ASCENT was once a group of long distance resellers. But those companies have morphed into ISP-like companies, and the association is fighting the same battles that are being fought by regular ISPs, state by state.

Update: merged with CompTel to form the CompTel/Ascent Alliance.

by Alex Goldman ISP-Planet Associate Editor [April 27, 2001]

Today, membership includes resellers, CLECs, ILECs, ASPs, and wireless providers. Most are small companies. David Gusky, ASCENT's Executive Vice President, feels companies need their industry associations now more than ever before. "Everybody knew how to do it when times were good. We're just learning how to do business now times are bad."

What have you done for me lately?
ASCENT's latest initiatives can be read in its press release section. At press time, ASCENT, like many other associations, was working to fight the Tauzin-Dingell bill (see the ISP-Planet article "H.R. 2420 Lives." In addition, it was lobbying the FCC, with a letter signed by over 30 CLECs, supporting unbundled local access.

The association is funded by dues and conferences. Dues are fixed at $1,500 per year, and Gusky claims the association has over 700 members, but the membership list is available only to members. Although the majority of members are small businesses, large members include Nortel and Verizon.

But just because Verizon's a member doesn't mean ASCENT won't tackle the baby bell. In a filing to the Pennsylvania PUC, ASCENT said in part, "There remains a dearth of evidence that competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), such as many of ASCENT's members, are able to receive the non- discriminatory access to interconnection, unbundled network elements, wholesale services, and access to OSS in a manner that will allow them to provide reliable competitive local services to Pennsylvania subscribers."

ASCENT also relies on income from conferences. Its spring conference, May 21 through 24 in Dallas, Texas, will feature a keynote address from Al Gore. Forums includes tutorials on topics as diverse as business opportunities, the new FCC, and how to market your company to venture capitalists.

The rules
ASCENT's detailed bylaws can be read online here. The association is run by nine board members, all elected, serving staggered three-year terms (so three of them are elected each year). No company can have more than one member on the board.

Members who wish to participate in policy formation can volunteer to join one of four Advisory Councils: International Services, Wireless Services, Local Services, and Advanced Services. These councils meet regularly to discuss current issues, formulate policy positions, and create materials to distribute information to members.

Gusky noted that in recent years, the telecom market has become ever-more competitive, and prices have become more uniform and margins declined. He also noted that many ISPs are "isolated from the main telecoms market" by which he meant that those that could provide voice services might find doing so very profitable. The bottom line for ISPs is that service providers need to keep adding services as once-premium items become commodified.

The bottom line for ASCENT is that it needs to protect small businesses and help them gain a foothold in local markets. ASCENT works in most states and its filings are listed by state here. "Many telecom issues," Gusky said, "are decided at the state level, not the national level."

— End

 

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