Law Seminars International Presents: The Thirteenth Annual Conference on

Telecommunications Law
Fundamental shifts in regulatory policy

Register Download PDF Brochure

April 17 & 18, 2008
Crowne Plaza Hotel - Seattle Downtown in Seattle, WA

Who Should Attend

Attorneys and executives in the telecommunications, cable and electric industries; local government representatives; large users of telecommunications services

Why Attend

With the introduction of new technologies, the need for new forms of regulation, service challenges in rural areas and the emergence of new providers--this year's conference is more pertinent than ever.

In a world with fast-paced new technology developments and deployments, where providers struggle to keep up, how will it all play out? What do recent court and regulatory decisions mean? What does this all mean to the consumer?

Once again we are bringing together the major players to examine telecom's latest challenges including the new political dynamics in Washington and the latest developments that impact the wireless industry. Major points of discussion will cover CPNI and implementation of the FCC's new privacy rules, market developments and how VoIP is playing out between network carriers and technology companies, forbearance petitions and the special access debate, net neutrality and universal service reform.

~ Arthur Butler, Esq. and Brooks E. Harlow, Esq., Program Co-Chairs

You Will Learn About

What Attendees Have Said About Similar Programs

Agenda

Thursday, April 17, 2008

8:30 am

Introduction and 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

Where Technology Companies are Heading

Near-future tendencies, technologies, and tensions arising from traditional IT, service and media companies

Scott Forbes, Ph.D., Esq., Director of Technology Ventures
General Electric / Princeton, NJ

 
9:30 am

Market Developments

Observations on the evolving market structure: The battle between cable and telco and how wireless, VoIP and Google fit in

Rebecca Arbogast, Esq., Principal
Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Inc. / Washington, DC

 
10:15 am

Break

 
10:30 am

Federal Case Law

Recent cases and trends

Jonathan Jacob Nadler, Esq.
Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP / Washington, DC

 
11:00 am

Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) and Implementation of the FCC's New Privacy Rules

Legal and practical issues: CPNI in the context of U.S. privacy law; relationship to federal pretexting legislation; FCC enforcement plans; available private actions, penalties, remedies; pending appeals; compliance tips; Homeland Security immunity issues

Frank G. Lamancusa, Esq.
Bingham McCutchen LLP / Washington, DC

 
11:30 am

Lunch (on your own)

 
12:45 pm

State Regulation on Interconnection

Catch 261: Does Section 251 preempt state interconnection regulations?

William P. Hunt, III, Esq., Vice President for Public Policy
Level 3 Communications, Inc. / Bloomfield, CO

 
1:15 pm

Competitive Implications of Forbearance Petitions and the Special Access Debate

Perspectives on the substantive issues; potential for abuse of the process and ways to avoid it; whether Qwest's filing for forbearance from the ARMIS requirements would it eliminate the ability of FCC to regulate (and shift regulatory forum to FTC)

Arthur A. Butler, Esq., Moderator, Program Co-Chair
Ater Wynne LLP / Seattle, WA

CLEC perspective

Brad E. Mutschelknaus, Esq.
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP / Washington, DC

ILEC perspective

Melissa Newman, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
Qwest / Washington, DC

Large user perspective

Colleen Boothby, Esq.
Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby / Washington, DC

 
2:45 pm

Essentials for Advising Clients Subject to FCC Enforcement Actions: Focus on Forfeitures

Forfeiture provisions overview in Title V of the Communications Act, the FCC's Enforcement Policy & the procedural vehicles; pros & cons for pursuing consent decree negotiations with the Enforcement Bureau & additional challenges

C. Douglas Jarrett, Esq.
Keller and Heckman LLP / Washington, DC

 
3:30 pm

Break

 
3:45 pm

Perspectives on the Future of Competition and IP Networks

Who will have the combination of regulatory and IP rights? Who's business plans will stay in sync with shifting customer expectations? Does anyone without a network have a future?

