Conference Program


DAILY PASS Option - Tuesday 11/2/10
• Conference Pass for Tuesday
• Sessions Only, Exhibit Hall Pass &
• All Networking Events (excluding Partner Paid Events)
$120 if you register by Sept 10th,
$150 after Sept 10th or on-site.

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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Pecos 1
Category: Regulatory
Topic: Overview of 700MHz and D-Block Deployment Activity
Speakers: Richard Mirgon, Immediate Past Present of APCO;
Scott Stevens, Founder, Keenwire
Description: To most observers, the aftermath of the 700 MHz block spectrum auctions have been hard to sort out. Verizon and AT&T ended up with the vast majority of 700 MHz spectrum. How are their efforts to use 700 MHz progressing? What are the plans of all the other 700 MHz spectrum holders - what are they doing, or will they do with their blocks of spectrum? What will the fate of the contested "D Block" be? Pure Public Safety? Pure Commercial? The hybrid Commercial / Public Safety approach, at least as proposed by the FCC didn't attract much interest.

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Pecos 3
Category: Technical
Topic: Backhaul Design and Operation
Speakers: Lauriston Hardin, President, Hardin and Associates, (Moderator);
S. Jay Lawrence, CEO, GigaBeam Corp.; Chris Horne, CTO, LBA Group;
Hunter Newby, Founder, Allied Fiber
Description: In this session, panelists will offer insights on delivering acceptable broadband internet speeds over the “last mile” to customers depends on a backhaul system capable of supporting those speeds, avoiding “bottlenecks” in operation, an doing so in a cost-effective manner. Forward-looking solutions such as deploying fiber into rural markets and fixed wireless radio equipment that allows low-cost entry and is scalable as the need for speed increases will provide competition and allow service provider's options to the local telephone company. How can "backhaul bottlenecks" be avoided? Should public stimulus funds be used to enable such solutions?

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Pecos 2
Category: Technical
Topic: Has LTE Won; Where does WiMAX Go From Here?
Speaker: Steve Stroh, Independent Technology Writer, Stroh Publications
Description: How did WiMAX “lose out” to LTE when it had such an early, promising lead? Discussion of some of the missteps in the evolution of WiMAX and the unacknowledged factors in the overwhelming choice of carriers towards LTE. Panel discussion to follow.

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Appaloosa 2
Featured Keynote Address
Speaker: Jonathan Adelstein, Administrator
Company: USDA Rural Utilities Services

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Pecos 3
Category: Financial
Topic: Bridging The Digital Divide
Speaker: Judith Dumont, Director, Massachusetts Broadband Institute; Don Kent, President, Net Literacy
Description: Bridging the Digital Divide. Governor Deval Patrick signed the Broadband Act into Law in August 2008 creating the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI). The sole mission of the MBI is to "bridge the digital divide" in the State by investing in infrastructure, capturing federal funding, and catalyzing private last-mile investment. This session will provide a roadmap for other states to create an independent organization to take the lead on bringing broadband to the un- and underserved communities. This presentation will also look at the ways other states have created and charged other entities with the mission of Bridging the Digital Divide.

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Appaloosa 2
Category: Business
Topic: How Are WISPs Coping?
Speakers: Matt Larsen, Owner, Vistabeam (Moderator); Nathan Stooke, Founder, WisperISP; Steve Stroh, Independent Technology Writer; Jeff Kohler, Founder, JAB Wireless
Description: WISP businesses are coping admirably in a stressed economic climate.  Although growth is somewhat conservative these days compared to a few years ago, most are still growing their network service areas and upgrading network infrastructure to achieve greater broadband speeds with recent technological advances.  Regulatory challenges affect all broadband providers and often result in slowed timelines in respect to achieving ubiquitous broadband coverage across the United States.

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Pecos 1
Category: Regulatory
Topic: Net Neutrality
Speaker: Steve Coran, Partner, Rini Coran, PC (Moderator); Brett Glass, Founder, LARIAT; David McClure, President, USIIA; Rusty Irvin, President, StratusWave Communications; Alison Minea, Corporate Counsel, DISH Network
Description: Hear from industry experts as they discuss the issues surrounding regulation of broadband connectivity. The panelists will discuss ways that ISPs are managing their networks and the threats that government regulation places on their ability to operate efficiently and economically.

1:45 - 2:45 p.m. | Pecos 2
Category: Business
Topic: Wi-Fi Providing Better Connections
Speakers: Jerry Dodson, RVP North America, Wavion Networks; Bryan Stanley, Director of Strategic Initiatives, PC Management; Russ Mathews, Business Operations Manager, Motorola Solutions
Description: Wi-Fi keeps evolving, 802.11n has finally been fully ratified and is being widely deployed in enterprises and now outdoor systems, offering higher capacity and more available channels. Using new Wi-Fi infrastructure and “roaming” systems.

