TIA | PulseOnline October 2000, Letter from the President: TIA Board of Directors Meets to Discuss New Directions, Elects Two New Board Members and Accepts 90 New Member Companies

TIA | Press |

Past Issues | Current Issue

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)

October 2000

Volume 2, Issue 1

Subscribe FREE!

Letter from the President

Global Policy
Broadband
Trade Issues
Wireless

Shows & Events
SUPERnet 2001
PT SUPERCOMM ASIA

Market Development
Market Analysis
Country Analysis

Industry Trends
Technology

Standards Update
GSC/RAST
TR-34

Reports from TIA Offices
Europe
Latin America
Russia & NIS

Member Highlights
Spotlight Interview
New TIA Members

Special Programs
Small Company Focus

Calendar of Events

Available NOW. Order now and save $250 using code 6BPU.

Letter from the President

HOME | NEXT

TIA Board of Directors Meets to Discuss New Directions, Elects Two New Board Members and Accepts 90 New Member Companies

Matthew Flanigan

TIA's Board of Directors met mid-August in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to discuss four new areas of possible association emphasis -- broadband deployment, the Internet and e-commerce, optical networking and venture capital financing. The board also welcomed two new board members, Bill Bridgwater and William Plummer, and 90 new member companies.

Members of the board and TIA staff are dedicating time and effort to finding ways the association can position itself for the future and assist member companies by providing additional value-added services in the four vital areas. Resulting study during the coming months may well lead to new emphasis for staff and committees, as well as a partial reorganization to leverage TIA's strengths for the future.

Broadband

The Internet's dramatic impact on the world is driving the demand for increased broadband. Businesses and consumers anxiously look forward to the day when they can easily access exciting, robust applications via the Internet -- where WWW doesn't stand for "world wide wait." Clearly, the association has a role to play; TIA members are the companies making broadband happen, and TIA should become the leader of, and the cheerleader for, the industry. Through its current activities, the association already works hard to lobby policymakers for broadband deployment to all Americans, assists companies in finding market opportunities and more. GetCommStuff.com, the association's business-to-business Web portal, serves as a market-oriented site for broadband products, information, news and opportunities. And TIA is continuing to research its broadband focus to see how it can add the most value for member companies.

Internet and E-Commerce

Without a doubt, the Internet and e-commerce are two related areas that have seen tremendous growth and will continue to be a driving factor for the communications industry, affecting all businesses. Within this area, TIA's role includes 1) provision of an electronic commerce-enabled marketplace such as GetCommStuff.com, as well as TIA itself becoming an "e-commerce organization;" and 2) organizing itself in a way that can attract and benefit next-generation technology and network companies.

Optical Networking

The market for optical networking is experiencing explosive growth. TIA is exploring the potential for further activities in this field, first by identifying and examining the technologies defining the optical networking space. TIA will serve as a source of information to members on the component technologies and any current developments in this area. Furthermore, additional leading industry entities will be identified for possible recruitment into the association's membership and/or for trade show participation. Here, too, GetCommStuff.com will play a role in bringing the relevant players together via its e-commerce platform and disseminating news and information.

Financing and Venture Capital

As part of its initiative to proactively position itself for the future, TIA is researching potential ways to assist members in obtaining venture capital and alternative financing sources. TIA intends to achieve this objective through program development in three areas: serving as a primary source of information for members; providing resources on various alternative financing sources such as government programs, leasing options, overseas assistance programs, startup and incubator organizations, and women- and minority-owned business programs; and creating networking opportunities between the venture capital firms and companies seeking capital.

Also during the August meeting, we were joined by two new board members. Bill Bridgwater, president of the Americas, Marconi Communications, oversees worldwide sales, field marketing and overall operations of the company. Prior to his current role, he held several high-profile positions at SBC, U S WEST, Pacific Bell and AT&T.

William B. Plummer, vice president of government and industry affairs, Nokia, is responsible for leading Nokia's interaction with the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and national and international industry associations on telecommunications and information technology policy, legislative and regulatory issues of interest to his company. He also oversees Nokia's North American standards activities. Before joining Nokia, Mr. Plummer served as a career officer in the U.S. Foreign Service.

Please join me in welcoming both of our new board members and our 90 new member companies, ranging from ADVA Optical Networking to ZTE San Diego, which brings total TIA/MMTA membership to more than 1000. I'd also like to thank all involved for their participation in this successful and highly productive meeting. The next board of directors meeting will be held October 30 in New Orleans.

October 2000

HOME | NEXT

Subscribe FREE! | Feedback | Privacy | Sponsor