PWS names keynote speaker
Richard J. Sheirer will deliver the keynote speech, and Mark E. Crosby will receive an award at the Private Wireless Summit set for Nov. 6-9 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington.
Sheirer is senior vice president of Giuliani Partners, New York. Crosby is president of Access Spectrum, Bethesda, Md., and is a former president of the Industrial Telecommunications Association. Together with USMSS and the Council of Independent Communications Suppliers, ITA organizes PWS.
“Sheirer will speak on leadership, passion, teamwork and courage, inspiring the audience with stories from his role in former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s administration,” said Laura Smith, ITA’s president.
Sheirer had a 34-year career in public service, serving most recently as commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management in Giuliani’s administration. He developed plans for the city’s multiple-agency response to emergencies. He was responsible for coordinating rescue, recovery and clean-up efforts at the New York World Trade Center.
Crosby, the president of 700 MHz Guard Band manager, Access Spectrum, Bethesda, Md., since resigning from ITA in 2001, will receive an award for “outstanding contributions to private wireless.” Crosby had been named to head ITA, then called the Special Industrial Radio Service Association (SIRSA), in 1975.
“Through Crosby’s leadership, ITA became a leading voice in the private wireless community, fighting hard for additional spectrum and rules that would enhance spectral efficiency of private wireless systems. He has been vigilant to help mitigate interference in the private wireless bands,” Smith said.
During his tenure, the industry was allocated spectrum at 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 220 MHz and, most recently, the 700 MHz Guard Band.
“Crosby led the industry through the FCC’s refarming proceeding, which narrow banded the spectrum below 512 MHz, and through the consolidation of the 20 radio services into two: Industrial/Business and Public Safety. He pioneered the concept of the guard band manager and worked with the FCC and the industry to make it a reality. In 2000, Crosby co-founded Access Spectrum, a guard band manager, and later left ITA and to become its president,” Smith said.
“During Crosby’s leadership, ITA diversified its membership, automated its processes, added spectrum management services and nearly doubled its staff. With Crosby at the helm, ITA gained FCC certification as a frequency coordinator in the 800/900 MHz bands.
As a result, the membership of the association grew beyond the core Special Industrial Radio Service (mining, fuel oil delivery, pipeline maintenance, agribusiness, heavy construction, ready-mixed concrete) to include a cross-section of private wireless users, including airlines, express package delivery, oil and gas refineries, manufacturers, chemical firms and utilities, Smith said.
Smith said that Crosby aggressively expanded the association’s services to include engineering, the PCS Clearinghouse and post-licensing conflict resolution.
In the mid-1980s, ITA opened an additional office in Gettysburg, Pa., near the FCC’s licensing facility, to provide research services, and the associations said that it remains the only frequency coordinator with a permanent presence there.
The Gettysburg offices also serve applicants in the preparation of their radio license applications, a service that some say can only be lawfully provided by attorneys.
“Also during Crosby’s tenure, ITA fully automated its frequency coordination process. Most recently, we developed a Web-access coordination program, known as NetLicense2,” Smith said.
“Given his leadership of this association over the last 25 years, as well as his many contributions to our industry during those years, it is clear to me that Mark Crosby should receive this year’s award,” said Smith.
PWS attracts private wireless users, radio dealers and communication service providers. It features general sessions, training meetings and an exposition.
Subjects covered include private wireless regulatory issues, legislation initiatives, new spectrum opportunities and communications technology.
Additionally, several companies will be holding training sessions for two-way radio dealers.
For more information about PWS, visit www.ita-relay.com or call 703-528-5115.
