For Immediate Release
ATIS 1200 G Street, NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005	Contact: Trish St. Michel Phone: 202-434-8851 E-mail: tstmichel@atis.org www.atis.org

ATIS Announces the 2005 ATIS Annual Award Winners

October 24, 2005, Las Vegas – The Alliance for Telecommunications Solutions (ATIS) today announced the winners of its annual awards program, recognizing industry subject matter experts for their contributions to telecommunications standards development and support of ATIS committees and forums.

“The professionals and standards experts that make up ATIS’ 23 standards committees and forums are among the most talented and dedicated individuals I know,” said Susan M. Miller, president and CEO of ATIS in her introductory remarks. “For the vast majority of ATIS participants, standards work is not their full time responsibility back home, yet they dedicate long hours and hard work to help support their companies.  That’s because standards play such an integral role in the current and future success of their companies and organizations.”

Awards were given in three categories: the ATIS Award for Distinguished Service in Communications Standards; the ATIS Award for Leadership in Standards Development; and the Award for Outstanding Contributions to an ATIS Forum or Committee.

The recipient of the Distinguished Service Award is given to a committee or forum participant for unique and outstanding contributions to the work of ATIS committees over a period of time. Persons receiving this award are those who have participated in ATIS Committees for five or more years.  The 2005 recipient is Neil Seitz of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, in recognition of his more than twenty years of participation in ATIS Committees. His leadership has assisted with more than three dozen American national Standards and Technical Reports, and he has authored or co-authored at least 100 U.S. contributions to the International Telecommunication Union.

The recipient of the ATIS Award for Leadership in Standards Development is an ATIS forum or committee leader whose vision and leadership have resulted in support for ATIS standards and recognition of ATIS’ committee work within the industry.  This year’s award goes to Mike Fargano of Qwest, in recognition of his vision and leadership that has enabled the timely completion of necessary industry standards in both the Emergency Services Interconnection Forum (ESIF) and the Telecom Management and Operations Committee (TMOC).

The Award for Outstanding Contributions to an ATIS Forum or Committee is presented to individuals who have provided valuable contributions to the completion of ATIS standards that meet industry needs.  Recipients have demonstrated significant efforts to support acceptance and use of ATIS standards throughout the industry. The following ATIS participants received this year’s award:

Jay Bennett, Telcordia; Stephanie Cowart, BellSouth; Robert H. Fox, Telcordia; Steven Gorshe, PMC-Sierra, Inc.; Stuart Jacobs, Verizon; Nevin R. Jones, Agere Systems, Inc.; Steve Moore, Sprint; Penn Pfautz; AT&T; Niranjan Sandesara, Telcordia; Robert Sherry, Intrado; Dana W. Smith, Verizon; Massimo Sorbara, Conexant; David Whitney, BellSouth; and Mark S. Yelchak, SBC Communications.

About ATIS

ATIS is a technical planning and standards development organization that is committed to rapidly developing and promoting technical and operations standards for the communications and related information technologies industry worldwide using a pragmatic, flexible and open approach. Over 1,100 participants from more than 350 communications companies are active in ATIS’ 23 industry committees, and its Incubator Solutions Program. www.atis.org

-30-