In 2004, Light Reading established an important new annual industry awards program, through which top public and private companies and their executives are recognized for their outstanding achievements in the telecommunications industry: the Leading Lights Awards. This year, we're doing it again. Given the rousing response to our previous year's program – there were more than 300 entrants – we expect this year's program to be even more exciting. At the Four Seasons Resort in Santa Barbara, Calif. on the eve of the Heavy Reading's Links 2006 Executive Summit, we will be holding a gala dinner, where the Leading Lights Award winners will be announced before an audience of 200+ industry executives, Wall Street financial analysts, and technology and business press. This dinner and the ensuing celebration are something very special. We expect nearly 300 companies to enter the awards program, which will judged by a panel that includes Light Reading editors, Heavy Reading analysts, and invited experts from the leading investment banks and venture capital firms. Click here for a complete list of the awards. Out of all those entries, only 11 awards will be handed out. And you could be sitting front row center to soak in all the thrills – while enjoying fine food and fabulous wine. Why do the Leading Lights Awards matter? Because Light Reading's reputation for fiercely independent analysis instantly makes this the most credible and authoritative awards program in the industry – and it provides telecom companies with an amazing opportunity to evangelize their expertise and success. The awards categories and judging criteria have been developed based on our publication's 6+ years, and our top editors' combined 130 years, of experience analyzing telecommunications – plus extensive feedback from both leading financial analysts and service providers. Leading Lights Awards Click here to view the Leading Lights Awards Finalists. Here's the complete list of awards to be announced on November 15, at the awards dinner. Here's the complete list of awards to be announced on November 15, at the awards dinner. PUBLIC COMPANIES Leadership Award Awarded to the CEO or senior executive who has demonstrated the greatest qualities of leadership, technological vision, and financial acumen when guiding his/her public company through the telecommunications recession Investment Potential Awarded to the company that represents the best long-term potential return on investment by virtue of solid management, product development, and market growth potential New Product Awarded to the company that has developed a market-leading product that, through engineering and technical excellence, best enables the deployment of profitable next-generation telecommunications services New Service Awarded to the service provider or carrier that has most successfully deployed a market-leading, revenue-generating service based on next-generation telecommunications technology M&A Strategy Awarded to the company that has consistently demonstrated good timing, judgment, and execution in high-profile acquisitions Marketing Awarded to the company that has best communicated a specific technological vision and/or business proposition to customers and investors, especially in cases where the company has defined and led the market PRIVATE COMPANIES Leadership Award Awarded to the CEO or senior executive who has demonstrated the greatest qualities of leadership, technological vision, and financial acumen when guiding his/her private company or startup through the telecommunications recession Top IPO or M&A Candidate Awarded to the private company that most clearly has the management, products, and financial stability to launch a successful IPO or be acquired on its own terms within the next 12 months New Product Awarded to the company that has developed a market-leading product that, through engineering and technical excellence, best enables the deployment of profitable next-generation telecommunications services New Service Awarded to the service provider or carrier that has most successfully deployed a market-leading, revenue-generating service based on next-generation telecommunications technology Marketing Awarded to the company that has best communicated a specific technological vision and/or business proposition to customers and investors, especially in cases where the company has defined and led the market Rules The Leading Lights Awards will be judged by a panel of experts, including Light Reading editors, Heavy Reading analysts, and guest judges from the industry at large. Awards will be selected based upon the merits of the companies and the products themselves, as judged by the editorial panel, without consideration of existing business relationships with Light Reading Inc. or other entities involved in the judging. Judges with investment relationships with the companies must recuse themselves in voting on awards in which those conflicts exist. The winners will under no circumstances be announced until the Awards Dinner, the night of November 15. All decisions are final. Option 1: Awards Dinner Only Click here and you can attend the Leading Lights Awards gala banquet for $499 per person. Cocktail Reception will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the dinner at 7:30 p.m. Speaking at the Leading Lights gala dinner will be Light Reading Founder and President, Stephen Saunders. Handing out the awards will be Light Reading's Founding Editor Peter Heywood, Editor in Chief Scott Raynovich, and News Editor Phil Harvey, joined by Heavy Reading Chief Analyst Scott Clavenna. The room will be filled with the industry's most influential people and, since this is a Light Reading and Heavy Reading event, you can't possibly predict what kind of surprises might ensue. In any case, guests will have fine food, exceptional company, and what is becoming the industry's gold standard for accomplishment: the Leading Lights Awards. Option 2: Sponsor a Table Special Offer for Awards Finalists We've extended an extra special offer to companies that are finalists for a Leading Lights Award. Those companies can get an eight-place, including a pennant denoting their affiliation. This will provide a finalist with a chance to offer hospitality to its most valued customers or suppliers while celebrating its success and industry recognition. What better way to impress potential customers than to take them to a prestigious dinner where your company wins accolades and honors from the rest of the industry – and from the leading media outlet covering the space? To reserve your table contact Jeff Claudino, Sales Manager, Insider Research Services, 619-229-9940, claudino@lightreading.com. Click here for more information on Heavy Reading Links Executive Summit 2006. Leading Lights Awards Contacts For more information on the awards, or anything else that's on your mind (no political or religious issues, please) click here or contact: R. Scott Raynovich Editor in Chief Light Reading 212-925-0020 x103 raynovich@lightreading.com or Amy Averbook Director of Marketing Light Reading 212-925-0020 x112 averbook@lightreading.com