2025 Connect the Unconnected Rules

ELIGILIBITY

No purchase is necessary to enter. Offer void where prohibited. Eligible nominees are not required to be U.S. or Canadian residents. Any employee or representative of Corning Incorporated ("Corning"), Endeavor Business Media LLC (EBM), or any of Corning’s or EBM affiliates, or a member of such employee’s or representative’s immediate family or household is not eligible to be nominated. Only those entries that are completed and submitted via the form on this web site will be considered. Neither EBM nor Corning, nor their affilliates will be responsible or liable for: (a) any failure to receive entries due to transmission failures and other conditions beyond its reasonable control; (b) any late, lost, misrouted, garbled or distorted or damaged transmissions or entries; (c) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet or other computer or communications related malfunctions or failures; (d) any disruptions, injuries, losses or damages caused by events beyond the control of Corning or EBM; or (e) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the competition.

NOMINATIONS

Individuals will be considered for the Connect the Unconnected Award based initially on a nomination from one or more industry peers submitted via the online nomination form. Individuals should be nominated based on their contribution during the past year to the evolution of optical communications technology deeper into access networks in North America, Latin America, or the Caribbean. . Each nominator must describe, in no more than 500 words, why the nominee should receive the Award. In addition, the nominator must provide their own contact information and be willing to supply additional information related to the nominee if requested. The Nomonations will commence at 12:01 AM EDT on March 17, 2025 and will continue until 11:59 PM EDT  April 23, 2025, unless extended by the Award Program organizers. Only nominations received during such time will be considered.

WINNER SELECTION

The winning nominee will be selected from the pool of eligible nominees by a panel of judges selected at the sole discretion of Corning, the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), and EBM. All decisions of the judges selected by Corning, EBM and the FBA will be final and binding with respect to all issues relating to the competition. Individuals may be nominated by an unlimited number of persons, and each nomination will be considered. If one person nominates the same individual multiple times, only one of the nomination entries will be selected by the panel for review and the remainder eliminated. Prior to any Award being given, the winner determined by the panel of judges will be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility and release of liability.

AWARD 

The winner will receive a piece of Steuben glass. In addition, a profile of the winner describing their accomplishments in this field will be published on EBM Lightwave+BTR and ISE websites. Awards are not transferable, and no substitutions (including cash) will be permitted. ALL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OF THE AWARD ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.

RELEASE

By nominating an individual or by agreeing to accept the Award, the nominators and winner release, indemnify, and hold harmless Corning and EBM, and any other participating sponsors that may be included, and each of their respective affiliated companies, directors, officers, employees, representatives, and agents from any and all liability whatsoever for any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with this competition or with the acceptance of the Award. By accepting the Award, the winner and the individual(s) submitting the winning nomination consent to the use of their name, address, likeness, and/or Award information for promotional and other purposes without further consideration, except where prohibited by law. All submissions become the sole property of Corning and EBM and will not be returned.

The winning nomination and/or other nominations may be featured on the websites and social media accounts of Corning and EBM and their affiliates.

MISCELLANEOUS
The sponsors and promoters of this award are Corning Incorporated, and Endeavor Business Media LLC. Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Corning and Endeavor, which are final and binding in all respects. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Corning and EBM reserve the right to change these rules or cancel the competition at any time, in their sole discretion. Entrants who breach these Official Rules, attempt to tamper with the operation of the competition, or engage in any conduct that is detrimental or unfair to Corning, EBM, the competition or any other entrant (in each case, as determined by Corning and EBM in their sole discretion) are subject to disqualification from the competition. Corning and EBM reserve the right to lock out persons whose eligibility is in question or who have been disqualified or are otherwise ineligible to participate in the competition.