Dear Colleagues:  

Though it’s only September, we’ve already begun looking ahead to the end of 2016 and the new year as we plan our business and our clients’ plans through the rest of the year. Business is continuing as usual, but before we get ahead of ourselves, we wanted to update you all on what’s been happening over here on 19th Street: 

Thank you to everyone who came to our studio party on August 30! We had a great time discussing our expanded video capabilities and other services with our colleagues. If you and your organization are interested in using video to help tell your story, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!  

Just this week, we posted to our blog a Q&A with Everett Bellamy, a professor and former dean at Georgetown University Law Center, co-founder of Bellamy, Fernandez + Arnold, a government relations consulting firm here in DC, and a dear friend of mine. We discussed small business, entrepreneurs, and the challenges they face in today’s business climate. Check out the full blog post here (insert link). 

Mark your calendars now: DCC’s Annual Client Appreciation Party will be on Thursday, November 17th from 5:30-7:30 at Dale’s house in Georgetown! Be on the lookout for more details to come. 

Kudos Corner: 

NENA – At the end of August, the National Emergency Number Association’s (NENA) Director of Government Affairs Trey Forgety co-presented a talk at the annual DEFCON Conference in Las Vegas, NV on the cybersecurity threats that plague current and Next-Generation 9-1-1 systems. The issue has captured the attention of The Washington Post and others as a national cybersecurity concern. 

Recently, the Office of Management and Budget published a list of recommended classifications for revising the Standard Occupational Classifications (SOC), which suggested that emergency dispatchers be placed under the “Office and Administrative Support” category instead of “Protective Services.” NENA believes the 9-1-1 system could be strengthened by actively working with OMB to change this recommendation. Find NENA’s comments submitted to OMB this month here

Also in response to this, NENA just last week launched an “In Their Words” campaign, where they plan to gather stories from 9-1-1 professionals about their success stories as dispatchers. If you or anyone you know has a story to share, please check out their webpage here

Chavez Schools – We are excited for Chavez Schools to embark on their first-ever year-long public policy investigation, “#JustFreeEqual: Policing in America,” in response to current national events centered on police brutality and community policing. Learn more about their initiative here

Last summer Chavez held their 5th Annual Public Policy Symposium at Georgetown University, allowing students to present their year-long research theses to a crowd of peers, teachers, and community leaders. They just released their video recap of the event on Chavez’s website, which DCC was proud to assist in producing. Check it out! 

WISPA – The Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) is holding its annual WISPAPALOOZA conference in Las Vegas next month. The seven-day conference will feature training and education sessions as well as vendors showcasing wireless products and services. Dale will be in attendance, assisting WISPA with media outreach, key presentations, and speaking on two panels discussing marketing and social media presence. We’re excited to support WISPA on this event!  

IPC – IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries is celebrating Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) on October 7 this year. MFG Day aims to inspire the next generation by having manufacturers across the country open their facilities for students and the general public to get a better sense of what they do everyday. Good luck to IPC and its member companies for the events they’ve already planned! 

BPC – The Bipartisan Policy Center recently published their Annual Report issue of Dialogue, their quarterly magazine. This issue highlighted BPC’s policy successes and the many ways their work influenced legislative and regulatory policy in 2015-2016. BPC policy recommendations found their way into legislation as varied as the 2015 end-of-year omnibus appropriations bill; the Medicare Access and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2016; and the House-passed 21st Century Cures Act; among many others. We’re proud to support BPC and its continuing, tangible influence on policy discussions that help improve the health and welfare of all Americans. 

InterDigital – In July, InterDigital announced it was among a small handful of companies invited by the White House to participate in the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Wireless Testbed Consortium, a $400 million initiative to develop next-generation wireless technology, including advanced 5G and Internet of Things technology. 

Recently, InterDigital presented its latest innovations related to the Internet of Things at the Industrial Internet Consortium’s Q3 member meeting in Heidelberg, Germany, as well as at the Telecommunications Industry Association’s IoT Workshop in Arlington, Virginia. 

How can we help you? 

If we haven’t told you recently, we are so grateful for your friendship and support. Please continue to consider Dale Curtis Communications for your organization’s communications needs. We would be happy to talk with you about how we could support your outreach efforts and help drive growth. 

 All the best, 

 Dale