Executive Chairman, Atn
Search every verified Michael Prior interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Michael Prior, Executive Chairman of ATN International, discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the telecom industry in a September 2020 CANTO Conversations webinar. He stated that the pandemic forced customers, workers, and management to rapidly embrace digitization, accelerating a strategy the company had been pursuing. Prior described the telecom industry as "exceedingly fast moving and changing, driven by technology and consumer use." He noted that while demand for connectivity is increasing, customers cannot afford to pay much more, creating a challenge for operators to invest in networks. Prior also said that over-the-top applications generate significant revenues from operator investments, but operators struggle to monetize these services, particularly when providers are not resident in the markets served. Prior commented on regulatory challenges, saying there is a "lack of understanding among regulators about the rapid changes in telecom technology and the significant investments required." He advocated for regulators to make spectrum more available and affordable and to adopt lighter-touch regulation. During the pandemic, Prior said ATN worked with tribal leadership in rural US markets like the Navajo Nation to provide connectivity for remote learning. He described the leadership qualities needed during a crisis as urgency, creativity, decisiveness, and credibility, and said the company seeks leaders with a "business owner" mentality who take responsibility for employees and customers.
“The telecom industry has become exceedingly fast moving and changing, driven by technology and consumer use, making it both exciting and challenging.”
“The pandemic forced our customers, workers, and management to embrace digitization rapidly, accelerating a strategy we had been pushing for a while.”
“There is ever-increasing demand for connectivity—faster speeds, more capacity, lower latency—but customers can't really afford to pay much more, which creates a challenge for operators to invest in networks.”
“Over-the-top applications generate tremendous revenues off the investments operators have made, but operators struggle to monetize these services, especially since many over-the-top providers are not resident in the markets we serve, resulting in no tax revenue or revenue sharing.”
“There is a lack of understanding among regulators about the rapid changes in telecom technology and the significant investments required, often due to an outdated utility mindset.”
“Our future is to be a trusted technology partner, helping customers access digital tools that improve their lives, requiring wise investments and anticipating customer needs.”
“Leadership during crisis requires urgency, creativity, decisiveness, and credibility, while avoiding panic and being willing to make and quickly correct mistakes.”
“The mentality we seek in leaders is that of a business owner who takes full responsibility for employees' and customers' experience and health.”
“In rural US markets like the Navajo Nation, COVID-19 has had significant health impacts, and we have worked closely with tribal leadership to provide critical connectivity, including solutions for remote learning.”
“Regulators can support broadband expansion by making spectrum more available and affordable, lowering regulatory fees, and adopting lighter-touch regulation to encourage investment, rather than increasing costs and regulatory burdens.”
“I'm also CEO of Atlantic Tel network, a public holding company with a variety of assets, but our biggest asset relevant to this space is we own the last vestige of Altel operating in rural areas in the Southeast and the Midwest.”
Mr. Prior, CEO of ATN International gives his views as a CEO managing a company during COVID-19.
Michael Prior, CEO of Atlantic Tele-Network stops by and says hello to RCR Wireless News at the 2012 RCA Spring Expo.
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