Washington, DC – Today the Rural Telecommunications Group (RTG), a trade association representing small, rural wireless carriers, announced that Art Prest will share his expertise with RTG members as RTG’s Technology Advisor. Since 2004, Mr. Prest has worked with small and medium size wireless carriers, vendors and other industry participants on technical and regulatory issues. He represents RTG on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC). He also represents small telecommunications carriers on the board of directors of the E9-1-1 Institute, which supports House and Senate members of the United States Congress with issues involving E-911.
“Art brings more than 40 years of experience in telecommunications, and RTG members have benefitted from his expertise,” said Mike Higgins, Jr., RTG’s president and the Chief Executive Officer of West Central Wireless. “Now, RTG members can benefit more directly from Art as RTG’s Technology Advisor,” he continued.
Mr. Prest is managing director of Art Prest & Associates, a consulting firm that serves the technology needs of wireless carriers, vendors and other industry participants. Prior to this, he served as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Alpine PCS and RFB Cellular, two independently owned rural wireless carriers. Earlier in his career, Mr. Prest was Vice President for Science and Technology at the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA).
Art Prest has served on a number of boards of directors, including the Rural Cellular Association (RCA) and IFAST (the International Forum on ANSI-41 Standards and Technology) that manages the use of International Roaming Mobile Identification Numbers worldwide. He has also represented RCA on the FCC Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee (CMSAAC), the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions Emergency Services Interconnection Forum (ESIF) and the FCC’s Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC).
Mr. Prest is a frequent guest speaker and panel member for numerous wireless industry sessions at the FCC, SuperComm, NENA, APCO, E9-1-1 Institute and RCA. He received a Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and an MBA with Honors from Boston University.
About RTG
Headquartered in Washington, DC, Rural Telecommunications Group (RTG) is a trade association representing rural wireless carriers who serve less than 100,000 subscribers. RTG’s members have joined together to speed delivery of new, efficient and innovative telecommunications technologies to remote and underserved communities. www.ruraltelecomgroup.org
About Art Prest & Associates
Art Prest & Associates was formed in 2004 as a consulting firm that serves the technical and regulatory needs of wireless carriers, vendors and other industry participants. Clients have included the Rural Cellular Association (RCA), small and mid-size wireless carriers, and equipment and system vendors.
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