Agenda for Broadband Census for America Conference on September 26, 2008

Key Academics, State Officials and Broadband Data Collectors to Speak

Embassy of Ireland to Give Luncheon Keynote Address on Publicly-Available Broadband Data

Coverage of the Broadband Census for America Conference

• Broadband Census for America Conference Web Site
• Tvol’s Flickr photostream of the Broadband Census for America Conference
• “Propriety Data Cited as Challenge for Broadband Mapping,” by Lynn Stanton, TR Reports
• “Regulators, Officials Debate Need for National Broadband Policy, Fund,” by Carrie DeLeon, TR Reports
• “Service Providers Should Report Better Metrics, Panelists Say,” by Scott Sleek, Broadband Advisory Services, Pike & Fischer
• “U.S. Copes with Broadband Statistics Void,” IP Democracy
• “Guessing at data,” Susan Crawford’s blog
• “Experts call for broadband transparency,”by Maya Prabhu, ESchool News
• American Library Association District Dispatch

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, September 8, 2008 – Many of the nation’s foremost broadband policy-makers and experts will analyze and discuss best practices for improving the collection and sharing of public data about high-speed internet access at the Broadband Census for America Conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday, September 26, 2008.

Panelists at the half-day conference include Rachelle Chong, California Public Utility Commissioner; broadband data pioneer Professor Kenneth Flamm of the University of Texas at Austin; Dr. William Lehr, an economist and broadband expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Jane Smith Patterson, executive director of the e-NC Authority; Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Larry Landis, who is also the state chair of a telecommunications regulatory task force charged with coordinating state efforts to collect broadband data and preparing reports on broadband to Congress; and National Telecommunications and Information Administration Chief Economist James McConnaughey.

Eamonn Confrey, the First Secretary for Information and Communications Policy at the Embassy of Ireland, will present the luncheon keynote: an overview of his nation’s efforts to collect data on broadband service in Ireland through a comprehensive web site with availability, pricing and speed data about carriers.

Also participating on the panels will be representatives from BroadbandCensus.com, the California Broadband Task Force, Connected Nation, Communications Workers of America’s Speed Matters, Public Knowledge, and Virginia Tech’s eCorridors Program.

As policy-makers around the world seek innovative approaches to enhancing and expanding broadband service, they also seek accurate data and maps of the digital infrastructure. Increasingly, experts believe that universal broadband is a crucial ingredient to global economic competitiveness.

These efforts are apparent here in the United States with the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed rules to collect more localized data on broadband service and the U.S. House of Representatives introducing the “Broadband Census of America Act,” which would require a comprehensive national inventory of broadband availability and competition.

The conference will be held at the American Association for the Advancement of Science at 12th and H Streets, NW, and is sponsored by BroadbandCensus.com, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Texas at Austin’s Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law, and the Virginia Tech eCorridors Program.

The event will bring together government officials, academic researchers and other key stakeholders for a half-day conference that seeks to improve our understanding of current practices in broadband data collection and discuss ways of improving and expanding publicly-available data within the United States.

The conference program features the following speakers:

• Eamonn Confrey, First Secretary, Information and Communications Policy, Embassy of Ireland. Mr. Confrey has confirmed as the luncheon speaker on “Mapping out Broadband for Consumers: The Irish Experience.”

• Commissioner Rachelle Chong, current Commissioner of the California state Public Utilities Commission and former Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, will speak on “Section 706 Through the Years: A Perspective from a Serial Regulator.”

The conference will also feature two panel discussions. Panelists scheduled to speak on the first panel, titled “Does America Need a Broadband Census?”, include the following:

• Art Brodsky, Communications Director, Public Knowledge
• Drew Clark, Executive Director, BroadbandCensus.com
• Professor Kenneth Flamm, University of Texas at Austin, coauthor, “Measuring Broadband: Improving Communications Policymaking through Better Data Collection,” (Pew Internet and American Life Project: 2007)
• Debbie Goldman, Speed Matters Coordinator, Communications Workers of America
• Larry Landis, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner; also State Chair, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners-FCC Joint Conference on Advanced Services
• Mark McElroy, Chief Operating Officer, Connected Nation
  

• This panel will be moderated by Jim Puzzanghera, Los Angeles Times

Panelists scheduled to speak on the second panel, “How Should America Conduct a Broadband Census?”, include the following:

• Jeffrey Campbell, Director, Technology and Communications Policy, Cisco Systems
• Dr. William Lehr, Economist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• James McConnaughey, Senior Economist, National Telecommunications Information Administration
• Jane Smith Patterson, Executive Director, e-NC Authority
• Jean Plymale, Virginia Tech eCorridors Program

• This panel will be moderated by Carol Wilson, Telephony Online.

