2008 Spring Conference

Sponsors

Dates:	April 2 -- 4, 2008
Location:	Westin Gateway, Arlington, VA

On-Line Registration Is Closed

Download a print version of the brochure here.

Who Should Attend

City and County Telecommunications Administrators
Elected Officials
City and County Managers
City and County Attorneys
Planning and Public Works Directors
Public Safety Communications Officials
Budget and Finance Directors
Government Programmers
Cable and Telecommunications Representatives
Policy and Legal Advisors to Local Government

Why You Should Attend

Local governments across the nation must anticipate a variety of challenges as changes take place in all levels of government and within the industry. Federal, state and local initiatives for the coming year will demand honing of existing skills, development of new skills and creativity in approach to meeting these challenges. In its continuing tradition of assisting local governments, the 2008 NATOA Policy & Legal Seminar will focus on those issues which are most prevalent and for which the outcome can have the most serious repercussions. We have focused this year’s Seminar to provide the most up-to-date and useful information for your consideration.

We continue to host the Policy & Legal Seminar in the DC area, to permit and encourage the ability of our participants to visit with their members of Congress while they are in town. We have set aside an entire day for our attendees to ensure that they take advantage of this important opportunity. The Seminar is specifically designed to provide for a high degree of interaction with speakers, and amongst participants, to enhance the educational opportunity to all of our attendees. Join us at the 2008 Policy & Legal Seminar to learn, to share, and to take home with you the tools you’ll need to ensure success for your community.

Note

CLE Accreditation is being sought for the Seminar for those who register and request CLE accreditation in their state no later than February 4, 2008. Requests after February 4, 2008 will be considered "late filed" and will require a separate payment of $25.00. Please note that some states may not approve late-filed CLE applications. See the Brochure for More Information.

There are a limited number of sponsorship opportunities available for this Seminar. Contact (703) 519-8035 for details.

Preliminary Program
(Session Descriptions Subject to Change)

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. LOBBY DAY - VISIT YOUR FEDERAL OFFICIAL
Contact your congressional representative to set up an appointment. Visit the NATOA Legislative Action Center; or www.senate.gov; and www.house.gov for contact information. (NATOA will not be at the Westin Arlington Gateway on this date. You are responsible for scheduling your own meetings and arranging for transportation to and from your meetings.)

** NATOA will host a Teleconference on lobbying your elected officials. Those Local Government attendees registered by March 1, 2008 will be provided complimentary access to the teleconference.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

8:00 a.m. Registration Opens

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. COMMUNITY BROADBAND UPDATE
The past year has seen a market in turmoil, with EarthLink and other providers pulling back from prior commitments, while, at the same time, some communities are developing their own fiber to the home (FTTH) and other broadband systems. This panel will explore how the community broadband market has shifted and where it is headed, with specific examples from localities where networks have been deployed, partially constructed, or authorized but not constructed. We'll also examine the legal arguments that have been used for and against issuing an RFP to develop community broadband networks. Market analysts, community broadband industry and municipal representatives to be invited.
Moderator: Kenneth S. Fellman, Kissinger & Fellman, PC
Speakers: Jim Baller, Baller Herbst Law Group; Matthew C. Ames, Miller & Van Eaton; Jessica Zufolo, Medley Global Advisors

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Refreshment Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. PUBLIC, EDUCATION AND GOVERNMENT (PEG) ACCESS UPDATE
A vital discussion on the impact of the FCC's Video Franchising orders and state franchising legislation on PEG and I-Nets. Among the topics addressed will be PEG channel placement and tiering issues, PEG signal quality and functionality issues (including those associated with AT&T's delivery of PEG over U-Verse), permissible means of PEG and I-Net funding and support over and above the franchise fee, and PEG and I-Net grandfathering issues.
Speakers: Brian Grogan, Moss Barnett; James Horwood, Spiegel & McDiarmid; Andrew Afflerbach, Columbia Telecommunications Corp.

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Keynote Luncheon - FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein

1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. CONGRESSIONAL, REGULATORY AND LEGAL UPDATE: WHAT’S IN STORE FOR 2008?
Confused about the differences and application of the FCC First Order from the FCC Second Order? Unclear how the FCC ruling on multiple dwelling units (MDU’s) will affect your jurisdiction? And what is the status of the law suits on these topics? How these and other decisions will impact your franchise, your revenues and your authority are critical topics to understand in 2008. Along with other updates on effective competition, pricing, and the state of competition, experts in this session will provide in-depth and up-to-date understanding of these topics.
Speakers: Lani Williams, Local Government Lawyers Roundtable; Tillman Lay, Spiegel & McDiarmid; Stephen Traylor, NATOA; Alexander Hoehn-Saric, Democratic Communications Counsel, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee.

