With the theme of "Ten Years of Connecting Oregon - A Foundation for Future Prosperity," the tenth annual Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, September 29 and 30, at the Mt. Bachelor Village Resort in Bend.

The Oregon Connections conference draws attendees from all regions of the state to share ideas, experiences and knowledge about telecommunications. The 2005 conference presenters and attendees will recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the past decade, while discussing how we can continue working together in our efforts to realize the benefits of telecommunications throughout all of Oregon.

Ron Resnick will deliver a conference opening keynote address on September 29. Mr. Resnick is President and Chairman of the WiMAX Forum www.wimaxforum.org and Director of Marketing of the Broadband Wireless Division of Intel Corporation. The conference agenda also includes sessions that will examine innovative and collaborative projects in progress around Oregon, telecommunications project funding, new and innovative technologies, and telecommunications legislation and policy issues.

The 2005 Conference marks the fifth year for the "Excellence in Telecommunications" awards, to be presented at the conference Awards Luncheon. Developed to honor individuals and organizations that have positively impacted telecommunications development in Oregon, the Excellence in Telecommunications awards will be presented in five categories: applications, projects, partnerships, legislation, and advocacy.

Conference registration and award nominations can be submitted on line at: www.cotel.org/conf2005.htm

The Oregon Connections Conference originated in 1995 as a forum to provide vital tools for local community development, with a focus on telecommunications strategic planning in rural areas, and is now a statewide event. The conference is hosted by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council. Conference sponsors and planning partners include: Bend Broadband, Comcast, Communications Specialists, Intel, Qwest Communications, Sparling, Association of Oregon Counties, Eastern Oregon Telecommunications Consortium, Southern Oregon Telecommunications and Technology Council (SOTTC), and the City of Eugene.