Washington, D.C. – Competitive Carriers Association President and CEO Tim Donovan made the following statement regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s adoption of a Notice of Inquiry on Accelerating Wireline Infrastructure Buildout and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Freeing Wireless Infrastructure from Unlawful Regulatory Burdens: “CCA thanks the FCC for opening new proceedings today on improving the wireline and wireless permitting processes. Permitting has been a significant challenge for CCA members working to close the digital divide in rural areas, and further streamlining and improvement is necessary. We look forward to participating in these proceedings.” For more information about CCA and its policy priorities, please visit ccamobile.org . ### About Competitive Carriers Association Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive communications service providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions, as well as vendors and suppliers delivering products and services throughout the communications ecosystem.

San Antonio, TX – Today, during its 2025 Annual Convention, Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) elected its 2025/2026 Board of Directors.  CCA’s 2025/2026 Chair of the Board, Marueen McCabe Moore, SVP and Chief Customer Experience Officer, GCI Communications Corp., said, “It is an honor and pleasure to serve as CCA’s Chair for a second term. CCA is made up of a group of very dedicated, advocacy-oriented competitive carriers, and I look forward to our continued work together.” CCA’s President and CEO, Tim Donovan said, “I am very pleased that such an outstanding group of individuals is committed to advancing CCA’s policy issues. With several critical advocacy issues on the table, I look forward to having the leadership and guidance of the Officers and Board to ensure competitive carriers can compete and thrive for years to come.” 2025/2026 Board of Directors *Re-elected ** New Board Member Officers: Chair of the Board: Maureen McCabe Moore – GCI* Vice Chair of the Board: Chris Champion – C Spire Treasurer: Jon Lightle – Nex-Tech Wireless Secretary: Ron Whaley – IDI Billing Solutions Chair Emeritus: Jonathan Foxman – MTPCS* President & CEO: Tim Donovan – CCA Directors: Eric Boudriau – Ericsson* Mike Calabrese – Tarana Wireless Serena Chisnell – Nokia Tom Cullen – Boost Mobile Chip Damato – ClearSky Technologies Frank DiRico – Viaero Wireless John Dwyer - Interop Technologies, Inc. Judd Hinkle - Cellular One of NE Arizona Mike Johnson - Appalachian Wireless Mike Keegan - Transaction Network Services Mike Kilgore – Sagebrush Cellular** John Nettles – Pine Belt Communications Clint Odom - T-Mobile Michael Prior - ATN International Brighid Riordan – Cellcom* Tracey Schenk - Thumb Cellular, LLC Slayton Stewart - Carolina West Wireless* Bentina Terry - Southern Linc Von Todd - HTC, Inc.* John Wick – Syniverse* Eric Woody - Union Wireless ### About Competitive Carriers Association Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive communications service providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions, as well as vendors and suppliers delivering products and services throughout the communications ecosystem.

San Antonio, TX – Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) today announced the winners of its 2025 Annual Achievement Awards onstage at its Annual Convention, recognizing industry and community contributions from individuals, carriers, and associates in the communications service provider's market. CCA’s Annual Convention takes place this year September 15-17 at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, TX. “I congratulate this year’s award winners, who demonstrate continued leadership in their communities and in our industry,” said Tim Donovan, President and CEO of CCA. “CCA members are deeply tied to the communities they serve, not only as service providers, but also as neighbors and friends, and I’m delighted to recognize the outstanding work and contributions of this year’s winners.” The 2025 Annual Achievement Award winners are as follows: Steven K. Berry Outstanding Achievement Award Judd Hinkle, CEO, Cellular One of Northeast Arizona Cellular One of Northeast Arizona (Smith Bagley, Inc.) exemplifies industry leadership through both innovation and community impact. In 2025, under Judd’s leadership, they partnered with the Navajo Nation to upgrade 40 cell sites to LTE, bringing faster service to hundreds of homes in remote Tribal areas. They also secured over $4 million in New Mexico broadband grants for new towers and fiber projects—part of 39 initiatives since 2018. Neko Hamlett Associate Member of the Year Award Stephen J. Zitnik, EVP & CTO, Interop Technologies Stephen Zitnik has been a steadfast supporter of CCA and its carriers for nearly three decades. From the beginning of his career, he has been passionate about helping rural and regional carriers succeed. In his role, Zitnik brings a rare combination of technical expertise and business acumen. He is responsible for software development, engineering, product management and IT business strategy, but his focus is always the same: building solutions “the right way” for carriers. Outstanding Service Award (Carrier) Carolina West Wireless Hurricane Helene was tragic and brought extreme devastation to the region. At the height of the storm, Carolina West Wireless (CWW) was challenged to maintain service while much of its network was offline. With the tireless commitment of its dedicated employees, most of its network was restored within a matter of a few days. In response to the devastation, CWW transformed its retail locations into Wi-Fi and charging hubs and served refreshments. It also waived late fees and overage charges to help relieve some of the financial burden. Shortly after the storm, CWW partnered with a local government agency to provide free smartphones and wireless service to storm impacted low-income households with no access to wireless connectivity. Industry Innovation Award (Carrier) Southern Linc Southern Linc developed a helikite, a hybrid balloon-kite storm response unit and has tested it throughout the Southeast. It is equipped with an LTE radio and antenna designed to bridge the coverage gap and assist Georgia power crews and state agencies during times of storm and/or disaster recovery. Industry Innovation Award (Associate) Shush Inc. and ClearSky Technologies SNAP (Silent Network Authentication Platform) by ClearSky Technologies and powered by Shush, is a breakthrough security solution that helps carriers combat SIM swap fraud and unauthorized access with seamless, network-based protection. Unlike traditional authentication tools, SNAP operates silently in the background, leveraging carrier signaling data to verify device and subscriber identity in real time—without requiring customer action. This innovative approach empowers carriers to offer enterprise-grade security with minimal integration effort, enhancing subscriber trust and reducing fraud-related losses. ### About Competitive Carriers Association Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive communications service providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions, as well as vendors and suppliers delivering products and services throughout the communications ecosystem. In 2026, CCA’s Mobility & Connectivity Show will be held April 14-16 in Louisville, KY and the Annual Convention will take place September 14-16 in New Orleans. Visit ccamobile.org and on Twitter/X, @CCAMobile #CCA2025.

