2006 Accomplishments
APT is proud to share with you the following highlights and successes of the past year:
On February 10th, 2006, APT held its annual Policy Forum and Susan G. Hadden Pioneer Awards Luncheon. The Policy Forum, which focused on IP video issues and their effect on telecom reform and consumer access, attracted a diverse crowd from industry, government, and consumer groups. At the Hadden Awards luncheon, APT honored David Eisner of the Corporation for National and Community Service, Debbie Goldman of the Communications Workers of America, and U.S. Congressman Major Owens. See Highlights from the 2006 Event
APT’s work in the policy arena often requires us to tackle complex and controversial topics. In an effort to clarify network neutrality for our members as well as members of Congress, APT released a comprehensive paper in June 2006 called The Network Neutrality Debate: Critical Issues that Should be Addressed by Congress. This helpful digest of one of the most complicated issues of the year is available free of charge. Read this paper
APT has also remained at the forefront of the Universal Service debate, and led a working group of top community, industry, and policy leaders in 2006 in the creation of a strategy for the continuation of this important program. This will be presented as a paper in 2007 entitled Universal Service in the Broadband Era: Reversing America’s Slide.
Expanding on its 2005 efforts, APT has continued to take the lead in keeping consumer issues at the center of the digital television transition debate. In September, we submitted comments to the NTIA endorsing a speedy transition with the inclusion of several important consumer education priorities. Read these comments
Our active involvement in rural telecommunications issues led to APT’s participation in a television program on RFD-TV, a network dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America and agricultural workers. Policy Director Dan Phythyon represented APT in a discussion of the critical importance of broadband deployment to rural communities. In addition, Mr. Phythyon took part in a July Senate Democratic Steering Committee meeting on rural economic development as an expert on broadband deployment in underserved areas. See APT on TV
APT continued its successful Brown Bag Lunch series in 2006, raising awareness and bringing groups together on a number of pressing issues. The 2006 series included discussions on franchise reform, state wireless regulation, the Senate Communications Act of 2006, and the future of broadband for senior citizens. We plan to continue and add to these discussions in 2007. Sign up for announcements
We look forward to another year of challenging work and promising progress!
