WISPAmerica Show Daily Day 2

4 WISPA merica 2018 I MARCH 6 - 8, 2018 www.bekabusinessmedia.com DAY 2 MER C 2018 Another Record WISPAMERICA, Another Worthy Charity N athan Stooke and Trina Coffey, co-chairpersons of the WISPA Agenda Committee, officially kicked off WISPA- MERICA 2018 in front of a packed room in the East Ballroom during yesterday’s opening breakfast ceremony. According to Stooke, who is also founder of Wisper Internet, nearly 800 attendees had so far registered for the 2018 edition of WISPAMERICA, and by the end of the show, WISPA expects attendance to top last year’s record of 805 registrants. All told, more than 400 companies are repre- sented this year at WISPAMERICA, including 87 vendors in the sold-out expo hall. Many first- time attendees to WISPAMERICA were present at the opening breakfast, along with veteran attendees from across the country and around the globe (although WISPAMERICA has yet to host a member from Rhode Island, Stooke jokingly lamented). Stooke and Coffey, who also serves as WISPA’s Director of Operations & Event Management, were quick to thank the WISPA staff, agenda committee members and volun- teer board members who spend countless hours scheduling and organizing all the meals, receptions, mixers, vendor presentations, speakers and sessions that make up a WISPA- MERICA event. That includes the 42 educa- tional sessions that take place over the course of the three-day expo. “We would love your feedback on the speakers and sessions,” said Stooke. “That feedback is critical to making future shows better, even if it’s a small amount of feedback – good or bad.” Next on the stage was Jimmy Carr, CEO of All Points Broadband, who also serves as the chair of WISPA’s Legislative Committee, sits on WISPA’s Board of Directors, as well as the Board of Directors of WISP PAC, an indepen- dent political action committee that supports members of Congress who support the WISP industry. Carr noted the work WISP PAC is doing to encourage members of Congress “to do the right thing,” particularly when it comes to CBRS. “It should be no secret to anyone in this room that we are engaged in the policy fight of our lives as an industry over the CBRS band,” said Carr. “This is critical mid-band spectrum, and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to access some for our industry and our use cases.” Indeed, the mobile industry is coming after this spectrum, said Carr. “It is super-important as an industry that we have every single tool in the toolbox.” Carr encouraged, “in the strongest possible terms,” all attendees and WISPA members to learn more about WISP PAC’s efforts in Wash- ington DC and to consider adding their voices and dollars to its lobbying activities on the part of the WISP industry. That education and support can start by joining WISP PAC for some food, live music and socializing at its fundraiser event tonight from 7:15pm to 9:00pm, at the Cantina Laredo in Uptown Birmingham, just a short walk from the Sheraton Hotel. And for those who have no interest in the interworking of Washington DC or politics in general, consider supporting WISP PAC while “letting them take care of the poli- ticking,” added Stooke. From Washington DC, to right here in Birmingham, WISPA always likes to leave a positive impact in the communities it holds its events in. This year is no different, as the charity auction for WISPAMERICA 2018 was established for Officer Jason Hare, with the Hanceville Police Department, located in Cullman County, Alabama. Officer Hare was severely injured in an on-duty traffic accident while driving his marked police cruiser. The accident occurred this January while Officer Hare, a 19-year veteran of law enforcement who has dedicated his entire adult life to protecting and serving others, was responding to a call of an escaped inmate. Officer Hare was airlifted to UAB hospital where he is currently in the ICU and will remain for some time. Officer Hare is receiving treatment for a broken scapula; fractures and lacerations on his face, head, and neck; a chip on his C spine; and pain in his arms upon movement and touch. He will endure several surgeries during the next few weeks, and this is only be the beginning. Officer Hare, a husband and father of five children, will have multiple more surgeries in the months to come, and the road to recovery will be long. To help Officer Hare and his family, WISPA- MERICA attendees can bid in a silent auction on the more than $30,000 worth of vendor- donated items. Interested parties can visit www.32auctions.com/wispamerica2018 to place a bid. m