JSI Vice President-Operations Steve Meltzer received OPASTCO’s 2009 Associate Member Distinguished Service Award.  The award is the highest honor given to an associate member and is presented in recognition of “effective leadership and long-term involvement in OPASTCO, along with extraordinary accomplishments and contributions on behalf of small telecommunications companies on a local, state or national level.”  Steve was honored during OPASTCO’s 46th Annual Summer Convention and Tradeshow in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Steve was singled out for his work over the last 32 years with JSI clients, the association, and its charitable arm, the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED).  Working within the often-baffling environment of FCC and state PUC accounting rules and regulations, Steve has been a forceful advocate for independent providers in the critical separations and settlements arena.  Throughout his career, Steve has been pro-active in broad industry and association efforts on both the educational and advocacy fronts and has served on such groups as the OPASTCO Separations & Access and Education committees and the NECA Cost Issues Task Group and Rate Development Task Force.  For the past five years, Steve has been a member of the FRED Board of Directors and currently serves as FRED Secretary/Treasurer.