“I believe that the changes in technology will dramatically transform the competitive environment. As more carriers expand their service offerings to include IP network technology and new carriers enter the market, the competitive landscape will reach new highs. This carrier expansion will also necessarily create a new wave of acquisition opportunities over the next several years. I believe that we’re seeing the first competitive innovations today. Change that results in equity opportunities, a sharing of the financial success while providing evergreen protection to committed partners should be on the rise. You should also see carriers become more channel-focused than ever before where there is greater recognition of the critical importance of the agent-customer relationship. This should result in carriers bringing channel partners into their planning processes, where carriers work openly to develop coordinated network and product strategies; strategies that can truly drive near-term revenue growth success for agents as well as creating longer-term, higher-value equity earning opportunity as carrier acquisitions occur. The channel is truly an exciting place to be in 2010; the opportunity is literally opening up all around you today and you owe it to yourself to look for the best possible partner to grow and succeed with.”
— Brian Twomey, President, TNCI
“There are high expectations that the current FCC, the Obama Administration and Congress will create a more positive environment for competition and broadband deployment. The FCC’s National Broadband Plan, which is expected to be released in February 2010, will hopefully present a clear path on near-term decisions that foster greater competition.
If the FCC addresses a number of critical issues — such as availability of wholesale services and last- and middle-mile facilities at just and reasonable rates, terms and conditions; special access, retention of copper facilities, 271 network element rates and forbearance — then we believe the resulting regulatory environment will foster a vibrant competitive communications marketplace and enable the United States to meet its goals for widespread broadband deployment.
Assuming that the FCC’s National Broadband Plan includes a commitment to promoting competition in the provision of broadband service as a means of improving service quality, service offerings, speed and affordability, the availability of double-digit broadband speeds will be as ubiquitous as voice service is today.”
— Jerry James, CEO, COMPTEL