Discussions on Convergence and the Power of Data Drive Day One San Antonio, TX – The keynote program at CCA’s Annual Convention (CCA 2025) launched today with the Fierce Network Keynote Panel, “2025: The Convergence of Everything,” and remarks by John Wick, EVP and Chief Product Officer, Syniverse discussing ways to harness the power of data to unlock new revenue streams. Taking place September 15-17, the Annual Convention is held at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, TX. Tim Donovan, President and CEO of CCA, opened the keynote program highlighting CCA’s recent success on several policy issues critical to the membership. Within the last nine months, CCA has made significant progress on three key issues: rip & replace, USF, and spectrum auction authority – each resulting in outcomes beneficial to CCA members. Donovan said, “Achieving success on any one of these issues could be called quite an achievement. The very fact that we were intricately involved in, and won, three huge advocacy priorities on behalf of our members, is quite frankly, almost unheard of – especially for an association of our size.” Donovan thanked the membership and supportive congressional offices, and stated that, “none of this could have happened without CCA.” Immediately after, Monican Alleven, Executive Editor of Fierce Network, led a panel on convergence. Speakers included Chris Champion of C Spire, Don Culeton of IDI Billing Solutions, and Brighid Riordan of Cellcom. The discussion centered around the industry landscape, how companies are adapting to the new wave of convergence, and the policy implications. The afternoon keynotes concluded with remarks by Syniverse’s John Wick, discussing the power of data, customer expectations, and new revenue stream possibilities. “I’d like to thank attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors for coming together at our 2025 Annual Convention,” Donovan said. “The insights from our speakers and the discussions amongst industry peers in the sessions and in the exhibit hall are what make CCA events so special. Hearing directly from industry experts and policy leaders like FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty, who is set to keynote tomorrow morning, make our events invaluable to our members and industry stakeholders.” CCA’s Annual Convention hosts three days of networking and exhibits, along with keynote and educational programs that address the latest innovations and business strategies that drive the communications service provider ecosystem. The exhibit floor will showcase technology from major brands including Interop Technologies, Oracle Communications, Syniverse, and others. About Competitive Carriers Association Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive communications service providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions, as well as vendors and suppliers delivering products and services throughout the communications ecosystem. In 2026, CCA’s Mobility & Connectivity Show will be held April 14-16 in Louisville, KY, and the Annual Convention will take place September 14-16 in New Orleans. Visit ccamobile.org and on X/Twitter, @CCAMobile 5 .

San Antonio, TX – Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) responded to the 119 th Congressional Universal Service Fund (USF) Working Group’s Request for Comments, urging reforms to keep the USF strong, with sufficient, predictable, and sustainable support to provide Americans with voice and broadband services into the future. “CCA thanks Senators Fischer and Lujan, Representatives Hudson and Matsui, and all members of the Working Group for their efforts to update USF policies to promote broadband connectivity across the country, and especially to underserved and rural areas that heavily rely on USF support. The USF has provided significant value to Americans nationwide, and updates, especially to support capital and operating expenses where needed, to deliver fixed and mobile services, and built on sustainable contributions, will help modernize the USF for current and future needs,” said CCA President and CEO Tim Donovan. “It’s time to strengthen the USF to address gaps in coverage, to reflect current and anticipated users and uses of connectivity, and to better meet consumer needs.” You can find CCA’s full comments here . For more information about CCA and its policy priorities, please visit www.ccamobile.org . ### About Competitive Carriers Association Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive communications service providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions, as well as vendors and suppliers delivering products and services throughout the communications ecosystem.

