Wisconsin Technology Council: Telecom innovation and economic growth is topic at Nov. 24 WIN-Madison meeting

The top executive of AT&T in Wisconsin will talk about how innovation in the telecommunications industry can help spur economic growth in Wisconsin at the Nov. 24 meeting of the Wisconsin Innovation Network in Madison.

The luncheon will be held at the Sheraton Hotel on Madison’s John Nolen Drive. Registration and networking begin at 11:30 a.m., lunch at noon and the presentation at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $25 for WIN members, $35 for non-members; $10 for students and included with WIN corporate memberships. To register, go to http://www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.

Scott T. VanderSanden, president of AT&T in Wisconsin, will discuss the rapidly changing and competitive telecom landscape and developments in wireless and broadband. This will include a look at how telecom investment can spur economic activity in areas such as telemedicine while improving quality of care, enhancing safety and controlling healthcare costs. He will also discuss the BadgetNet network, which reaches more than 2,200 sites in Wisconsin through fiber connections in all 72 counties.

AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high-speed Internet and voice services to consumers and businesses. From 2006 through 2008, AT&T invested more than $1 billion in Wisconsin; in 2009 alone, the company will add 50 cell sites in Wisconsin.

Services growing in visibility and importance for small business owners in Wisconsin include broadband or high-speed Internet access, wireless applications (especially data services), wireline-wireless broadband bundles, hosted Voice over Internet Protocol capabilities providing unlimited local and long-distance calling as well as call management features, remote data backup and storage, and network security applications.

WIN is the membership subsidiary of the Wisconsin Technology Council, the independent, non-profit science and tech policy advisers to the governor and the Legislature. To join WIN, go to http://www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com or contact Liz Schrum at 608-442-7557, ext. 27 or lschrum@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.