1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. | Appaloosa 2
Category: Fiber
Topic: Fiber Deployments in Rural Areas
Speakers: Hunter Newby, Founder, Allied Fiber (Moderator); Jim Nolte, VP of Sales, Zayo Fiber Solutions; Nathan Stooke Founder, WisperISP
Description: Fiber is widely perceived to be a broadband internet technology only suitable for long-distance backhaul and urban areas. That's a mistaken perception - fiber can be more economical to deploy and maintain...and more profitable... than traditional copper infrastructure. Our panelists will discuss existing and proposed systems and the business models that enable them.

1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. | Pecos 1
Category: Business
Topic: Business Planning for Mergers and Acquisitions
Speakers: Josh Garza, CEO, GAW Internet (Moderator); William MacNamara, VP of Business Development, Agility Ventures; Jim Hollis, Executive Director, FISPA; Scott Stevens, Founder, Keenwire
Description: Attendees of this session will learn what aspects of their Service Provider business plan will best represent their interests when soliciting outside investment or when working merger and acquisition opportunities. Discussion will include exit strategies, financing, funding, financial representation, cash flow, forecasting, and mergers & acquisition options.

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Pecos 2
Category: Business
Topic: US Rural Deployment vs. the World
Speakers: Jonathan Ressler, jonathanressler.com; Dewayne Hendricks, CEO, Tetherless Access, Inc.; James Joyce, Sales Executive, Hostway

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Appaloosa 2
Category: Association Insights
Topic: Association Panel
Speakers: Rick Harnish, Executive Director, WISPA ( Moderator); Jim Hollis, Executive Director, FISPA; Harold Pruner, Chairman, NABA; David P. McClure, President, USIIA; William Micklin, Executive Director, CATG; Mark Esser, Chairman, CISPA; Brian Regan, Director of Government Affairs, PCIA
Description:  Heads of Broadband trade associations give an update on important FCC proceedings and other legislation important to their members.  The associations will also discuss possible collaborative efforts where benefit can be gained by the power of numbers. 

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Pecos 1
Category: Business
Topic: Adapting to the Mobile Market
Speaker: Elizabeth Bowles, President, Aristotle, Inc.; Ray Savich, Global Solutions Marketing Manager, Motorola Solutions   
Description: By 2012, more than half of Internet users will access the Web with mobile devices, so the time is now to put systems in place that are fully compatible with these web-enabled devices. Wireless devices present unique challenges as well as great opportunities to tap an expanding broadband market. What are you doing to ensure that your business remains relevant in a world where mobile devices rule the Internet?

4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. | Pecos 2
Category: Business
Topic: The In’s and Out’s of Broadband Mapping
Speakers: Tom Terry, Partner, Terry and Unitas Associates;
Tony Unitas, President, Terry and Unitas Associates;
Chip Spann, Director ETS, Connected Nation
Description: How Do We Work With Network Providers? Understand how the Communities and Providers will determine exactly what and where the needs are by aggregating the potential demand. Communities can use a system to self identify the detailed information needed to build the business case for network construction. The Communities and Providers can jointly plan and collaborate to maximize their efforts and investment.

4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. | Pecos 3
Category: Marketing
Topic: Carriers, Services Providers, and Partners
Speaker: Mostafa Razzak, Co-Founder and Partner, JMR Worldwide; Brian Worthen, CEO, Mammoth Networks; Kevin Breault, VP of Business Development, dash Carrier Services
Description: Hear the most critical issues affecting carriers, next generation service and solutions providers that operate in rural markets. This session will bring to light the inherent difficulties in delivering intrastate, high-speed connectivity in unserved communities, providing a 360 degree analysis market analysis as broadband stimulus dollars continue to be distributed.

4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. | Pecos 1
Category: Technical
Topic: Designing Your Network
Speaker: Lauriston Hardin, President, Hardin and Associates (Moderator);
Drew Lentz, Sales Engineer, EDX Wireless
Description: Designing a wireless network "on paper" before buying any equipment can be a critical advantage to a wireless service provider. Costly mistakes can be spotted early, deployments can be designed to gradually grow service areas as capital permits, and equipment that will be needed can be specified for maximum cost-effectiveness. While wireless network design tools are universally used in wireless telephony deployments (and are even mandatory for certain types of wireless links), their use hasn't been widely understood by smaller wireless network service providers.

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* Please note that the conference schedule is being updated daily with new speakers and sessions. Please visit the website regularly for continued program updates.