Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse to Deliver Keynote Address at COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2009 Convention & EXPO

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - July 21, 2009) - COMPTEL, the leading trade association for the competitive telecommunications industry, today announced that Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint Nextel, will deliver the keynote address at the COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2009 Convention & EXPO. The event takes place October 11-14, 2009, at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla.

"We are honored to have Dan join us in Orlando this fall," said Jerry James, COMPTEL's CEO. "From his many years of success in the wireless and wireline industries, Dan understands the opportunities and challenges we face in a highly competitive marketplace. We look forward to hearing his perspective on the communications industry today and his vision for the future."

Hesse has served as CEO of Sprint Nextel since December 2007. Prior to that, he was chairman and CEO of Embarq Corp., a provider of voice, data, wireless and entertainment services in 18 states. From 2000 to 2004, Hesse served as chairman, president and CEO of Terabeam Corp., a wireless telecommunications service provider and technology company. Before joining Terabeam, Hesse spent 23 years at AT&T. From 1997 to 2000, he served as president and CEO of AT&T Wireless Services. In other roles at AT&T, he led the company's Online Services Group, which was responsible for launching the AT&T Worldnet family of Internet services. He also served as president and CEO of AT&T Network Systems International, and held management positions in network operations, network engineering, international services, human resources, strategic planning, product management and sales.

Hesse has won a number of industry accolades. He was named Wireless Industry "Person of the Year" by RCR magazine, "Executive of the Year" by Wireless Business and Technology magazine, "Most Influential Person in Mobile Technology" by LAPTOP Magazine, and he received Wireless Week magazine's Leadership Award. He is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and he also serves on the board of directors of Clearwire Corporation, where Sprint is the largest shareholder, and on the National Board of Governors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

About COMPTEL PLUS

COMPTEL PLUS is the preeminent networking event for innovative communications companies. Held twice a year, these events attract more than 147 exhibitors and 3,200 attendees, who have the opportunity to learn about new products, services and industry trends, meet potential customers and do business. In addition to exclusive exhibit hours, COMPTEL PLUS offers comprehensive educational programming and experienced industry speakers. The COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2009 Convention & Expo is scheduled for October 11-14, 2009, at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla. For more information, please visit http://comptel.org/content.asp?contentid=2153.

About COMPTEL

Based in Washington, D.C., COMPTEL is the leading industry association representing competitive communications service providers and their supplier partners. COMPTEL members are entrepreneurial companies driving technological innovation and creating economic growth through competitive voice, video, and data offerings and the development and deployment of next-generation, IP-based networks and services. COMPTEL advances its members' interests through trade shows, networking, education, and policy advocacy before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the courts. COMPTEL works to ensure that competitive communications providers can continue to offer lower prices, better service, and greater innovation to consumers. For more information, visit www.comptel.org.

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