



WELCOME Matrix Telecom MEMBER NEWS FiberLight Expands Fiber Optic Network in Tampa to Serve Telecom Carriers and Wireless Customers GlobalTouch Telecom Honored as Company to Watch in 2008 by Intele-CardNews Hatteras Networks Partners with ATL to Deliver Mid-Band Ethernet and Ethernet Backhaul Solutions to Central Europe Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative Announces Major Network Expansion PAETEC Completes Acquisition of McLeodUSA Razorsight Receives Future 50 Award from Washington SmartCEO Magazine RCN and Chicago Cares: Partners in Community Service Help Renovate Blessed Sacrament Youth Center *To be included in the Member News section, all releases must be posted on the member company's website. For more information, contact* *Margaret Boles. COMPTEL members can post jobs for FREE. For more information, click here. To view listings, search jobs or post a resume, click here. FCC COMMENT DEADLINES* Feb. 19 Comments Due: Feature Group IP forbearance petition, Docket 07-256 Feb. 19 Comments Due: Embarq Forbearance Petition on Access Charges and IP to PSTN Voice Traffic, Docket 08-08 March 7 Comments Due: FCC NPRM on Need for Rules Governing Forbearance Petitions, Docket 07-267 March 17 Comments Due: Verizon Forbearance Petition on Enforcement of Recordkeeping and Reporting Rules, Docket 07-273 March 24 Replies Due: FCC NPRM on Need for Rules Governing Forbearance Petitions, Docket 07-267 April 24 Deadline for FCC to Act: AT&T, BellSouth Requests for Forbearance from Certain Cost Assignment Rules, Docket 07-21 April 26 Deadline for FCC to Act: Qwest Petitions for Forbearance from Unbundling Rules in Four Major MSAs, Docket 06-172				Feb 11, 2008 TOP OF THE NEWS Time is Running Out to Register for Spring Show COMPTEL PLUS online registration closes Feb. 14 The *COMPTEL PLUS* Spring 2008 Convention & EXPO is just two weeks away! Don't miss your chance to attend the premier trade show for communications service providers and suppliers, Feb. 24-27 at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville. Online registration closes Thursday, Feb. 14** so sign up today to avoid long lines in Nashville. COMPTEL PLUS provides a wide array of opportunities for you and your company to network with potential business partners, view the latest technologies and services hitting the marketplace, and hear from experts on what's affecting the industry from Wall Street to Washington and how you can position your company to continue to grow. Be sure to arrive by the evening of Sunday, Feb. 24 for the Grand Opening Reception on the exhibit hall floor. FCC Commissioner Deborah Tate will be on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony and to deliver a few remarks. On the heels of the acquisition of McLeodUSA, PAETEC Chairman and CEO Arunas Chesonis will deliver the keynote address on Monday, Feb. 25. The next few days promise several opportunities to attend business-critical panel discussions on wireless services, competitive IPTV, security threats to next-generation networks, and many more. In addition, Kelly Drye & Warren LLP and Matrix Telecom are sponsoring the Regulatory Workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 27. The three-panel session begins at 8:30 a.m. and will cover the classification and regulatory treatment of interconnected VoIP, current switched and special access chard initiatives, and creating an exit strategy for your business. Click here to access the full agenda. We look forward to seeing you in Nashville! NEW MEMBERS COMPTEL Welcomes Matrix Telecom Matrix Telecom, Inc., operating as Matrix Business Technologies and Trinsic Powered by Matrix, is an integrated telecommunications provider serving consumers and small and medium size businesses nationwide. Matrix is licensed as a facilities-based CLEC and Long Distance Provider in 49 states plus DC. It has 230 employees with headquarters in Dallas and operations in Rochester, N.Y., Atmore, Ala. and Tampa, Fla. Matrix is owned by Platinum Equity, a global M&A&O® firm specializing in the merger, acquisition and operation of companies that provide services and solutions to customers in a broad range of business markets, including information technology, telecommunications, industrials, logistics, manufacturing, and entertainment distribution. Since its founding in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity has completed more than 70 acquisitions with more than $16 billion in aggregate annual revenue at the time of acquisition. MEMBER PROFILES Gain Exposure for Your Company Member profiles posted online, in newsletter As part of its ongoing efforts to provide member companies with opportunities to gain exposure in the industry, COMPTEL publishes Member Profiles, which not only highlight new members but also draw attention to significant accomplishments of existing members. Profiles are included in the weekly e-newsletter, the COMPTEL Connection, and on COMPTEL's website. For more information about submitting a Member Profile, or updating an existing one, please contact *Margaret Boles* at 202-296-6650. FEDERAL REGULATORY Deadlines Set in Forbearance Rules Proceeding The FCC's notice of proposes rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on the need for procedural rules to govern the Commission’s consideration of petitions for forbearance has been published in the Federal Register. Comments are due on March 7, 2008 and reply comments are due on March 24, 2008 in WC Docket No. 07-267; FCC 07-202. UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS Channel Partners Heads to Vegas in March Spring show to be held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel The Spring 2008 Channel Partners Conference & Expo, which will be held March 10-12 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel in Las Vegas, is the communications industry’s only event exclusively for indirect sales organizations – agents, VARs, systems integrators, interconnects and consultants – focused on transforming their businesses to become converged solutions providers. Produced by PHONE+ magazine (www.phoneplusmag.com), the event is held twice annually in the spring and fall and features future-proofing advice from thought-leading speakers and how-to courses on best practices, technology and strategy. Topics range from hot technologies and new opportunities to partnering, diversification, sales tips and skills building. COMPTEL CALENDAR All COMPTEL *Committee* meetings are held at the Association's headquarters, 900 17th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20006, unless noted otherwise. All times listed are Eastern time. For more information, call (202) 296-6650. Feb. 12 Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting, 2:00 p.m. Contact Karen Reidy Feb. 19 Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting, 2:00 p.m. Contact Karen Reidy Back issues of The COMPTEL Connection are available here. To subscribe or unsubscribe to The COMPTEL Connection, contact Margaret Boles or call 202-296-6650. COMPTEL * 900 17th Street, N.W., Suite 400 * Washington, DC 20006 * (202) 296-6650