Arthur A. Butler, Esq., Moderator, Program Co-Chair
Ater Wynne LLP / Seattle, WA

Brooks E. Harlow, Esq., Moderator, Program Co-Chair
Miller Nash LLP / Seattle, WA

Tug-of-wars in the regulatory IP litigation arenas

William B. Wilhelm, Jr., Esq.
Bingham McCutchen LLP / Washington, DC

Cable perspective on regulatory issues and relationships with technology companies and content providers

Christopher J. Harvie, Esq.
Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC / Washington, DC

 
5:30 pm

Reception for Faculty and Attendees Sponsored by Ater Wynne LLP and Miller Nash LLP

 

Friday, April 18, 2008

8:30 am

Introduction and Overview

Arthur 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

Wireless: Potential Changes in the Industry Arising from New Market and Regulatory Developments

Spectrum: Implications of the outcome of the 700 MHz Auction; the risk that broadcasters and the public are ready for the end of analog in February of 2009 and the potential impact on wireless telecommunications; the debate over use of white space

Bryan N. Tramont, Esq.
Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP / Washington, DC

New developments in the market: Google deals with major wireless carriers; open handset alliance; impact of state regulation and back haul between towers; other issues

Paul Boyer, Esq., Director of Legal Affairs, Broadband Services
T-Mobile USA / Bellevue, WA

 
10:15 am

Break

 
10:30 am

Access to Multi-Dwelling Units: Implementation Issues Arising Under the FCC's Order Prohibiting Exclusive Access

Building owner perspective

Gerard L. Lederer, Esq.
Miller & Van Eaton PLLC / Washington, DC

Carrier perspective

Daniel L. Brenner, Esq., Senior Vice President for Law and Regulatory Policy
National Cable & Telecommunications Association / Washington, DC

 
11:45 am

FCC Policy Update

Policy priorities for the coming year

Dana Shaffer, Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau
Federal Communications Commission / Washington, DC

 
12:15 pm

Lunch (on your own)

 
1:30 pm

The Ebb and Flow of the Debate Over Net Neutrality: Who is Arguing for What? What is on the Policy Makers' Agendas? What is Likely to Happen? What are the Implications for Business Planners?

Carrier perspective: Telecommunications/cable facility owner

Bruce R. Byrd, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel
AT&T Inc. / Washington, DC

 
2:45 pm

Break

 
3:00 pm

Universal Service: Pressure for Reform -Perspectives on What Will Happen and When

Overview of the various plans for funding mechanisms; contribution levels; response to the pressure to fund broadband

Brooks E. Harlow, Esq., Moderator, Program Co-Chair
Miller Nash LLP / Seattle, WA

Regulatory perspective

The Hon. Ray Baum, Commissioner
Oregon Public Utilities Commission / Salem, OR

Consumer perspective

Simon J. ffitch, Esq., Section Chief and Assistant Attorney General
Washington State Office of the Attorney General / Seattle, WA

Wireless perspective

Grant Spellmeyer, Esq., Director of Regulatory Affairs
U.S. Cellular / Chicago, IL

Rural ILEC perspective

Ellen S. Martin, Vice President, State External Affairs
EMBARQ / Overland Park, KS

 
4:30 pm

Evaluations and Adjourn

 

Tuition

Regular tuition for this program is $995 with a group rate of $895 each for two or more registrants from the same firm. For government employees, we offer a special rate of $795. For students and people in their job for less than a year, our rate is $497.50. All rates include admission to all seminar sessions, food and beverages at breaks, and all course materials. Make checks payable to Law Seminars International.

Cancellation & Substitution

You may substitute another person at any time. We will refund tuition, less a $50 cancellation fee, if we receive your cancellation by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2008. After that time, we will credit your tuition toward attendance at another program or the purchase of a Homestudy. There is a $25 cancellation fee for Course Materials orders and $50 for Homestudy orders.

Continuing Education Credits

This program qualifies for 13 WA CLE credits. Upon request, we will apply for CLE credits in other states and other types of credits.

Location

The conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel - Seattle Downtown at 1113 Sixth Avenue in Seattle, WA 98101. Call the hotel directly at (206) 464-1980 for reservations at the special negotiated rate of $159 and ask for the Law Seminars Meeting to identify that you are attending a Law Seminars International conference. Rooms are on a first come, first served basis.
More about the Location
Map & Directions

If You Cannot Attend

Our complete Homestudy Course, consisting of a VHS or DVD recording and the written course materials, is available for $1005. The written 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 (whichever is later).
Order Homestudy

Faculty Bios

Arthur A. Butler, Program Co-Chair, shareholder at Ater Wynne LLP, focuses on telecommunications issues, emphasizing regulatory, transactional and business advice, including administrative and judicial litigation, telecommunications contract negotiation and dispute resolution, and strategic planning on policy and business issues.

