KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Dick Barber has come out of retirement to help the Pacific Telecommunications Council find its footing in a tough climate.
Telecommunications council
founder is back on boardYou founded the Pacific Telecommunications Council, what inspired that?
Dick Barber
>> New job: Senior advisor for external relations at the Pacific Telecommunications Council
>> Background: The founder and retired executive director of the PTC has returned to provide pro bono assistance to a restructured council.
>> PTC: Since 1979 the Honolulu-based non-governmental membership organization has been a forum for communications providers, policy-makers and researchers. Its annual conference takes place each January in Honolulu.
I was one of several founders. There was some discussion going on at the time between the U.S. and Japan about telecommunications in the region and some of us in Hawaii thought it would be better to broaden that discussion to include other countries and other aspects of telecommunications.
What is it's mission?
It's to assist the countries of the region in adopting and applying information technology.
Has that mission changed over the years?
The immediate focus has changed, but the general theme has been constant.
What is PTC's immediate focus right now?
Information and communication technologies and how they can be implemented to assist developing countries. Our membership is made up of companies, individuals and nonprofits, including government.
The telecommunications industry is going through a rough time, how has that affected the PTC?
It's had a very significant effect on PTC. We were continuing to grow until about the year 2000, when the bubble burst, and we've had to downsize considerably since that time. A good part of our revenues come from our annual conference and all the reasons for not traveling have an effect on that.
Do you see this as temporary, something you can affect?
I don't think I'd be here if I didn't think so, but it's going to be rough.
The announcement of your posting refers to a recent major decrease in the size of the secretariat, can you explain that?
We had to let go about half the employees we had on board, that was done earlier this year. There's a paid staff of about eight or nine now. I'm not counting myself in that.
Is the PTC helped or hurt by its Hawaii location?
I think it's been helped considerably by the fact that it's here in the middle of the Pacific. It's sort of a neutral ground that the players feel comfortable with. They enjoy meeting here. People like to come to Hawaii in January.
What are your goals?
To have a very successful conference in January. We also have a new board of governors that hopefully will, as they adjust to their new roles, start to make a lot of interesting and favorable decisions.
Inside Hawaii Inc. is a conversation with a member of the Hawaii business community who has changed jobs, been elected to a board or been recognized for accomplishments. Send questions and comments to: business@starbulletin.com.
