NARUC Winter Meetings
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
Winter Meetings
Feb 15-18
Renaissance Washington Hotel
Washington, DC
Includes:
Friday, February 13
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Staff Subcommittee on Telecommunications
1:00 PM Closed Session
2:00 PM Open Session Begins
2:00 PM Preliminary Matters
2:10 PM Reports from NARUC: 1) Litigation Report - Brad Ramsay (NARUC), 2) Legislative Report - Brian O'Hara (NARUC)
2:40 PM Initial Presentation of Resolutions
3:30 PM Networking Break
3:45 PM Panel I - Legislative Panel Moderator Brian O'HaraNARUC
Panelists Dana Lichtenberg, Staffer to Rep. Gordon (TN)
Matthew Hussey, Staffer to Sen. Snowe (ME)
5:00 PM Adjourn for the Day
Saturday, February 14
9:00 AM Panel II - 4G Wireless Evolution Moderator John Ridgway
IA
Panelist Carl Ford, Vice President, Crossfire Media
10:30 AM Networking Break
10:45 AM Continued Discussion of Resolutions
11:45 AM Lunch
1:15 PM Panel III - Broadband Mapping Moderator Gene Hand
NE
Panelists J. Brent Legg
Connected Nation
Art Brodsky
Communications Director
Public Knowledge
Jane Patterson
e-NC Authority
Tom Fritz
Executive Director
Connect Ohio
2:45 PM Subgroup Reports
Technology - Gene Hand (NE)
Federal Legislation - Brian Thomas (WA)
Federal Regulation - Elijah Abinah (AZ)
State Regulation - Joel Shifman (ME)
Consumer Issues - Joe Witmer (PA)
Service Quality -
3:15 PM IP and Numbering Speaker Brent Struthers
Neustar
3:40 PM NG9-1-1 Initative and the National 9-1-1 Office Update Speaker Laurie Flaherty
USDOT
4:00 PM Continued Discussion of Resolutions
5:00 PM Adjourn for the Day
Sunday, February 15
9:00 AM - 2:45 PM Staff Subcommittee on Telecommunications
» Show/Hide Details
9:00 AM Reports by National Representatives
Separations (80-286) - Lori Kenyon (AK)
Universal Service (96-45)/706 Conference Update - Jennifer Richardson (IN)
FCC Report
RUS Report - Gary Allan
NTIA Report - Jim McConnaughey
NRRI Report - Peter Bluhm
10:00 AM Panel V - The Regulatory, Policy and Business Implications of Converged Networks Moderator Peter Pescosolido
Connecticut
Panelists Joe Gillan
Gillan Associates
Ashish Patel
Intrado
David J. Malfara, Sr.
President/CEO
ETC Group, LLC
Jill Broome
Cox Communications, Inc.
Richard Whitt
Washington Telecom and Media Counsel
Google, Inc.
Paul Brigner
Executive Director, Internet and Technology Policy
Verizon
12:00 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Final Discussion of Resolutions
2:45 PM Adjourn
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Committee on Telecommunications
3:00 PM Discussion of Resolutions
5:00 PM Adjourn for the Day
Monday, February 16
8:15 AM - 10:15 AM General Session
Washington, Infrastructure, and Creating Jobs: How Utility Policies are Shaping Stimulus Plans
Broadband infrastructure expansion and telecommunications policies are getting much attention in Congress and the White House as lawmakers focus on stimulating the economy. In this session, we will hear from an insider to the Obama Transition Team-Blair Levin-on how the White House is planning on addressing these issues. With the stimulus plan on a fast track, Mr. Levin's views will provide unparalleled insight. After that, we will learn more specifics about broadband technologies and how, according to research, investing $10 billion in broadband networks for high-speed Internet access in areas that currently lack access would create almost 500,000 new jobs in one year. Given the financial state of our country, what are the best ways for telecom firms to raise capital? How will the recession impact broadband deployment? This session will explore these issues as well as the potential for federal spending of taxpayer dollars in telecom infrastructure
Moderator: The Hon.Tony Clark of North Dakota
Participants: Blair Levin, Managing Director, Stifel Nicolaus
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM Committee on Telecommunications
» Show/Hide Details
10:30 AM Key Note Address Moderator Maggie Wilderotter
Chairman and CEO
Frontier Communications
11:00 AM Committee Business/Committee Reports
1:30 PM ICC/USF Reform: Are We Ever Going to Get Anything Done or Is It the Never Ending Story? Moderator Hon. Lisa Edgar
Commissioner
Florida Public Service Commission
3:00 PM Lifeline/Link-Up USF Support for Broadband Internet Access Services and Devices (Joint with Committee on Consumer Affairs)
This session will address whether there is a need to add broadband Internet access to the definition of services covered by the FCC's Lifeline and Link-Up program and whether the FCC should implement the recently proposed Lifeline and Link-Up Pilot Program to provide federal universal service financial support for access to affordable broadband Internet access services and enabling-devices for low income consumers. Moderator Hon. Betty Ann Kane
Commissioner
District of Columbia Public Service Commission
Panelists S. Derek Turner
Research Director
Free Press
Cathy Sloan
Vice President, Government Relations
Computer & Communications Industry Association
Mitchell (Rick) Brecher
Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig LLP (Counsel to TracFone Wireless)
David Hostetter
Assistant Vice President, Public Policy
AT&T
4:00 PM Broadband Stimulus Package: How Will It Work? (Joint with Committee on Consumer Affairs) Moderator Hon. Maureen Harris
Commissioner
New York State Public Service Commission
Panelists Tom Tauke
Executive Vice President - Public Affairs, Policy and Communications
Verizon
Michael Balhoff
Managing Partner
Balhoff & Williams
John Rooney (Invited)
President and CEO
US Cellular
Jeff Brueggeman
Vice President of Public Policy
AT+T
Rick Cimmerman
Vice President, Government Affairs
National Cable & Telecommunications Association
5:00 PM Adjourn for the Day
Tuesday, February 17
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM Committee on Telecommunications
» Show/Hide Details
10:30 AM Key Note Speaker and Discussion of Resolutions Moderator Hon. Rick Boucher (invited)
Representative
U.S. House of Representatives
1:30 PM Wireless Consumer Protections-What Should They be? Moderator Hon. Carlito Caliboso
Chairman
Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
3:00 PM Networking Break
3:30 PM Federal Telecommunications Legislation: What is Congress Going to do? Moderator Brian O'Hara
Legislative Director for Telecommunications Technology and Water
NARUC
5:00 PM Adjourn for the Day
Wednesday, February 18
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM Committee on Telecommunications
» Show/Hide Details
9:30 AM How to Reform the FCC Process
What are the weaknesses and strengths of the current FCC processes for making decisions? What is the historical basis during tenure of recent FCC Chairs(Quello, Powell, Martin) for circulating orders and decision-making? Can the FCC emulate state processes more in the use of ALJ's in conducting fact-based inquires to develop evidence and record for a decision? Should public hearings be required to insure adequate public input? Should proposed orders be put out for public comment? How should the forbearance process and the deemed granted authority be used in future proceedings? Moderator Hon. Phil Jones
Commissioner
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
Panelists Thomas J. Navin
Partner
Wiley Rein LLP
Randolph J. May
President
Free State Foundation
Bryan Tramont
Partner
Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer LLP
Brian Fontes
CEO
National Emergency Number Association (NENA)
Patrick Pearlman
Consumer Advocate
Public Service Commission of West Virginia
John D. Burke
Member
Vermont Public Service Board
Deborah Taylor Tate
(former) Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
11:30 AM Adjourn