NJWA News

3Q Wireless Deployment Summit (Gallery)


NJWA WIRELESS DEPLOYMENT SUMMIT BREAKS GROUND 

WITH ALL-STAR SPEAKER LINEUP

Bringing High-speed Wireless Broadband to New Jersey,
Industry Leaders and Regulators Begin Planning


Monroe Township, NJ (October 18, 2017)
โ€“ The New Jersey Wireless Association (NJWA) hosted its third-quarter networking event, the Wireless Deployment Summit, on Wednesday, October 19 with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Michael Oโ€™Rielly as the keynote speaker. Guests filled the ballroom at Forsgate Country Club for the event, which lasted from 12:30 p.m. โ€“ 7:30 p.m.


Commissioner Oโ€™Rielly presented topics including the wireless industryโ€™s continual development, evolution and increasing demands for 5G and beyond, the effect of 9-1-1 fee diversion state- and nation-wide, the significance of implementing a unified wireless emergency number and more.


โ€œIn my opinion, it is unconscionable that some states divert fees collected for legitimate and needed 9-1-1 communications capabilities to unrelated purposes, threatening the publicโ€™s safety for short-term budgetary relief,โ€ said Commissioner Oโ€™Rielly. โ€œIn fact, I think we should call this practice what it really is: stealing.โ€


AT&T Inc. Senior President of the North East Region Marissa Shorenstein followed Commissioner Oโ€™Rielly as the second keynote, discussing AT&Tโ€™s past, present and future initiatives, FirstNet and the potential positive impact associated with developing and implementing smarter homes, cities and autonomous cars worldwide.


After a short break, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, an advocate for policy change on 9-1-1 fee diversion, re-opened Commissioner Oโ€™Riellyโ€™s discussion and explained how the diversion is personally affecting his countyโ€™s public safety programs and policies from severe lack of funding.


โ€œItโ€™s less than 11 percent allocation for PSAPs and public safety investment,โ€ said Sheriff Golden. โ€œAnd that 11 percent is just going to basic needs at the state level to maybe keep our antiquated system aground.โ€


Former Vermont Governor Jim Douglas presented an update on FirstNet, followed by Victor DaSilva of Nokia Bell Labs, who presented an in-depth report on 5G technology.
The day concluded with a panel on broadband networking in New Jersey, moderated by Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein.
Panelists included New Jersey 16th District Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D), New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) Executive Director Paul Flanagan, Crown Castle Vice President of Legal Monica Gambino and Phillips Lytle Partner Doug Dimitroff. The panel explored the legislation needed to streamline the deployment of wireless broadband.


โ€œIt was an honor to have Commissioner Oโ€™Rielly, Marissa Shorenstein, Assemblyman Zwicker and the rest of our incredible guest speakers with us this evening,โ€ said NJWA President of the Board of Trustees Rob Ivanoff. โ€œEveryone covered a different wireless aspect, and each discussion intertwined seamlessly for a highly-intellectual educational event.โ€


NJWA is the first wireless association in the country to have a current FCC Commissioner as the keynote speaker at an association-hosted event.

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