Jul 14, 2009 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) -- Today, Connected Nation (www.connectednation.org), an international leader in broadband strategy and programming, announced the engagement of Debra R. Covey as senior strategic advisor, where she will provide strategic and operational guidance for Connected Nation's broadband initiatives work that stems from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). As Connected Nation works to implement broadband mapping, planning, and demand side programs, Ms. Covey brings a wealth of strategic leadership and tactical execution experience from the telecom sector and beyond. Ms. Covey's most recent telecom industry experience was with British Telecom (BT), where she was the senior leader responsible for BT's Wholesale Networks and Operations, with oversight of network design, planning and engineering, capital management, and capacity management. Among other responsibilities at BT, Ms. Covey was responsible for all UK field operations, vendor negotiations, and network security for BT's core network, covering 30 million lines and 23 million customers. Ms. Covey was accountable for 10,000 employees and managed the successful planning and initial deployment of BT's 21CN project (21st Century Network) -- a $15 billion investment program in the UK's primary broadband network. "With each state in the U.S. poised to invest stimulus dollars in broadband networks (www.connectednation.org) and to implement technology programs that can strengthen America's competitiveness in the networked world, Connected Nation is pleased to leverage the depth of Deb Covey's experiences," said Brian Mefford, Connected Nation's chairman and CEO. "Deb will be a key asset to Connected Nation, but more importantly, she will become an indispensable resource to the state and federal leaders with whom Connected Nation works daily. DEBRA COVEY CV Born: Corsicana, Texas Educated: University of Texas 2008: Chief operating officer, MAC Property Management 2005: Managing director, operations, BT Wholesale 2003: Director of network operations, BT Wholesale 2000: Senior vice president, operations, Genuity 1995: Director for strategic planning, GTE 1987: Director for network provisioning (access and core), Sprint 1982: National program manager for initial fiber network, Sprint 1984: Service provisioner, Sprint 1979: Customer service representative, SBC To learn more about Connected Nation, visit www.connectednation.org].

Other ICT (information and communications technologies) leaders, including Debra Covey, managing director at BT Wholesale; Jaime Fink, vice president of technology and strategy at 2Wire; Eugenio Iannone, senior vice president of application engineering and market validation at Pirelli Labs; Stefano Nocentini, head of Tilab at Telecom Italia; Paolo Pastorino, chief technology officer at Home Gateway Initiative; Eyal Rosen, vice president of marketing at Nokia Siemens Network; Yossi Saad, vice president of marketing at Actelis; David Stevenson, vice president of access network management and home devices product group at Alcatel-Lucent; Emil Svanberg, vice president of product management at Operax; and Martin Thunman, chief executive officer at PacketFront, shared their expert knowledge and insight with C5 World Forum attendees.

Other C5 World Forum speakers include Debra Covey, managing director at BT Wholesale; Jaime Fink, vice president of technology and strategy at 2Wire; Eugenio Iannone, senior vice president of application engineering and market validation at Pirelli Labs; Stefano Nocentini, head of Tilab at Telecom Italia; Paolo Pastorino, chief technology officer at Home Gateway Initiative; Eyal Rosen, vice president of marketing at Nokia Siemens Network; Yossi Saad, vice president of marketing at Actelis; David Stevenson, vice president of access network management and home devices product group at Alcatel-Lucent; Emil Svanberg, vice president of product management at Operax; and Martin Thunman, chief executive officer at PacketFront.