Denver, CO and Washington, D.C., – NCTI, a leader in broadband and wireless training, and Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) are pleased to announce a strategic partnership aimed at providing CCA members with enhanced workforce development opportunities. The agreement establishes NCTI as CCA’s official training partner for a one-year pilot program, offering curated training content to competitive carriers across North America. The partnership is designed to equip CCA members with specialized skills to address critical operational gaps in areas such as frontline leadership, people skills, and customer care. As part of the new program, CCA members will gain access to a co-branded “CCA Training Bundle” of courses tailored for frontline, technical, and supervisory roles, as well as members-only savings opportunities on NCTI courses. The partnership will include joint webinars to bring NCTI’s training and workforce development expertise to the CCA member community. “NCTI is steadfast in our mission to empower the broadband workforce with the skills they need to succeed. We are proud to partner with CCA to bring our flexible, results-driven learning solutions to their member operators and help them build the skilled teams that are essential for future growth,” said Stacey Slaughter, CEO of NCTI. Tim Donovan, CCA President and CEO said, “NCTI’s reputation and expertise make them the ideal partner to address our members’ most pressing workforce development needs. We look forward to a successful pilot program that will provide our members with the tools they need to succeed in a dynamic industry.” ### About NCTI Celebrating over 55 years of excellence in the broadband industry, NCTI empowers professionals with quality content and flexible technology solutions accessible anytime, anywhere. Hundreds of thousands of technicians, customer service representatives, and industry executives attribute their rewarding careers and their companies’ growth to NCTI’s comprehensive training. Discover how NCTI helps clients deliver superior customer experiences at ncti.com . Equip your team for the future. Train up. About Competitive Carriers Association Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive communications service providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions, as well as vendors and suppliers delivering products and services throughout the communications ecosystem.

Washington, D.C. – Mobile carriers and communications service stakeholders are set to convene this month at CCA’s 2025 Annual Convention . Taking place September 15-17 at the Hyatt Regency Hill County Resort in San Antonio, TX, the conference will feature a keynote panel produced by Fierce Network, “2025: The Convergence of Everything.” During this luncheon session, panelists will explore the convergence evolution and how carriers are using all the tools at their disposal to connect their communities. Whether mobile, wireline, fixed wireless, satellite, fiber, or cable, this session will examine the ways network operators are connecting customers and the business and policy implications that are emerging. Speakers will include: Monica Alleven, Executive Editor, Fierce Network – moderator Don Culeton, CEO, IDI Billing Solutions Chris Champion, VP, Government Relations, C Spire Brighid Riordan, CEO, Nsight “I’m delighted Fierce Network is back hosting this keynote panel on convergence – an extremely relevant topic not just for CCA members but also the broader industry,” said CCA President & CEO Tim Donovan. “To remain a competitive player in today’s marketplace, companies must look to utilize all relevant technologies to keep their customers connected and happy. CCA and its members are keenly focused on current and future developments in this arena – on both the policy and business fronts. I look forward to hearing the thoughts and timely insights from this panel of experts, which will certainly prompt interesting discussions throughout the show.” About Competitive Carriers Association Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive communications service providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions, as well as vendors and suppliers delivering products and services throughout the communications ecosystem. CCA’s 2025 Mobile Carriers Show will take place April 14-16 in Denver, Colorado. CCA’s 2025 Annual Convention will take place September 15-17 in San Antonio, Texas. Visit ccamobile.org and on X, @CCAMobile and #MCS2025.

Educational program to focus on convergence, AI, spectrum policy, and more

Washington, D.C. - Competitive Carriers Association President and CEO Tim Donovan made the following statement regarding the Senate confirmation of Arielle Roth as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and National Telecommunications and Information (NTIA) Administrator: "I congratulate Arielle Roth on her confirmation as the next Administrator of NTIA. Her extensive telecommunications policy experience, shaped by her service in Congress and at the FCC, will serve her well in her new role. CCA and our members look forward to working with Administrator Roth to advance critical priorities for rural connectivity, including effective spectrum management and accelerating broadband infrastructure deployment to ensure all Americans have access to reliable, high-speed service." For more information about CCA and its policy priorities, please visit ccamobile.org. ### About Competitive Carriers Association Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive communications service providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions, as well as vendors and suppliers delivering products and services throughout the communications ecosystem.