Dan Smith News

MariTEL, Inc. today announced that Dan Smith has been named President and Chief Executive Officer effective February 1, 2002. Smith joins MariTEL from BellSouth, where he has been executive vice president of Latin America North for BellSouth International since 1998. Prior to his assignment at BellSouth International, Dan was vice president of sales and marketing for BellSouth Cellular and earlier, regional vice president of BellSouth Mobility. Dan has also been group vice president of American Cellular. Donald DePriest, Chairman of the Board of MariTEL stated, “We are thrilled to have Dan Smith join MariTEL. Dan brings us tremendous knowledge and experience in the wireless field at this critical time when MariTEL is about to roll out its first regional service.

Demonstrating an affordable and proven capability to strengthen America's port security, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) officials and Rhode Island legislative leaders recently commemorated the opening of the Athena Maritime Domain Awareness Fusion Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The Athena system fuses a large number of existing sensor data to provide decision makers with the real-time maritime situational awareness they need to enable quick, responsive actions to protect the country's shoreline. Attending the event were Gov. Don Carcieri, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Lincoln Davenport Chafee, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, and Congressman Jim Langevin, who joined IDS President Dan Smith and Petryszyn in cutting the ribbon.

After over 30 years of service to mariners across the United States, MariTEL is discontinuing Marine radio voice communications service, effective June 6, 2003, citing rising operating costs and declining service revenues. “MariTEL appreciates the opportunity to serve the marine industry over the years. I sincerely hope that MariTEL service has been useful and regret that this action is necessary,” said Dan Smith, President and CEO of MariTEL. “Over the past decade, the coastal radio station voice communications market has been eroded by the proliferation of public mobile services (cellular and PCS), satellite communications, and other commercial mobile radio services.