GREENBELT, MD, JULY 28, 2009 - JSI congratulates Senior Vice President Steve Meltzer for winning the 2009 Associate Member Distinguished Service Award from the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO).  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 46^th Annual Summer Convention and Tradeshow in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

Steve was singled out for this award for his work over the last 32 years with community-based telecom companies, OPASTCO, and its charitable arm, the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED).  Working effectively and tirelessly within the often-baffling environment of FCC and state PUC accounting rules and regulations, Steve has served as a forceful advocate for rural-companies and rural communities in the critical separations and settlements field. 

Throughout his career, Steve has been very pro-active in broad industry and association efforts on both the educational and advocacy fronts.  He has served on various industry task forces, such as the NECA Cost Issues Task Group and Rate Development Task Force.  In addition, he has served for many years as an active member of the OPASTCO Separations & Access and Education committees.  Also, for more than five years, Steve has been a member of the FRED Board of Directors and currently serves as FRED Secretary/Treasurer.  In addition, he has contributed to any number of OPASTCO, national, and state association educational sessions and seminars and has contributed articles to the OPASTCO Roundtable and other industry journals. 

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JSI provides a full array of financial, management, regulatory, business development, marketing/public relations and strategic services, as well as education and training. Established in 1962, JSI today provides these services, and more, to hundreds of companies across the nation. JSI also offers analysis and review of such competitive-focused issues as pricing and bundling, VoIP and IPTV assessment, CLEC and video/cable operations, strategic partnerships, image and identity, and mergers/acquisitions. With more than 95 professionals on staff, JSI remains a leader in offering business solutions to independent providers. In addition to its Greenbelt, Md., headquarters, JSI has regional offices in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Austin, and Salt Lake City.