Media Access Project Silicon Valley Conference on 'Smart Grids'

The Media Access Project will hold the third session in its 2009 MAPPING CHANGE series on October 8 in Silicon Valley for a conference exploring the issue of “smart grids.” MAP aims to bring together experts on communications, information technology, energy, and infrastructure to discuss policy deve

The Media Access Project will hold the third session in its 2009 MAPPING CHANGE series on October 8 in Silicon Valley for a conference exploring the issue of “smart grids.” MAP aims to bring together experts on communications, information technology, energy, and infrastructure to discuss policy developments and implementation strategies promoting smarter energy management and environmentally sustainable technologies.

The keynote speaker will be Nick Sinai, Energy and Environment Director at the Federal Communications Commission. It will also involve two panel discussions with representatives from technology companies,  the telecom industry, universities, public utilities, and public interest organizations.

The event, to be held in San Jose, California, and will include Michael Terrel, Google; Jim Dempsey, Center for Democracy and Technology, Christopher Boyer, AT&T; Shahin Sepassi, CALTRANS; Jeffrey Campbell, Cisco; John Damoulakis, University of Southern California; and Tom Casey, of Current Group.

With the Obama administration’s strong commitment to expanding the use of smart, efficient, and green energy, there may be an opportunity to promoting smarter and greener initiatives in other areas as well, such as rural wireless and rural broadband, the organizers said.