Click HERE for complete bios and background materials.

The Broadband Census for America Conference will be held at the American Association for the Advancement of Science at 1200 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC. (The building is at the corner of 12th Street and H Street, NW.)

The conference will run from 8:30 a.m. and conclude by 1 p.m., providing ample time for those seeking to make the short commute from Washington to the Telecommunications Policy Research Conference in Arlington, Virginia.

For More Information: Drew Bennett, 202-580-8196, bennett@broadbandcensus.com

Pricing:

• ACADEMIC (Includes faculty, staff, and students at universities and secondary institutions) –   NO CHARGE
• GOVERNMENT (Includes international, federal, state and local government officials)            – NO CHARGE
• INDUSTRY – $295
• NON-PROFIT (including individuals) ** – $195;
• PRESS – NO CHARGE

**Non-profit organizations that feel they could not attend otherwise may apply for a waiver of conference fee.

To place your reservation to attend, please e-mail: conference@broadbandcensus.com. Checks may be made payable to Broadband Census LLC, 1705 Warner Ave., McLean, VA 22101.

Industry Sponsor

CCMI is the industry’s trusted source for communications data, information and applications.  Communications service providers and enterprise users rely on CCMI data and training to operate more efficiently, make better decisions and stay abreast of communications technologies and trends. With extensive industry contacts, rigorous quality standards and a veteran staff, CCMI guarantees you get reliable content, world-class service and unparalleled value. For more information, visit http://www.ccmi.com.

Nonprofit Sponsors

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) is the country’s premier voice in education technology leadership, serving K-12 technology leaders who through their strategic use of technology, improve teaching and learning. CoSN’s membership includes key education technology leaders (often called Chief Technology Officers—CTOs) in leading-edge school districts, as well as policy makers, private sector leaders.   For more information, visit http://www.cosn.org or call 1-866-267-8747.

OneWebDay is an Earth Day for the internet. The idea behind OneWebDay is to focus attention on a key internet value (this year, online participation in democracy), focus attention on local internet concerns (connectivity, censorship, individual skills), and create a global constituency that cares about protecting and defending the internet. For more information, visit http://www.onewebday.org.

Research Sponsor

Emerging Media Dynamics is a strategic advisory services practice aimed at helping cable, telco, wireless, satellite, technology and content companies gain an edge in the emerging world of IP media. It provides data-rich, well-informed and up-to-the-minute customized reports, analyses and presentations that decipher, interpret and explain the rush of corporate, technological and policy changes driving the development of cutting-edge communications applications. For more information, visit http://www.emediadynamics.com.

Media Sponsor

The leading publisher in the field of communications law since 1948, Pike & Fischer provides the expert legal analysis that attorneys, engineers, and managers require.  Pike & Fischer’s market analysts report the most significant business news and trends affecting the rapidly evolving telecommunications and broadband sectors.  Our news, historical data, and on-call research provide the raw materials necessary for sound decision-making. For more information, visit http://pf.com.

Broadband Census for America Conference Details

Location:
American Association for the Advancement of Science
1200 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC
(The building is at the corner of 12th Street and H Street, NW.)

Time:
Friday, September 26, 2008
8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The Conference Agenda [subject to minor changes]:
8:30 a.m.    Welcome to the Broadband Census for America

• Drew Clark, BroadbandCensus.com

• Jon Peha, Carnegie Mellon University

• Brenda van Gelder, Virginia Tech

• Kenneth Flamm, University of Texas at Austin

8:40 a.m.    Keynote Speech: “Section 706 Through the Years: A Perspective from a Serial Regulator,”

• Commissioner Rachelle Chong, California State Public Utilities Commission

9:10 a.m.    Questions for and Answers from Commissioner Chong

9:20 a.m.    Panel I: Does America Need a Broadband Census?

