Wireless

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks to Keynote CCA’s 2019 Annual Convention

Competitive Carriers Association’s (CCA) 2019 Annual Convention is heading to New England next month and features an impressive line-up of speakers, including FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks.  Commissioner Starks will headline the show, delivering keynote remarks on key policies before the FCC that affect the competitive mobile ecosystem.  Industry thought-leaders and session panels will delve into business strategies, policy initiatives, new spectrum opportunities and technology innovations, particularly regarding 5G, that are key for the competitive mobile ecosystem.  The show takes place at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, September 16-18, 2019. 

Next-generation 5G services promise to unleash new consumer potential as innovators leverage improvements in speed, capacity, and latency, and 5G promises to be a focus of many technical and business development panels at the show.  The keynote program will feature leading industry experts in one-on-one fireside chat discussions on a variety of topics.  Speakers and topics include Mike Keegan, CEO of TNS – “Restoring Trust in Voice;” Dr. Tod Sizer, VP of Smart Optical Fabric and Device Research of Nokia Bell Labs – “Societal Impact of Industrial IoT;” Josh Wigginton, VP of Product Management for Interop Technologies – “RCS: A Catalyst for Carrier Change;” and GS Sickand, VP and CTO, Regional Carriers, Ericsson – “Maximizing 4G/5G Coexistence.” 

The always-popular FierceWireless Executive Breakfast is returning to Providence and will kick-off the event on Tuesday, September 17 with a discussion entitled, “Don’t You 4G about Me: 5G’s Prospects in Rural America.”  Moderated by journalist Rob Pegoraro, the panel will focus on the hype around 5G and its city-centric focus on millimeter-wave deployments that promise the fastest connections at the lowest latency, but also will require the densest cell-site installation.  Speakers include John Hunter, Senior Director, Engineering & Technology Policy of T-Mobile; Craig Sparks, Chief Innovation Officer of C Spire; and Susan Welsh de Grimaldo, Director of Strategy Analytics.

Building upon its session at CCA’s Mobile Carriers Show this spring, Award Solutions will return to host a fresh industry update on recent 5G spectrum progress and will offer its 5G Integration Experience.  The 5G Integration Experience provides a tactile, engaging approach for anyone wishing to learn about 5G, and participants will get to construct network models of the key 5G building blocks, design networks for specific network deployment scenarios, and learn about anticipated challenges.  Mark Harms, Senior Consultant – Technology for Business, at Award Solutions, will lead these sessions. 

On Monday, September 16, CCA will get “revved up” for the show with a unique networking event, “Arrive and Drive: R1 Indoor Karting,” from 1:00pm – 5:00pm.  Participants can live their dreams of being a professional race car driver in a high voltage race cart on a state-of-the-art indoor track.  A private game room will have billiards and bowling for everyone to enjoy, along with food, drinks, and endless networking opportunities.

“I am delighted CCA’s 2019 Annual Convention will be in New England this year featuring some of the industry’s top policy and innovation leaders, including FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks,” said CCA President & CEO Steven K. Berry.  “I look forward hearing from Commissioner Starks on the FCC’s priorities, and the keynote discussions will cover a variety of interesting topics including RCS, 4G/5G Coexistence, Industrial IoT and Restoring Trust in Voice.  I also am pleased to welcome FierceWireless back to the show.  Fierce has been a long-time partner of CCA events, and I look forward to a lively discussion on the possibilities and challenges of 5G for rural areas.”

Berry continued, “The always-popular exhibit hall is filling up quickly, and as a new addition this year, will feature a Sales & Profit Pavilion co-sponsored by the Wireless Business Owners Consortium (WiBOC).  Exhibitors in the Pavilion will present products and services aimed at creating profitable, new income opportunities, and I encourage all attendees to check it out.”

In addition to R1 Indoor Karting, attendees will be able to enjoy a number of networking events, including Happy Hour on Monday, September 16 at the Omni Providence, CCA 2019’s host hotel.  The keynote luncheon and cocktail receptions in the exhibit hall provide ample opportunities for all registered attendees to catch up with old friends and make new industry contacts.  CCA’s 2019 Annual Convention is a must-attend industry event for carriers, vendors, and industry stakeholders.  Register now to secure your spot.

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