Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) and Lightwave have named Gary Kerr, assistant vice president of Construction & Engineering for AT&T’s Southwest region, the recipient of the 11th Annual FTTXcellence Award. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the deployment of optical access networks in the Americas.
Robert Whitman, vice president of Market Development for Corning’s Carrier Networks, presented Kerr with the award at the 2014 FTTH Conference & Expo in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Kerr was nominated based on his involvement in AT&T's decision to deploy its fiber-based, 1 gigabit-per-second GigaPower service in Austin and Dallas, Texas. While AT&T had deployed FTTH in limited greenfield applications, it was Kerr who noted the potential opportunities of an ultra-fast fiber build in brownfield applications.
In addition to deployments in Austin and Dallas, AT&T previously said it may expand its GigaPower service to as many as 100 additional markets.
“As we witness a new wave of FTTH interest and deployment, it’s an exciting time to be part of this industry,” said Whitman. “We are proud to recognize Gary as an FTTH visionary who has championed FTTH deployment in brownfield communities for AT&T. Not only will these communities have access to gigabit speed broadband but the resulting socioeconomic benefits will provide long lasting returns. On behalf of everyone at Corning, I congratulate Gary on this honor.”
“AT&T’s decision to deploy FTTH has been met with great customer acceptance, and Gary’s foresight is a key reason they are considering expanding to other markets,” added Stephen Hardy, editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave. “The success of the initial deployments of AT&T’s GigaPower infrastructure is in larger part due to Gary's deep understanding of continued advancements within FTTH.”
As part of the awards ceremony, Kerr was honored with a donation in his name to US Ignite, a non-profit, public-private partnership whose mission is to make the U.S. the world leader in applications and services for ultra-fast, software-defined networks. He also received a decorative glass piece from the Corning Museum of Glass, and will be profiled in an upcoming issue of Lightwave magazine.
About Lightwave
For more than 25 years, Lightwave (www.lightwaveonline.com) has delivered trusted technical, application and business insights to senior-level decision makers for optical communications worldwide. Lightwave’s technical magazine, email newsletters, targeted in-depth website, events and research are established, valued resources for more than 100,000 corporate executives, department heads, project managers, network engineers and others making strategic decisions for their businesses. Lightwave is part of the Technology Group of PennWell Corp. a highly diversified, business-to-business media company providing authoritative print and online publications, conferences and exhibitions, research, databases, online exchanges and information products to strategic global markets.
About Corning Incorporated
Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science. For more than 160 years, Corning has applied its unparalleled expertise in specialty glass, ceramics, and optical physics to develop products that have created new industries and transformed people’s lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in R&D, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and close collaboration with customers to solve tough technology challenges. Corning’s businesses and markets are constantly evolving. Today, Corning’s products enable diverse industries such as consumer electronics, telecommunications, transportation, and life sciences. They include damage-resistant cover glass for smartphones and tablets; precision glass for advanced displays; optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions for high-speed communications networks; trusted products that accelerate drug discovery and manufacturing; and emissions-control products for cars, trucks, and off-road vehicles.
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