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AUSTIN, TEXAS—The annual NTCA Rural Telecom Industry Meeting & Expo (RTIME) is rural America’s largest annual telecommunications industry event. As a law firm devoted to serving the rural telecom sector, Womble Bond Dickinson was well-represented at RTIME in a number of ways.
Carri Bennet, a partner in the firm’s Communications Technology and Media group, was a speaker in the DC Insiders’ Perspective roundtable during RTIME’s closing session. Bennet and other panelists discussed impending opportunities presented by the Connect America Phase 2 auction and other universal service reforms, political dynamics on Capitol Hill and at the FCC, and how rural providers’ advocacy must evolve to engage and persuade the decision-makers in Washington today. They also spoke about the government’s role in net neutrality, cybersecurity, network reliability and telecom infrastructure initiatives.
After hours, the Womble Bond Dickinson team and conference attendees had the chance to interact in a more casual setting during a firm-hosted Hoe Down at the Broken Spoke, one of the last true Texas dance halls.
“Our rural clients loved the opportunity to reconnect in a casual setting and learn more about the firm. The event proved to be a great way to showcase our new capabilities and inform our clients that “big law” doesn’t mean we are stuffy, formal or fancy. We love the work we do for our clientele and are thrilled that the rest of the firm will have the opportunity to work with over 900 dedicated, hard-working, technology-focused companies passionately committed to serving rural America,” said Bennet,
Womble Bond Dickinson also was a sponsor at the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) fundraiser event held during RTIME.
In addition to Bennet, Womble Bond Dickinson attendees included attorneys Erin Fitzgerald, Bob Silverman, Marty Stern and Daryl Zakov as well as Marketing Manager Angela Long.
“Make no mistake. Rural broadband is a force to be reckoned with” added Stern, who leads the team. “I was particularly struck by the sheer number of folks attending RTIME, and the energy and buzz surrounding all things rural broadband that was evident throughout the conference.”
RTIME is presented by NTCA, the Rural Broadband Association.
