PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 11-241 Released: February 8, 2011 FCC TO HOLD BROADBAND ACCELERATION CONFERENCE Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Spur Broadband Buildout Washington, D.C. – On February 9, 2011, the Federal Communications Commission will take another step to further the goal of connecting all parts of America to the digital age by convening leaders from federal, state and local governments, broadband providers, telecommunications carriers, tower companies, equipment suppliers, and utility companies to identify opportunities to reduce regulatory and other barriers to broadband buildout. Participants will discuss creative approaches that have been utilized to overcome challenges and foster cooperative, win-win situations in rights-of-way, pole attachment and tower sitings. The conference also will explore how innovative technologies and applications, such as smart grid and intelligent transportation systems, and leveraging public infrastructure to increase wireless communication capacity, can spur broadband deployment and drive economic growth and job creation. Broadband Acceleration Conference Agenda 11:00 – 11:15 a.m. Opening Remarks, Julius Genachowski, Chairman, FCC 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Panel 1: Best Practices in Overcoming Challenges to Infrastructure Deployment · Moderator: Julius Knapp, Chief, FCC, Office of Engineering & Technology · Panelists: o Ken Fellman, President, NATOA; Partner, Kissinger & Fellman o Karen Flewharty, Joint Use Manager, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC o Mitsi Herrera, Cable & Broadband Administrator, Montgomery County, MD o Rochelle Jones, Senior VP Regulatory, tw telecom o John Lenahan, Associate General Counsel, AT&T Services o Norine Lukor, Senior Director, Utility Administration, NextG Networks, Inc. o Jenna Metznik, Compliance Manager, American Tower Corporation · Discussion to include: o Why do some provider requests result in positive outcomes while others seem to generate more conflict? o What are some success stories at the local, state and federal level, and what elements go into a speedy and problem-free approval process? 2 o What information would help inform further best practices policy making in this area? 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. Lunch Break 1:15 – 1:25 p.m. Speaker: Peter Appel, Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Department of Transportation · Intelligent transportation systems and synergies with broadband buildout 1:25 – 1:35 p.m. Speaker: Lauren Van Wazer, Senior Advisor for Technology Law, Office of General Counsel, Department of Energy · Communications requirements of smart grid technologies 1:35 – 2:25 p.m. Panel 2: Innovative Approaches to Broadband Buildout · Moderator: Doug Sicker, Chief Technologist, FCC · Panelists: o Lawrence Behr, CEO, LBA Corp. o John Chapin, Ph.D., Visiting Scientist in the Claude E. Shannon Communication and Network Group at the Research Laboratory of Electronics of MIT o Harold E. DePriest, President and CEO, EPB o Matthew Hussey, Telecommunications Advisor to Senator Olympia J. Snowe o Joe Sandri, Vice President-Legal, FiberTower Corporation · Discussion to include: o What technological and other innovations are leading to increased deployment of broadband? o How do synergies help promote broadband build out? 2:25 – 3:05 p.m. Panel 3: Policy Roundtable: Solutions That Foster Greater Broadband Coverage · Moderator: Paul de Sa, Chief, FCC, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis · Panelists: o Ken Fellman, President, NATOA; Partner, Kissinger & Fellman o Monica Gambino, Vice President-Legal, Crown Castle, Inc. o Mitsi Herrera, Cable & Broadband Administrator, Montgomery County, MD o Jon Landstrom COO, Sacred Wind Communications o Walter McCormick, President and CEO, USTelecom o Shawn Ruben, Senior VP and GC, Global Tower Partners · Discussion: o What actions can the FCC take or encourage that would reduce barriers to infrastructure build-out? 3:05 – 3:10 p.m. Break 3 3:10 – 3:40 p.m. Wrap-Up · Q & A with Phil Weiser, Senior Advisor to the National Economic Council Director for Technology, Innovation, and Competition Policy · Overview of Ideas Generated, Paul de Sa, Chief, FCC, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis The conference will be held in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305), 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. The conference will be free and open to the public. Those attending are encouraged to pre-register by submitting their name, title, organizational affiliation and contact information to broadband@fcc.gov. The conference will be webcast live at http://reboot.fcc.gov/live/ and questions during the event can be sent to broadband@fcc.gov or using the hashtag #broadbandnow on Twitter. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. The request should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed and contact information. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible in order to allow the agency to satisfy such requests whenever possible. Send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY). For questions or inquiries about the conference, please contact Wesley Platt, 202-418-2821, Wesley.Platt@fcc.gov or Claudia Pabo, 202-418-1595, Claudia.Pabo@fcc.gov. - FCC -