Law Seminars International Presents

The Ninth Annual

Telecommunications Law

The Coming Fundamental Shifts in Regulatory Policy

May 20 & 21, 2004
Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, WA
Order      Download PDF Brochure

Who Should Order Homestudy

Attorneys; telecommunications, cable, and electric utilities industry executives; representatives of local government and large telecommunications users

Why Order

"Traditional phone companies face not one, but two, disruptive technologies: wireless and broadband. There are a panoply of new players, including cellular, PCS, wi-fi, cable, satellite, and a host of others. They also face immense challenges including regulatory uncertainty, access to capital and cut-throat competition. In the meantime, Congress, the courts, and federal and state regulators struggle to keep up the increasing pace of development and deployment of new technology. When the battle is over, who will be left standing? Should the regulators be proactive, reactive, or just get out the way entirely? Does Congress need to step in again in light of recent court and regulatory decisions? How will consumers fare as the battle brews and rages? Are there going to be any clear winners at the end of the day?" ~ Program Co-Chairs: Arthur A. Butler, Esq. and Brooks E, Harlow, Esq.

What Attendees Said

-"This seminar covered a wide range of topics in an interesting and well-paced manner." -"Can’t wait to come again next year!" -"Excellent seminar, tons of worthwhile discussion." -"One of the most relevant seminars I have attended." -"Good, timely seminar." -"Look forward to attending next year." -"The range of topics was excellent. " -"The overlap kept the topics well tied together."

Agenda

Thursday, May 20, 2004
8:30 am Introduction & Overview
  Arthur A. Butler, Esq., Program Co-Chair
 Ater Wynne LLP / Seattle, WA
  Brooks E. Harlow, Esq., Program Co-Chair
 Miller Nash LLP / Seattle, WA
8:45 am Teeing Up for a Major Debate Over the Basic Approach Towards Regulation of the Telecommunications Industry
  A horizontal leap forward: Formulating a new network layers-based public policy framework for an IP-centric world
  Richard S. Whitt, Esq., Director and Senior Counsel of Federal Law and Public Policy
 WorldCom, Inc. / Washington, WA
9:30 am The Pace of the Transition Away from the Traditional Public Switched Network
  Whether - or more likely how soon - will VoIP and Wi-Fi/Wi-Max services using unregulated spectrum render the traditional public switched network obsolete?
  Christian Dippon, Senior Economics Consultant
 National Economics Research Associates, Inc. (NERA) / San Francisco, CA
10:15 am Break
10:30 am Technological and Economic Pressure on a Traditional Approach to Universal Service Policy
  Update on the Joint Board report; wireless and rural LEC perspectives; is the focus on widespread and affordable voice service obsolete?
  David A LaFuria, Esq.
 Lukas Nace Gutierrez & Sachs Chartered / Washington, DC
  Richard A. Finnigan, Esq.
 Law Office of Richard A. Finnigan / Olympia, WA
  Universal Service Funding: What approaches have been tried in other parts of the world and will they work here?
  Padmanabhan Srinagesh, Ph.D.
 Charles River Associates / Palo Alto, CA
12:00 pm Lunch (on your own)
1:15 pm The Economic Forces Squeezing Regulatory Policy
  Which existing carriers are likely to survive a transition to packet switching? What new entities are likely to emerge and what will be the scope of regulatory authority over those new entities?
  Michael W. Fleming, Esq.
 Swidler Berlin Shereff Friedman LLP / Washington, DC
  A new wave of industry consolidation, strategic alliances, and joint ventures: To what extent will we need to rely more on regulation focusing on market power?
  Scott Andrew Sher, Esq.
 Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati / Palo Alto, CA
  The financial squeeze on state and local government: How much can and should we replace lost tax and franchise fee revenues?
  William "Bill" M. Marticorena, II, Esq.
 Rutan & Tucker LLP / Costa Mesa, CA
3:15 pm Break
3:30 pm Public Policy Implications for the Technological Differences Between New Services and Traditional Services
  E911 Services: Is it possible for new wireless and multi-line technologies to meet existing requirements? Can social goals be met with packet switched networks? What new rules are coming down the line?
  Robert "Bob" Oenning, ENP, Administrator, E911 Program
 Washington State Military Dept.,Emergency Management Division / ,
  CALEA and regulatory regimes: Industry and law enforcement perspectives on public safety and consumer protection issues that should accompany VoIP and other relaxed regimes. The impact of offshore operations and regulations on law enforcement and industry
  Daniel L. Brenner, Esq., Senior Vice President for Law & Regulatory Affairs
 National Cable Telecommunications Association / Washington, DC
  Thomas Gregory Motta, Esq., Associate General Counsel and Unit Chief
 Federal Bureau of Investigations / Quantico, VA
5:30 pm Reception for Faculty and Attendees
  Sponsored by Ater Wynne LLP and Miller Nash LLP

