CCA’s Mobile Carriers Show Features FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, Congressman Mike Doyle, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Wireless Executives Discuss the Digital Divide, 5G, Spectrum, Network Security, and Open RAN
Washington, D.C. – March 31, 2021 – This week, CCA’s 2021 Mobile Carriers Show brought together FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) along with executives from Ericsson, Interop Technologies, Ligado, Mavenir, Nokia, and TNS to address policy issues and technology innovation. CCA’s Mobile Carriers Show took place online March 30-31. Content may be viewed on-demand until May 31*.
CCA President & CEO Steven K. Berry hosted FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr in a fireside chat to discuss spectrum, the Universal Service Fund, mapping, Open RAN, and supply chain issues. Commissioner Carr noted the unprecedented acceleration of infrastructure builds over the last couple of years to help close the digital divide and commended CCA members’ hard work, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure their customers can connect. “The key is how we keep this success story going, and spectrum is going to be a very important piece of that,” he said. He also emphasized the importance of making spectrum available in a timely manner, noting several efforts by the FCC to achieve this goal.
Regarding Universal Service, Commissioner Carr emphasized the importance of updating the broadband data coverage maps as soon as possible. Completing the mapping process quickly, Carr stated, “will be the key to unlocking the funding” needed to ensure that areas in need have access to essential broadband services.
In her keynote, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, focused on the importance of bridging the digital divide and bringing 5G to all Americans. She thanked carriers for stepping up during the pandemic to ensure the economy, educational institutions, and healthcare systems continued to run. “Clearing unnecessary and duplicative regulatory hurdles is critical to bridging the digital divide and ensuring that rural Americans receives access to 5G,” she said. She expressed hope that Congress will have a conversation regarding the importance of reliable connectivity and looks forward to working with CCA to promote continue deployment and innovation.
Congressman Doyle, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, said that infrastructure is a high priority for Congress and the Administration, and he hopes to see substantial infrastructure legislation move this year. He recognized the hard work of CCA members to deploy 5G services and emphasized the need to address inequities and create pathways for all Americans to get access to high-speed broadband services.
“Carriers are doing the critical work of keeping our country going, and I hope we can leverage federal resources that change the narrative when it comes to broadband as we work to get every American connected,” said Congressman Doyle. “For mobile carriers that means getting access to spectrum, and we hope to put sufficient mid-band spectrum in play for robust deployment throughout the U.S.”
“I thank Commissioner Carr, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, Congressman Doyle, and our outstanding keynote speakers for sharing their insights, experiences from the past year, and thoughts about the future,” said Steven K. Berry, CEO and president of CCA. “The pandemic has truly emphasized the importance of mobile broadband services, especially for rural areas, and it is no doubt the combination of sound policy work and innovative business solutions will continue to drive the mobile broadband industry forward and help achieve the important goal of closing the digital divide.”
Keynote Program
Highlights of CCA’s Mobile Carriers Show keynote program include:
- FierceWireless Keynote Panel, New Frontiers for 5G, sponsored by T-Mobile. Panelists discussed the untapped potential of 5G, the status of 5G rollout across the country, deployment in rural areas, and the challenges carriers face with infrastructure and pandemic-related issues.
- Anand Akundi, VP wireless sales, Ericsson North America Regional Carriers Customer Unit; Network Monetization
- Interop Technologies’ Michael Slamka, director, customer relations; Messaging Network Optimization: How to Gain Efficiency and Remove Risks
- Ligado’s Scott Wiener, chief marketing & strategy officer and Mike Dano, editorial director, 5G & Mobile Strategies, Light Reading, examined how licensed and unlicensed spectrum can be used in mobile private networks for enterprises and critical infrastructure.
- Mavenir’s John Baker, SVP, business development; OpenRAN: Mature and Ready for Deployment
- Nokia’s Charles Marsh, SVP, US majors; New Normal. New Possible.
- Mike Keegan, CEO, TNS and Steven K. Berry discussed VoLTE deployment and robocalls.
*Only attendees who are registered by March 31, 2021 at 4:00PM ET can view the on-demand content.
About CCA
CCA is the leading association for competitive wireless providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions of customers, as well as vendors and suppliers that provide products and services throughout the wireless communications ecosystem. CCA’s 2021 Annual Convention will take place September 20-22 in Phoenix, Arizona. Visit http://www.ccamobile.org/
