ATLANTA, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bob Dawson, president and CEO of SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), was recently elected to the 2011 board of directors of CTIA-The Wireless Association®, a not-for-profit member organization serving the wireless telecommunications industry.

The SouthernLINC Wireless chief executive joins eight other small carrier representatives on the trade group's 35-member board of directors. This marks Dawson's 10th consecutive appointment to CTIA's board.

"As our industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, we are looking forward to working with some of the best wireless industry leaders, including Bob Dawson of SouthernLINC Wireless," said Steve Largent, president and CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association. "Their diverse experiences and understanding about this highly innovative and competitive sector will be a great asset to CTIA and its member companies."

Dawson has served as president and CEO of SouthernLINC Wireless since the company's commercial launch in 1996 and has been a part of Southern Company for more than 45 years.

"Wireless technology plays an important role in improving the way we live and work," said Dawson. "It is truly a privilege to represent smaller carriers on key industry issues and initiatives that affect our personal and professional daily activities."

CTIA announced the election results at CTIA ENTERPRISE & APPLICATIONS™, an annual wireless industry trade show, held earlier this month in San Francisco. For more about the 17 recently elected small carrier representatives and supplier representatives who will serve the organization next year, please visit: http://bit.ly/CTIA2011BODrelease.

About SouthernLINC Wireless

SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is an Atlanta-based regional wireless carrier with network coverage in the major metro and rural areas of Alabama, Georgia, southeast Mississippi and northwest Florida. SouthernLINC Wireless bundles multiple communication options, including Push To Talk two-way radio, cellular service, wireless Internet access, wireless data, and text and picture messaging, into one hand-held device. For more information, please call 1-800-818-LINC (5462) or visit www.southernlinc.com.

About Southern Company

With 4.4 million customers and more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company is the premier energy company serving the Southeast. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company is consistently listed among the top U.S. electric service providers in customer satisfaction by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

About CTIA–The Wireless Association

CTIA-The Wireless Association (www.ctia.org) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry's voluntary best practices and initiatives and sponsors the industry's leading wireless tradeshows. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE SouthernLINC Wireless