DENVER-CommNet Cellular Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Arnold C. Pohs has been elected chairman of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, the wireless industry’s trade association.
“Throughout the past 14 years as the wireless industry has come into its own, Arnold Pohs has been one of our earliest and staunchest supporters,” said CTIA President and CEO Tom Wheeler.
Pohs already has served in a number of capacities at CTIA including on the Executive Committee, Public Policy Council and as past chairman of the CTIA Foundation for Wireless Communications.
“While I am certainly very honored to be elected to this position,” Pohs said, “I believe it will be a daunting challenge due to the myriad of issues facing our fast-moving industry.”
Pohs has been at the helm of Englewood, Colo.-based CommNet Cellular since 1989. In assessing CTIA’s current orientation, he highlighted a number of issues facing the wireless industry: “Interconnection, the Universal Service Fund, health and safety matters, E-911, calling party pays-all of these are issues that both the industry and the association will have to address.”
CTIA, founded in 1984, is an international organization that represents all elements of wireless communications-cellular, personal communications services, enhanced specialized mobile radio and mobile satellite service-serving the interests of service providers, manufacturers and others. CTIA’s industry committees provide leadership in the areas of taxation, roaming, safety regulations, fraud and technology. The organization, with 25 employees and a $9 million annual budget, represents its members in a constant dialogue with policy makers in the Executive Branch, in the Federal Communications Commission and in Congress.
“Most importantly, this is an association made up of various competitive constituencies,” Pohs said. “One of the most important jobs of the association is to evenhandedly represent the interests of all players-pure cellular, cellular and PCS hybrids, pure PCS and ESMR carriers. All of these players are members of the association and all are also competing for the same subscribers.”
Pohs assumed his new responsibilities at CTIA on June 1.
