Tennessee Telecom Association

Vendor Showcase A Highlight Of Joint Conference

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Check out some of the latest technology in the telecommunications industry at the supplier showcase during the upcoming fall conference in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The Kentucky Telecom Association and the Tennessee Telecommunications Association will present the 24th KTA-TTA Fall Conference and Supplier Showcase.

The showcase is a highlight of the event, with more than 90 exhibit booths displaying the latest communications products and services.

“The showcase has proven to be an excellent, low-cost opportunity for KTA and TTA member companies to allow their employees to see new products and discuss their needs with vendors,” says Levoy Knowles, TTA executive director.

A map of participating vendor showcase booths can be found here.

 

Putting The Future In Focus

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As I look over the agenda for our upcoming fall conference with KTA, I see a common theme. Many of the sessions focus on the future, which is where I’m sure many of the side conversations between attendees will also turn.

I’ve always enjoyed conferences as a chance to hear from experts about trends, data and strategies for forecasting and understanding our industry’s future. This year, we have several forward-looking topics, including video service, cybersecurity, customer loyalty and broadband competition.

But offstage, during our networking time, I’m also excited to hear TTA members discuss the future of their companies, technology and our ability to connect people across the two states represented.

At TTA, we’re proud to have members building out unprecedented amounts of fiber across the state. We’re proud to lead the way in obtaining funding to expand our service areas. And as you’ll read in this newsletter, we’re proud to have members seeking innovative partnerships to bring broadband to more rural Tennesseans.

The networking is always a highlight of any conference, but I expect this year, as we look forward to a changing landscape in 2019 and beyond, discussions amongst TTA members will be even more insightful than usual.

In Tennessee and Kentucky, broadband is the future, and our states’ futures are very bright. I’m pleased to be a part of the organization responsible for bringing that future to so many rural Tennesseans.

2018 KTA-TTA Fall Conference Agenda

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The Kentucky Telecom Association and the Tennessee Telecommunications Association will partner for the 24th KTA-TTA Fall Conference and Supplier Showcase in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The Oct. 16-18 event is at the Holiday Inn University Plaza and the adjoining Sloan Convention Center.

The conference agenda is designed for managers, supervisors and other company employees involved in plant and equipment operations, field and network operations, customer service, marketing, and regulatory. However, all company personnel can obtain important information by attending.

The Supplier Showcase is always a highlight, with more than 90 exhibit booths expected to display the latest in communications products and services.

The Kentucky Tennessee Engineering Association will host its annual meeting Oct. 18-19, so its members can also benefit from the Supplier Showcase.

Registration packets are available online at KTA or TTA. The agenda is available below.

 

2018 KTA-TTA Fall Conference Agenda

 

Tuesday, October 16
11 a.m. – Golf Luncheon at Crosswinds Golf Club

Noon – Golf Tournament

4 p.m. – KTA-TTA Registration – Plaza Deck 2 — Hotel

6-7:30 p.m. – KTA-TTA Opening Reception – Salon B — Hotel

10-11 p.m. – KTA-TTA Hospitality Suite – Suite 219

 

Wednesday, October 17
8 a.m. – Registration Opens/Cont. Breakfast – Sloan Convention Center Foyer

General Session, Ballroom A — Sloan Convention Center

8:30 a.m. – Welcome, Opening Remarks and Announcements – Tyler Campbell — KTA

8:30-9:20 a.m. – The Future of Broadband Services & Competition – Larry Thompson — CEO, Vantage Point Solutions

9:20-10:10 a.m. – Building a Culture of Cybersecurity – Scott Kaylor — Team Lead, NISC

10:10-10:20 a.m. – Break/Announcements

10:20-11a.m. – Future of Video Service – Scott Meyer — Director of Marketing, Innovative Systems

11-11:50 a.m. – Making Broadband-Only Work for You-Demystifying CBOL Offerings – Daryn Parker — Senior Financial Consultant, TCA

11:50 a.m.-Noon – Showcase Announcements – John Dorris — KGP and Craig Moore — ElectriCom

Closing Remarks/Door Prize Drawings – Levoy Knowles

Noon-1:15 p.m. – Business Luncheon

1:30-2:30 p.m. – Breakout Sessions

Breakout 1: Is it Possible for Solar to be Twice as Reliable as the Utility Grid for Remote Cabinets?- Chris Wacker — ESPi – Salon A — Hotel