• Art Brodsky, Communications Director, Public Knowledge

• Drew Clark, Executive Director, BroadbandCensus.com

• Kenneth Flamm, University of Texas at Austin, coauthor, “Measuring Broadband: Improving Communications Policymaking through Better Data Collection,” (Pew Internet and American Life Project: 2007).

• Debbie Goldman, Speed Matters Coordinator, Communications Workers of America

• Larry Landis, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner; also State Chair, NARUC-FCC Joint Conference on Advanced Services

• Mark McElroy, Chief Operating Officer, Connected Nation

• Jim Puzzanghera, Los Angeles Times (Moderator)

10:30 a.m.    Break

10:45 a.m.    Panel II: HOW Should America Conduct a Broadband Census?

• Jeffrey Campbell, Director, Technology and Communications Policy, Cisco Systems

• Dr. William Lehrer, Economist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• James McConnaughey, Chief Economist, National Telecommunications Information Administration

• Jane Smith Patterson, Executive Director, e-NC Authority

• Jean Plymale, Virginia Tech eCorridors Program

• Carol Wilson, Telephony Online (Moderator)

Noon    Luncheon Keynote: “Mapping out Broadband for Consumers: The Irish Experience”

• Eamonn Confrey, First Secretary, Information and Communications Policy, Embassy of Ireland

12:30 p.m.    Questions for and Answers from Mr. Confrey

1 p.m.    Adjourn

Program Committee:

• Drew Bennett, Special Assistant, BroadbandCensus.com
• Drew Clark, Executive Director, BroadbandCensus.com
• Professor Kenneth Flamm, Director, Technology, Innovation and Global Security Program, Robert S. Strauss Center, University of Texas at Austin
• Brenda van Gelder, Director, Virginia Tech eCorridors Program
• John Horrigan, Associate Director for Research, Pew Internet Project; and Chair, 2008 Telecommunications Policy Research Conference
• Sascha Meinrath, Research Director, New America Foundation; and President, Ethos Wireless
• Professor Jon Peha, Carnegie Mellon University
• Jean Plymale, Virginia Tech eCorridors Program
• Scott Wallsten, Vice President for Research, Technology Policy Institute

Press Release Referenced:

• Announcing a Half-Day Conference About Universal Broadband Data on September 26, 2008: ‘Broadband Census for America’ Conference to Focus on Sharing Publicly-Available Broadband Data (BroadbandCensus.com, August 7, 2008)

About the Sponsors

Broadband Census.com:

BroadbandCensus.com is a free web service providing information and news about local broadband speeds, availability, competition and quality of service. Organized by technology journalist Drew Clark as Broadband Census LLC (a Limited Liability Company in the Commonwealth of Virginia), BroadbandCensus.com is independent of all internet providers, receives no funding from carriers, and takes no position on telecommunications policy issues. For more information, visit http://broadbandcensus.com/home/aboutus.

Carnegie Mellon University:

Carnegie Mellon University’s Engineering and Public Policy Department is a unique program within the Engineering College that addresses important problems in technology and policy in which the technical details are of central importance. Areas of focus include information and communication technology policy, energy and environmental systems, risk analysis and communication, and technological innovation and R&D policy. For more information, visit http://www.epp.cmu.edu.

Robert S. Strauss Center:

The Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law at The University of Texas at Austin aims to provide the imagination, leadership and intellectual innovation required to meet the challenges of the 21st century, engaging the best minds in academia, government and the private sector in developing practical solutions to the pressing problems of an increasingly globalized world. The Strauss Center’s Technology, Innovation and Global Security Program supports policy-oriented research and outreach programs on how to sustain innovation and better utilize modern technology to benefit an increasingly international economic and social system. For more information, visit http://www.RobertStraussCenter.org.

Virginia Tech eCorridors Program:

eCorridors is an outreach program of Virginia Tech that was established in 2000. Its activities include telecommunications policy, communications infrastructure, research and other computing applications as well as community networks and economic development in a networked world. eCorridors is a primary means through which government, private sector industry and community stakeholders participate and collaborate with Virginia Tech researchers and IT professionals. For more information, visit http://www.ecorridors.vt.edu.