FCC Commissioners to Speak at Telecom '04

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- Three leading voices from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the director of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will address industry leaders gathered at Telecom '04, the United States Telecom Association (USTA) annual conference and exhibition, to be held in Oct. 9-13 at the Venetian Hotel and Convention Center in Las Vegas.

FCC Commissioners Kathleen Abernathy, Jonathan Adelstein and Kevin Martin and NTIA Assistant Secretary of Commerce Michael Gallagher will appear together on a panel hosted by USTA President and CEO Walter B. McCormick Jr. The officials will discuss issues that are rapidly transforming the nation's telecommunications industry, including how to treat emerging technologies and how to preserve universal service.

"These officials have their fingers on the pulse of the nation's telecom industry and play a tremendous role in setting a framework for this highly competitive sector," McCormick said.

Abernathy, Adelstein, Martin and Gallagher join a line-up of industry and government leaders speaking at Telecom '04, including Verizon Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, Alltel President and CEO Scott Ford, Western Wireless CEO John Stanton, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency George Tenet and former Michigan Gov. John Engler, president-elect of the National Association of Manufacturers.

"In a year that saw the nation's largest telecom company launch a large-scale rollout of fiber-to-the-premises, partner with DirecTV to add video services to its lineup and continue to build on the tremendous success of Verizon Wireless, Seidenberg's address will be one of the biggest draws for telecom insiders," McCormick said. "Ivan Seidenberg's tremendous vision for the future of communications and his remarkable leadership has positioned Verizon as one of the brightest lights in our industry."

For more information, visit: www.ustelecom04.com