included Maui Sanford, director of fixed telephone services for OPT; Bobbi Phillips, director of product strategy at Verizon; Kwon, Yeong Mo, assistant vice president for international and satellite telecommunications at KT; and Laurent Ntumba, CTO of MicroCom.

Walter McCormick’s Media Institute Address Now Online May 16th, 2008

In case you missed our live stream of Walter McCormick’s speech at Wednesday’s Media Institute luncheon, be sure to check it out here on our site:

Walter McCormick to Address Media Institute Luncheon Today May 14th, 2008

At 1:15pm today, USTelecom President and CEO Walter B. McCormick Jr. will speak before an audience of journalists and communications executives as part of the Media Institute’s luncheon series. The Media Institute is a DC-area research foundation that specializes in communications policy. Although the luncheon is by invite only, we’ll be streaming video of the event on our website here.

Walter’s speech will touch on a range of broadband issues, including the innovative new uses for broadband for everything from enhancing our democratic process to economic stimulation to new choices in entertainment. He’ll also cover the pivotal role of private investment in keeping our communications networks strong, competitive, and efficient; the biggest threat to that investment, of course, is regulation of the Internet, another subject we expect Walter to touch on during the speech.

Be sure to tune in here at USTelecom.org to see the whole thing.

Broadband Meets Broadcasting at NAB/Telecom2008 April 16th, 2008

As we previously mentioned, yesterday USTelecom’s Walter McCormick delivered a keynote address at the Telecom2008 Conference going on now as part of the NAB Show in Las Vegas.  In discussing the state of broadband in the United States, McCormick called for sensible, clear broadband policies at every level of government to ensure that broadband companies can continue to offer “this vital infrastructure toward all Americans so no community is left behind.”

McCormick also made a very interesting point about the nature of America’s broadband infrastructure:

“[U]nlike virtually every other industrialized nation today, these primary arteries of our modern economy - the bridges, ports and highways of our increasingly digital nation - are being built not through massive taxpayer-financed public works projects, but through sensible policies that have unleashed vigorous private investment from diverse competitors.”

Just after McCormick’s address, USTelecom Executive Vice President Regina Hopper moderated a panel discussion on how leading broadband providers are bringing the broadband revolution to television, news and entertainment.  The panel featured Dan York, Executive Vice President, Programming for AT&T, and Terry Denson, Vice President-Content Strategy and Acquisition for Verizon talking about their new, innovative fiber offerings, what they mean for the broadcasting community, and what the future may hold for consumers in a broadband world.  The panel got great write-ups at both Telephony online and xchange Magazine online.  Be sure to check them out.

USTelecom Vidcast: Regina Hopper Discusses Telecom2008 April 9th, 2008

Last week, we mentioned that USTelecom President and CEO Walter McCormick and Executive Vice President Regina Hopper will be appearing at the Telecom2008 Conference, which will be taking place next week at the National Association of Broadcasters’ Annual Show in Las Vegas. I recently sat down with Regina to talk about USTelecom’s involvement in the conference and about the exciting new convergence between broadband and broadcasting.

Save the Date for NXTcomm08! April 4th, 2008

Planning for NXTcomm08 is well underway, and the show has already announced a few keynote speakers for the event including AT&T Chairman & CEO Randall L. Stephenson, Verizon President and COO Denny Strigl, and Mark Burnett, the creator of a reality TV empire that includes Survivor. For more information and to register for the event, be sure to visit the NXTcomm site.  And keep checking back on the USTelecom blog for more announcements about the speakers, presentations, and exhibits you’ll find at NXTcomm!

USTelecom’s McCormick and Hopper to Address Telecom2008 at the NAB Show April 2nd, 2008

USTelecom President and CEO Walter B. McCormick and Executive Vice President Regina Hopper will address the Telecom2008 Conference at the annual National Association of Broadcasters Show in Las Vegas on April 14. McCormick will deliver a keynote address on the state of U.S. broadband and consumers’ entertainment experience and Hopper will moderate a session on the future of television, news and entertainment in the new world of broadband. The panel will also feature Dan York, executive vice president for programming at AT&T, and Terry Denson, vice president of programming and marketing for Verizon’s FiOS division. The panel will cover a range of issues on broadcasting and broadband, including business models, new technologies, consumer expectations, and more.

This is a very exciting opportunity, and it demonstrates just how much our industry has changed in the last five years. Consider it: five years ago, representatives from the telecom and broadcast industries may have had little to talk about if they found themselves in the same room, but with telecom companies and broadband providers offering an ever-wider array of services the future of entertainment and the future of broadband are inextricably linked. We’re very happy to be joining the discussion on how next generation networks can help deliver next generation entertainment products.

Be on the lookout on the USTelecom website next week for a vidcast discussion with Regina Hopper about the upcoming NAB show.