Friday, May 21, 2004
8:30 am Introduction and Overview
  Art A. Butler, Esq., Program Co-Chair
 Ater Wynne LLP / Seattle, WA
  Brooks E. Harlow, Esq., Program Co-Chair
 Miller Nash LLP / Seattle, WA
8:45 am Key Recent Decisions and the Implications for Future Regulatory Policy
  The FCC’s Triennial Review Order: What did it effectively address? What did it not address and what is the likely aftermath?
  Steven A. Augustino, Esq.
 Kelley Drye / Washington, DC
  Judicial update: Key decisions on service classifications (Vonage); applicability of antitrust laws (Trinko); state authority to prohibit local governments and publicly owned entities from providing telecommunications services (Brand X); other decisions
  Douglas G. Bonner, Esq.
 LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae, L.L.P. / Washington, DC
10:15 am Break
10:30 am Consumer Perspective on Recent Regulatory Developments: Who Ya’ Gonna Call?
  Regulation (or deregulation) of new and existing services, service quality, consolidation, changing regulatory roles, and other trends impacting the ultimate consumer interest
  Simon J ffitch, Esq., Section Chief and Assistant Attorney General
 Washington State Office of the Attorney General / Seattle, WA
11:15 am Digital Migration and the Role of Communications in Prosperity and Security
  As the world goes digital, what future challenges and opportunities await service providers, both incumbents and entrepreneurs? What steps can and should the regulators take to protect economic and public interests?
  Bryan N. Tramont, Esq., Chief of Staff to the Chairman
 Federal Communications Commission / Washington, DC
12:00 pm Lunch (on your own)
1:15 pm Key Industry Issues: Wireless
  Spectrum Management: Is the traditional engineering-based command and control approach becoming obsolete? Can a market-driven approach take its place? What are the implications for non-commercial uses, such as public safety services?
  Nancy J. Victory, Esq.
 Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP / Washington, DC
  Wi-Fi: The challenge of developing and implementing roaming agreements
  Byron Springer, Esq., Vice President/Chief Counsel Mobile Multimedia Services
 AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. / Redmond, WA
2:45 pm Break
3:00 pm Key Industry Issues: Intercarrier Compensation
  VoIP service provider perspective
  Richard Thayer, Esq., Director of Intercarrier Policy
 Level 3 Communications, Inc. / Broomfield, CO
  CLEC Perspective
  David L. Lawson, Esq.
 Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP / Washington, DC
  Cable System Perspective
  Daniel L. Brenner, Esq., Vice President for Law & Regulatory Affairs
 National Cable Telecommunications Association / Washington, DC
  ILEC perspective
  R. Michael Senkowski, Esq.
 Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP / Washington, DC
5:00 pm Adjourn

Cancellation

There is a $25 cancellation fee for Course Materials orders and $50 for Homestudy orders

Continuing Education Credits

Law Seminars International self-certifies CLE credits for Washington, California, and Alaska. For other locations, we automatically seek CLE credit approval for the state in which a seminar is held. On request, we will apply for credits from other bar associations or the accrediting bodies for other professions. The current credits status for this program is WA CLE 13.5 (#119413) | AZ CLE 13.5 |CA MCLE 14 | IA CLE 13.5 (#24624) | KY CLE 13.5 (#71285) | NY CLE 16 (0 ethics, nontransitional) | PA CLE 13.5(#60520) |

Cost

Our complete Homestudy Course, consisting of a VHS or DVD recording and the written course materials, is available for $905. The course materials alone are available for $100. We will ship your homestudy order via UPS ground within two weeks after the seminar or the date we receive payment (which ever is later).
Order Homestudy

Faculty Bios

Art Butler is a shareholder with Ater Wynne LLP in Seattle. His practice focuses on telecommunications issues, with particular emphasis on regulatory, transactional, and business advice to competitive telecommunications providers. and other new entrants to telecommunications markets. as well as to end-users of telecommunications services. He has extensive experience representing competitive local carriers, DSL providers, fixed wireless carriers, mobile wireless providers, and large business users of telecommunications services. He regularly appears on behalf of his clients before state public utility commissions and has handled a number of different matters including rate cases, contract negotiation, licensing, franchise issues, right-of-way agreements, inter-carrier disputes, interconnection and collocation, network element costing and pricing, and unfair competition issues. Art has also appeared frequently before committees of the Washington Legislature on many issues relating to telecommunications policy.

Brooks E. Harlow is a partner at Miller Nash LLP where he focuses on telecommunications, electric energy, and other utility matters. This includes general business advice to start-up companies in the telecommunications and electric energy industries.

Steven A. Augistino, a partner at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, focuses his practice on telecommications. He represents common carriers, telecommunications-related providers and industry trade associations in rulemaking and adjudicatory proceedings . His clients also include local exchange carriers, internet service providers, and creditors in telecom-related proceedings.

Douglas G. Bonner, Chairman of LeBoeuf Lamb’s Telecommunications Practice, has represented telecommunications carriers in regulatory and litigation matters relating to competitive entry into local exchange and interexchange markets since passage of the landmark Telecommunications Act of 1996 (“’96 Act”).

Daniel Brenner is Senior Vice President for Law & Regulatory Policy at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. Previously, he served as Director of Communications Law Program at UCLA Law School and was Senior Legal Advisor to Chairman Mark Fowler of the FCC and Vice Chairman of the U.S. Delegation to the ITU World Radio Conference.