Brooks E. Harlow, Program Co-Chair, partner at Miller Nash LLP, focuses on telecommunications, electric energy and other utility matters including antitrust, breach of warranty, contracts, finance and secured transactions, franchise issues, intercarrier disputes and general business advice to start-up companies in the telecommunications and electric energy industries.

Rebecca Arbogast, Principal at Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Inc., advises institutional investors on legal issues affecting the communications industries, including spectrum, intellectual property and antitrust. Previously she was Chief of the International Bureau Telecommunications Division at the FCC.

The Hon. Ray Baum, Commissioner of the Oregon Public Utilities Commission, is a member of NARUC Board of Directors, NARUC Telecommunications Committee, NARUC Task Force on Telecommunications Act Rewrite and NARUC Washington Action Committee.

Colleen Boothby, partner at Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, advises enterprise customers and technology providers on regulatory, business and litigation involving IT and communications products and services. Previously she was in various senior positions with the FCC.

Paul Boyer, Director of Legal Affairs of Broadband Services at T-Mobile USA, is responsible for all legal aspects of T-Mobile's broadband business. Previously he was Director of International Alliances at MCI.

Daniel L. Brenner is Senior Vice President for Law & Regulatory Policy at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. Previously he was senior legal advisor to FCC Chairman Mark Fowler.

Bruce R. Byrd, Vice President and General Counsel for AT&T Inc., chief legal advisor to the company's federal lobbyists and chief strategist for its IP and video initiatives, was SBC's General Attorney for Network and Broadband Operations.

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

Scott Forbes, Ph.D., Director of Technology Ventures at General Electric, focuses on technology investments and IP licensing, particularly in telecommunications, consumer electronics, and biotechnology and is an inventor on more than thirty patents.

Christopher J. Harvie, partner at Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC in the Communications and Federal Sections, focuses on legal, policy and legislative issues affecting cable companies, content providers and distributors, and the media and communications business.

William P. Hunt, Vice President for Public Policy at Level 3 Communications, Inc., is responsible for regulatory affairs in North America and Europe. Previously he was at MCI Communications Corporation.

C. Douglas Jarrett, partner at Keller and Heckman LLP, specializes in telecommunications law, policy and procurement matters and represents companies and associations before the FCC and state agencies.

Frank G. Lamancusa, of counsel in the Telecommunications, Media and Technology group of Bingham McCutchen LLP, represents communication clients in enforcement, litigation, and alternative dispute resolution-related matters.

Gerard L. Lederer, of counsel at Miller & Van Eaton PLLC, is an advocate for the rights of public and private property owners regarding law and policy arising from federal and state communications legislation and regulation. He focuses on marketplace solutions for integration of technology into commercial real estate.

Ellen S. Martin, Vice President of State External Affairs at EMBARQ, the largest independent local exchange carrier in the U.S. She is responsible for directing regulatory, legislative, governmental and public affairs initiatives in EMBARQ's 18 states.

Brad E. Mutschelknaus, founding partner of the Telecommunications Practice Group at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, represents telecommunications service providers in regulatory matters and carriers in interconnection negotiations, disputes and litigation and arbitration.

Jack Nadler, partner at Squire Sanders & Dempsey LLP, focuses on local telecommunications competition, international telecommunication liberalization, broadband deployment and growth of the Internet.

Melissa Newman, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Qwest, is responsible for developing, implementing and coordinating the company's advocacy at the FCC. Previously she was Deputy Division Chief of Policy Division in the Common Carrier Bureau of the FCC.

Dana Shaffer is Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission.

Grant Spellmeyer, Director of Regulatory Affairs at U.S. Cellular, is responsible for leading their federal and state legislative and regulatory efforts.

Bryan N. Tramont, partner at Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, focuses on spectrum and technology issues. Previously he was a chief of staff and senior legal advisor at the FCC.
Full bio and contact info for Bryan N. Tramont at Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP

William B. Wilhelm Jr., partner at Bingham McCutchen LLP, advises on policy, state and federal regulation and commercial transactions and disputes related to development and deployment of new communications applications, voice and video services, digital media and broadband wireless and wireline networks.

Firm Links