Breakout 2: Now that NG-PON2 is deployed, what’s next? – Teresa McGaughey — Calix- Salon B — Hotel

Breakout 3: Building Customer Loyalty Through Powerful Moments – Andy Johns, WordSouth; Carrie Huckeby, Windy Hill — Salon C — Hotel

2:30-2:45 p.m. – Break

2:45-3:45 p.m. – Breakout Sessions (Continued)

Breakout 4: The Power of Voice:  How to transform your TV user experience with Android TV – Don Paige — Amino Communications – Salon A — Hotel

Breakout 5: – Building a Successful Managed WiFi Program – Chris Beatson — NeoNova – Salon B — Hotel

Breakout 6: – What’s on Your Network? What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You – Matt Patus — Matrix Integration – Salon C — Hotel

4:30-11 p.m. – Booth Setup – Ballrooms A-D, Sloan Convention Center

8:30-10 p.m. – Vendor Dessert Party Reception – Salon B — Hotel

10 p.m.-Midnight – KTA-TTA Hospitality Suite – Suite 219 — Hotel (Open After Vendor Party)

 

Thursday, October 18
7-8:30 a.m. – Booth Setup – Ballrooms A-D, Sloan Convention Center

8 a.m. – Registration Desk Open – Sloan Convention Center Foyer

8:30-Noon – Supplier Showcase and Continental Breakfast – Ballrooms A-D, Sloan Convention Center

Joint Project To Bring Broadband Internet To Underserved Areas In Tennessee

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Peytonsville, a small Tennessee community not far from Franklin, is among the first to benefit from a partnership to bring broadband internet to underserved areas in the state.

Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Cooperative and United Communications combined their resources and decades of experience to offer affordable, high-speed internet services. The two organizations, along with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, announced the plan in August at the Peytonsville Volunteer Fire Hall.

Now, the fire hall has access to a gigabit-speed fiber network, which will enhance firehouse operations, improve mission-critical communication systems and offer many other benefits.

“Our community relies on well-trained volunteers to provide superior emergency services,” says Brian Jones, Peytonsville Fire Chief. “Reliable broadband access has allowed us to incorporate multimedia instruction into a well-rounded training program for our firefighters.”

The effort from Middle Tennessee Electric and United Communications is the first of its kind in the state, combining the efforts and resources of both an electric and a communications company to bring broadband to underserved areas.

Middle Tennessee Electric provides electricity to more than 225,000 residential and business members. The company serves Cannon, Rutherford, Williamson and Wilson counties. United serves Bedford, Franklin, Marshall, Rutherford and Williamson counties.

United Communications offers internet, digital TV and phone services in Middle Tennessee, providing close to 1,000 route-miles of fiber.

The partnership allows both organizations to build a world-class broadband network at the lowest possible cost. “We’re proud to be the first electric cooperative to pursue a partnership of this kind in Tennessee and answer the calls we have long heard from our members. They want and need access to broadband service,” says Chris Jones, president and CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric.

Jones says United Communications is the ideal partner. “They have already built an impressive fiber backbone throughout many areas we serve, which will allow us to work together to more rapidly and cost-effectively expand internet services,” Jones says.
“We are grateful to Gov. Bill Haslam, the Tennessee legislature and the Federal Communications Commission for paving the way for local providers like Middle Tennessee Electric to meet broadband access needs of our members,” Jones says.

The partnership is about two local companies, who share common values, working together to provide a broadband solution for the area, says William Bradford, president and CEO of United Communications. “Ultimately, this will be great for economic development, support smart grid and smart home technologies, and improve the quality of life in Middle Tennessee,” Bradford says.

 

Get Out And Vote!

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The Tennessee Telecommunications Association does not endorse candidates for political office, but Executive Director Levoy Knowles encourages everyone to learn about the candidates and know where each stands on the importance of access to broadband.

“Access to broadband internet is one of the biggest challenges facing the telecommunications industry, both in Tennessee and across the nation,” Knowles says. “We encourage every telco member to vote and urge your families and friends to vote.”

Key dates:

Oct. 9: Last day to register to vote for the Nov. 6 election

Oct. 17-Nov. 1: Early voting for Nov. 6 election

Nov. 6: Election day for federal and state candidates