Daniel Brenner is Senior Vice President for Law & Regulatory Policy at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. Previously, he served as Director of Communications Law Program at UCLA Law School and was Senior Legal Advisor to Chairman Mark Fowler of the FCC and Vice Chairman of the U.S. Delegation to the ITU World Radio Conference.

Christian Dippon is Senior Economic Consultant to National Economic Research Associates, Inc. Mr. Dippon has worked on issues of local competition, incentive regulation, and economic cost in the telecommunications and petroleum industries. Mr. Dippon is a frequent lecturer on on cost calculation for telecommunication network components.

Simon J. ffitch is Section Chief and Assistant Attorney General in the Public Counsel Section of the Washington State Office of the Attorney General. Previously, he was a Legal Policy Advisor and Administrative Law Judge at the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

Richard A. Finnigan, serves as regulatory and corporate counsel to a number of telecommunications companies in Washington and Oregon where he assists his clients with wireline and wireless telecommunications, cable TV, interconnection issues, and related business matters.

David LaFuria has practiced law with the firm of Lukas, Nace, Gutierrez & Sachs, Chartered, since 1990. Mr. LaFuria has considerable experience in the purchase, sale, financing and administrative regulation of all parts of the communications industry, including cellular, PCS, other mobile communications, LMDS, the Internet, and new technologies.

David L. Lawson is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood. He represents energy firms in a variety of matters involving litigation, economic regulation and legislation.

William M. Marticorena, Program Co-Chair, is a partner in the Public Law Section of Rutan & Tucker, LLP where he has represented public entities on telecommunications, cable television regulation, economic development, and public finance issues for over 23 years.

Thomas Gregory Motta is Associate General Counsel and Unit Chief of the Technology Law Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Robert Oenning has been the Administrator of the Washington State Enhanced 911 program since the program inception in 1993. He holds positions on the executive board of multiple public safety organizations and has over 20 years of experience in telecommunications management including voice and data systems serving government agencies.

R. Michael Senkowski is a partner at Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP in Washington D.C. He was recently named by Ambassador David Gross to serve as the U.S. representative on the Legal Panel of experts for the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization. Previously, Mr. Senkowski served as Deputy Chief of the Litigation Division at the FCC and as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chairman.

Scott Sher is an associate in WSGR's Palo Alto office, where he focuses on antitrust and trade regulation matters, with a particular emphasis on government investigations and counseling matters. He assists clients with antitrust issues that arise throughout the merger and acquisition process, from pre-merger counseling through investigations conducted by the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and foreign regulatory agencies. He also counsels clients on a wide range of antitrust issues, including distribution, pricing and standard-setting matters. Scott Andrew Sher Scott Sher is an associate in WSGR's Palo Alto office, where he focuses on antitrust and trade regulation matters, with a particular emphasis on government investigations and counseling matters.  He assists clients with antitrust issues that arise throughout the merger and acquisition process, from pre-merger counseling through investigations conducted by the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and foreign regulatory agencies.  He also counsels clients on a wide range of antitrust issues, including distribution, pricing and standard-setting matters. Scott has written several antitrust related articles, including a discussion of the antitrust implications for the peer-to-peer networking industry, which appeared in the July 2001 Antitrust Report, and was featured in the FTC: Watch newsletter.  Scott has also written articles for the Santa Clara Computer and High Technology Law Journal, Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor, Competition, The Journal of the Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section of the State Bar of California and the Transportation Antitrust Update.  Scott has spoken on recent developments in merger-antitrust law at the 12th Annual Seattle Conference on Computer Law and at the 2001 Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor Conference. 

Byron Springer is Vice President/Chief Counsel, Mobile Multimedia Services at AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. where he supports AT&T's newly established Mobile Multimedia Services group in developing and bringing to market multimedia content, applications and services over existing and next generation wireless data networks.

Padmanabhan Srinagesh, Principal of Charles River Associates, is an expert on telecommunications economics. He has worked on the design of auctions for procuring universal service.

Richard Thayer, Director of Intercarrier Policy for Level 3 Communications LLC, is responsible for developing and implementing Level 3 Communications LLC’s telecommunications policy and business needs across the full spectrum of telecommunications carriers. He has worked with a variety of competitive local exchange companies, interstate exchange carriers and cable companies in a broad range of media issues including interconnection services, rights of way, arbitrations, rule making, contract negotiation and product development.

Bryan Tramont is Chief of Staff to FCC Chairman, Michael K. Powell. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Tramont served as Senior Legal Advisor to Chairman Powell. Prior to joining the Chairman's Office, Tramont served as Senior Legal Advisor to FCC Commissioners Kathleen Abernathy and Harold Furchtgott-Roth..

Nancy J. Victory is a partner in the Communications and Government Affairs Practices of Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP, in Washington, DC. She is the Former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Richard S. Whitt is Director and Senior Counsel for Federal Law and Public Policy at WorldCom, Inc. In that capacity, Rick represents WorldCom's interests before the Federal Communications Commission and other administrative agencies, the Executive Branch, and Congress.