COMPTEL's Comstock Resigns

Earl Comstock has resigned as president and CEO of COMPTEL, the competitive carrier association announced late Wednesday.

Jerry James, former president of Grande Communications and a past chairman of COMPTEL, will serve as interim CEO of COMPTEL, effective immediately.

Comstock said he is leaving COMPTEL to “pursue other interests.” He served as head of the association since June 2005, after Comptel and ALTS merged. Comstock replaced H. Russell Frisby Jr., a long-time leader in telecom.

J. Sherman Henderson III, president and CEO of Lightyear Network Solutions LLC and chairman of COMPTEL's board, said in a news release that Comstock has “worked tirelessly on behalf of COMPTEL and the entire competitive communications industry.”

A call to Henderson late Thursday was not immediately returned.

COMPTEL has struggled the past few years to win any legal battles against the Bell carriers. The FCC, federal courts and Congress all have dealt blows to the CLEC community, from eliminating UNE-P to granting regulatory relief to the Baby Bells.

COMPTEL www.comptel.org