DISH Co-Founder and Chairman Charlie Ergen, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr Headline Keynote Appearances at NATE UNITE 2022
DISH Co-Founder and Chairman Charlie Ergen, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr Headline Keynote Appearances at NATE UNITE 2022
Ergen and Carr to Deliver Industry Insights at NATE UNITE 2022 Awards Luncheon Sponsored by DISH on February 23 in Las Vegas
(Las Vegas, Nevada) – NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced today that DISH Co-Founder and Chairman Charlie Ergen and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr will participate in a moderated Q & A Keynote Fireside Chat at the NATE UNITE 2022 Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The keynote session will be moderated by prominent industry analyst Jennifer Fritzsche, Head of North American Telecom and Digital Infrastructure at Greenhill & Co. The keynote appearances by Ergen and Carr will take place during the DISH-sponsored NATE UNITE 2022 Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, February 23 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas.
NATE UNITE 2022 is widely regarded as the premier and most comprehensive educational conference and trade show in the diverse communications infrastructure industry. Conference attendees include representatives from contractor companies, engineering firms, wireless carriers, vertical realtors, manufacturers, distributors, public safety entities, technology firms, training companies, military organizations and educational institutions.
“On behalf of the Association’s over 1,040 member companies, we are thrilled to welcome Charlie Ergen and Commissioner Carr to NATE UNITE 2022,” stated President & CEO Todd Schlekeway. “The NATE UNITE 2022 Conference will provide Mr. Ergen and Mr. Carr with an invaluable platform to speak directly to the nation’s contractor company owners, technicians and vendors tasked with building, servicing, maintaining and deploying America’s wireless and mobile broadband networks and related infrastructure. Additionally, NATE UNITE 2022 being held in Las Vegas is well-timed to coincide with DISH preparing to activate service and make the city its first official 5G wireless market during the first quarter of 2022,” Schlekeway added.
“DISH would not be able to deploy America’s first cloud-based 5G network without our hardworking teammates in the tower industry,” said Charlie Ergen, DISH Co-Founder and Chairman. “We are grateful to NATE for providing this opportunity to connect and look forward to meaningful discussion with Commissioner Carr, Todd Schlekeway and conference attendees.”
“I am pleased to be joining NATE and its member companies for the NATE UNITE 2022 conference,” said Commissioner Carr. “The individuals that are building, servicing, maintaining, and deploying America’s wireless networks have some of the toughest jobs out there. But their hard, often gritty work is critical for the buildout of 5G and has allowed us to continue to lead the world in wireless. I look forward to speaking to these crews, and other attendees, about the work we can continue doing to ensure America keeps—and extends—its lead in 2022 and beyond.”
View the NATE UNITE 2022 Schedule of Events,
NATE UNITE 2022 sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities.
Register to attend NATE UNITE 2022 c
Register for the Tower Family Foundation Golf Invitational
For more information on NATE, visit www.natehome.com. For more information on DISH, visit www.dish.com. For more information on the FCC, visit www.fcc.gov.
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Charlie Ergen Biography
In 1980, Charlie Ergen co-founded EchoStar Communications Corporation as a C-Band satellite-TV distributor. Under EchoStar in March 1996, DISH Network emerged as the consumer brand providing direct broadcast satellite service to customers. In 2008, DISH Network spun off from EchoStar to separate the satellite service and technology sides of the business. Today, Charlie acts as the Chairman of EchoStar and DISH.
Charlie received his B.S. in General Business and Accounting from the University of Tennessee and his M.B.A. from the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University.
Brendan Carr Biography
Commissioner Brendan Carr is the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, and he served previously as the agency’s General Counsel.
Described by Axios as “the FCC’s 5G crusader,” Carr has led the FCC’s work to modernize its infrastructure rules and accelerate the buildout of high-speed networks. His reforms cut billions of dollars in red tape, enabled the private sector to construct high-speed networks in communities across the country, and extended America’s global leadership in 5G.
Commissioner Carr is also focused on expanding America’s skilled workforce—the tower climbers and construction crews needed to build next-gen networks. His jobs initiative promotes community colleges and apprenticeships as a pipeline for good-paying 5G jobs. And he is recognizing America’s talented and hardworking tower crews through a series of “5G Ready” Hard Hat presentations.
Commissioner Carr leads a groundbreaking telehealth initiative at the FCC. The Connected Care Pilot Program supports the delivery of high-quality care to low-income Americans and veterans.
Commissioner Carr’s time outside of Washington helps inform his approach to the job. He regularly hits the road to hear directly from the community members, local leaders, and small business owners that are impacted by the FCC’s policies at town halls and events across the country.
Commissioner Carr brings nearly 20 years of private and public sector experience in communications and tech policy to his position. Before joining the agency as a staffer back in 2012, he worked as an attorney at Wiley Rein LLP in the firm’s appellate, litigation, and telecom practices. Previously, Commissioner Carr clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit for Judge Dennis Shedd. And after attending Georgetown University for his undergrad, Commissioner Carr earned his J.D. magna cum laude from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law where he served as an editor of the Catholic University Law Review.
Commissioner Carr was nominated to the FCC by President Trump and confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate.
Commissioner Carr lives in Virginia with his wife and three kids.
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About NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association is a non-profit trade association dedicated to providing a unified voice for companies in the diverse tower and communications infrastructure construction, service and maintenance industries. Today the Association boasts over 1,040 member companies located throughout the United States, Bahamas, Canada, China, Israel, Jamaica, Lithuania, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and the United Kingdom. For additional information on NATE, please visit www.natehome.com.
Contact: Todd Schlekeway
(605) 882-5865
