Event will unite hundreds of industry innovators leading the delivery of advanced communications services in rural America

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel will address hundreds of community-based telecommunications providers and innovators in the delivery of advanced communications services during the first ever Rural Telecom Industry Meeting & EXPO next month at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

An advocate for universal service who believes strong communications markets can foster economic growth and security, Rosenworcel brings a decade and a half of public and private sector communications law experience to her position at the FCC. Before being sworn into office in May 2012, Rosenworcel served as senior communications counsel for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, where she helped develop policies involving spectrum auctions, public safety, broadband deployment and adoption, and universal service.

Rosenworcel's address during the opening general session on February 4 will mark her first appearance before rural telecommunications leaders at a first-of-its-kind industry event sponsored by the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) and the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO). The joint meeting also features educational tracks designed specifically for telco managers, their employees and boards of directors, exploring topics such as global technology and consumer behavioral changes, customer-facing mobile apps, network security, cloud services, smart home applications and federal policies impacting rural telecom. The expo will showcase new and innovative telecommunications products and services designed to help rural providers continue delivering affordable, advanced communications services and move their businesses into the future.

Registration for the Rural Telecom Industry Meeting & EXPO is complimentary for members of the press and includes access to all general sessions, seminars and the expo hall. To register, contact Laura Withers, NTCA communications manager, at lwithers@ntca.org. For additional information about the conference sessions and schedule, visit www.ruraltelecommeeting.com.

The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association is the premier association representing more than 580 locally owned and controlled telecommunications cooperatives and commercial companies throughout rural and small-town America.  NTCA provides its members with legislative, regulatory and industry representation; meetings; publications and educational programs; and an array of employee benefit programs. Visit us at www.ntca.org.

The Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO) is the leading voice for rural telecommunications, representing approximately 420 small incumbent local exchange carriers serving rural areas of the United States. Its members include both commercial companies and cooperatives, which collectively serve more than 3 million customers. OPASTCO represents rural telecommunications interests before federal regulatory bodies and Congress, provides publications, and holds two conventions annually in January and July of each year, addressing the needs of the small telecommunications industry. The association has an affiliate 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED). Visit us at www.opastco.org.

Contact:
Laura Withers, NTCA, 703-351-2086, lwithers@ntca.org
Martha Silver, OPASTCO, 202-659-0828, mks@opastco.org

SOURCE National Telecommunications Cooperative Association