Most Recent Grassroots Advocacy Exellence Award Winner
Inaugural Grassroots Advocacy Excellence Award Recipient
Linda Burton
Sierra Telephone Company
On Jan. 16, 2008, at OPASTCO's 45th Annual Winter Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., Brent Christensen of Christensen Communications in Madelia, Minn., who chairs the OPASTCO Legislative Policy Committee, and OPASTCO Legislative Director Randy Tyree presented Linda Burton of Sierra Telephone Company, Calif., with the inaugural OPASTCO Grassroots Advocacy Excellence Award in recognition of her tireless and innovative grassroots efforts on behalf of rural telecommunications service providers. Christensen explained that Burton has developed strong relationships with members of Congress and pioneered ideas to prepare carriers for meetings on Capitol Hill that have been incorporated into OPASTCO's Legislative and Regulatory Conference.
OPASTCO members provide advanced telecommunications services to customers in difficult-to-serve areas. On average, OPASTCO members are able to offer broadband to more than 90 percent of their customers. Enabling policymakers to understand telecommunications issues that are key to rural America, when those issues should be addressed, and how to resolve them successfully is of vital importance to rural consumers. Developing one-on-one relationships with policymakers is necessary to enable them to understand how hard rural carriers work to meet their customers' needs.
OPASTCO salutes Ms. Burton for her contributions to our industry's grassroots initiatives. For more information about the OPASTCO Grassroots Advocacy Excellence Award, e-mail Randy Tyree call him at 202/659-5990.