Telecommunications

Chairman:Jack Powell, ExxonMobil

Vice Chairman: Rick (F.H.) Smith, Chevron Corporation – Radio & Microwave Subcommittee Chairman

Vice Chairman: Greg Lepkowski, BP p.l.c. – Networks and Technology Subcommittee Chairman

The API Telecommunications Committee is made up of over 27 companies representing all facets of the oil and gas industry. As a subcommittee of the General Committee on Information Management & Technology (GCIMT), the API Telecommunications Committee serves as a forum for the oil, gas and energy industry to address telecommunications matters impacting existing or proposed operations. The Committee's mission is to support the industry's effective management and implementation of telecommunications technologies, resources, regulatory and legislative efforts.

Membership is open to any company in the oil and gas industry, whether or not that company is a member of the American Petroleum Institute. Representatives include telecommunications managers and other IT professionals from major petroleum exploration, production and marketing companies, pipeline companies, and industry service providers.

Committee functions include regulatory and technical information sharing as well as special projects geared towards the use of telecommunications technologies to the benefit of the entire industry. The Committee contracts with external sources for legal counsel and private wireless frequency coordination, as well as regulatory consulting. Please consult the Committee charter for more information pertaining the committee's functions and organizational structure.

Click here for the 2008 membership form (PDF).

External Resources

The API Telecommunications Committee currently contracts legal counsel services with Keller & Heckman LLP. Keller & Heckman provides the committee with representation before the Federal Communications Committee (FCC).
The Committee's private wireless spectrum coordination is through the Energy Wireless Alliance (EWA-ITA).

Both of these organizations supply the committee with regular updates, both at the bi-annual meetings and throughout the year.

In addition to legal and spectrum coordination, the committee holds contracts with consultants and external lobbyists, who represent the committee's interests before the U.S. Congress.