Atlanta ­ Attendees of the Competitive Telecommunications Association's (CompTel) sold-out 17th Annual Convention and Trade Show today were treated to a gigantic birthday bash to celebrate the anniversary of historic legislation that has helped spur competition and consumer choice in the hotly-contested market for telecommunications services.

On hand as keynote speaker ­ and presented with an engraved, ceremonial knife for cutting an enormous birthday cake ­ was William E. Kennard, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The celebration at Atlanta's Apparel Mart ­ which included confetti cannons, showers of balloons, and a rousing performance by the acclaimed Morehouse Marching Band ­ hailed the third birthday of the landmark 1996 Telecommunications Act. That law, signed Feb. 8, 1996, created new groundrules for competition in the local and long-distance telecommunications industries.

"The Telecommunications Act of 1996 serves competition, and therefore serves customers," said H. Russell Frisby, Jr., President of CompTel. "The law than the President signed three years ago is sensible, sound, and we say 'Stick with it.'"

CompTel's 17th Annual Convention and Trade Show here, which attracted 3,200 registered attendees (as of Monday morning) and 133 exhibitors ­ is CompTel's largest Annual Convention to date. CompTel expects more than 3,600 registered attendees by the conclusion of the convention on Wednesday.