2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Refreshment Break

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. THE STATE OF COMPETITION: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE UPDATE 2008
Has statewide franchising increased competition for consumers? Has head-to-head wire line competition lowered stand-alone cable rates and increased customer service for consumers? Has “cabining the discretion” of local governments to address cable regulatory issues made life better or worse for consumers? Municipal representatives and government advisors to be invited.
Moderator: Gerry Lederer, Miller & Van Eaton
Speakers: Dr. Constance Book, Elon University; Holly Hansen, Hansen Consulting; Rob Dezego, Consultant

Friday, April 4, 2008

8:00 a.m. Registration Opens

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE
The Policy debate concerning public safety applications of communications technologies is hotter than ever. The authority of local governments to employ cable systems and I-Nets to deliver local emergency alert messages is under attack. The transition of public safety wireless communications to employ interference free spectrum and interconnection with a national broadband wireless network is well underway. Additionally, the WiFi hotspot your community offers now, or plans to offer, may have CALEA obligations. What are those? This panel will provide insights into each of these challenges and offer your community a checklist of action items.
Moderator: Erin Lee, National Governor's Association
Speakers: James Hobson, Miller & Van Eaton; Vivek Kundra, District of Columbia; Marcine Anderson, King County, WA

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Refreshment Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. DTV TRANSITION UPDATE
Learn about public education campaigns associated with the DTV transition and what further steps localities should be taking to help educate consumers on the upcoming signal switch. How effective has the NTIA converter box coupon program been and are consumers having any problems obtaining converter boxes? Discussion on what additional policy actions should be taken by Congress to help ensure the interests of consumers are protected. DTV local consumer and municipal advocates, FCC and congressional staff to be invited.
Moderator: Jill Novik, Seattle, WA
Speakers: Gloria Tristani, Spiegel & McDiarmid; Eloise Gore, FCC;

12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m. Keynote Luncheon - Blair Levin, Managing Director, Stifel Nicolaus, The Road Ahead in Telecom and Media: What Happens When Rock Beats Paper?

Adjournment

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. NATOA Policy & Legal Committee Meeting – State Tool-Kit presentation.

Special Offer to Attend both NATOA and Freedom to Connect (F2C)!

Through a special arrangement between NATOA and Isen.com, we are pleased to offer discounted registration to those who choose to attend both events! Learn more about F2C's March 31-April 1 event by visiting the web at www.freedom-to-connect.net. Register for the NATOA Seminar and once you are registered, you're entitled to a discounted rate ($125.00 off the published rate) for the F2C event! Use this link for the discounted rate to F2C. If you have registered for the F2C event and want to obtain your discount to attend NATOA's Policy & Legal seminar, use this link to register for NATOA with the special F2C discount

For Hotel/Travel Arrangements

For your convenience, NATOA has arranged for the entire seminar to take place at The Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. The Hotel is located a few short blocks from the Ballston Metro stop in Arlington, with metro access to National Airport, the Mall, the FCC, and Congressional offices.

NATOA has reserved a block of rooms at a special group rate $199 per night, plus tax for the duration of the conference. Reservations can be made by calling The Westin Arlington Gateway, 801 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22203, Phone 703-717-6200, fax 703-717-6204, www.westin.com/arlington.

You must tell the reservations assistant that you want the group rate for the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors. The NATOA discounted rate will be available until Monday, February 25. Subject to room and rate availability, the NATOA group rate will also be available for three days before and after the seminar. However, we suggest you make your reservations as soon as possible as a limited number of rooms have been reserved, and additional rooms will not become available once the block has been filled. Rack rates at the Westin Gateway range from $350- $450, so it is important to make your reservations early and take advantage of the discounted rate.

Transportation & Parking

The Hotel is located a few blocks from the Ballston metro; nine stops from Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and is approximately $2.00 (takes @24 minutes). Taxi service to the Hotel from Reagan Airport is approximately $20.00 each way.

The Hotel is located approximately 35 miles from Dulles International Airport (IAD). Taxi service to the Hotel from the airport is approximately $40 each way.

The Hotel is located approximately 50 miles from Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI). Taxi service to the Hotel from the airport is approximately $70 each way.

Valet Parking is available from the hotel for $20 per day, with in and out privileges.

The Hotel is also accessible via Super Shuttle, Amtrak, and the Metro.

A Special Note to the Disabled

NATOA seeks to ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated, or otherwise treated differently from other individuals because of the absence of an auxiliary aid or service. If any auxiliary aid or service identified with the Americans with Disabilities Act is required, please contact NATOA Headquarters at (703) 519-8035 to advise us of services needed.

Special Dietary Needs

If you have special dietary requirements, please contact NATOA Headquarters at (703) 519-8035 so necessary arrangements can be made.