I want to share the following conference announcement for the Minnesota State Bar Association. I have been to a few of their events in the past and I think they are excellent. It is definitely deep end of the pool material so if FTTH is an acronym that’s new to you it might be a lot to take in. But if you want to hear from people who read through the details of FCC reports and USDA awards – this is a great opportunity…

When June 24 ( 8-11 am)
Where Presidents Room / Minnesota State Bar Association  600 Nicollet Mall #380 Minneapolis

MSBA Communications Annual Forum

Attorneys, consultants, lobbyists and all those interested in the dynamic and rapidly evolving areas of Communications and Technology will want to attend the 2015 Communications Law Annual Forum. The Forum will feature a diverse selection of speakers from industry, private practice and government.

SCHEDULE

7:30 – 8:00 Breakfast and Check In

8:00 – 9:00  Keynote Presentation: The Rapid Evolution of Broadband in the United States, Five Years After the National Broadband Plan

In 2010, the FCC published the National Broadband Plan.  Five years later, where do things stand on the successes, challenges, and remaining milestones involved with meeting the plan’s ambitious goal of ensuring that every American has access to broadband capability?

Welcome:  Jason Topp, Associate General Counsel, CenturyLink

Speaker: Chin Yoo, Deputy Division Chief, Telecom Access Policy Division, FCC Wireline Competition Bureau

9:00 – 9:45 Broadband in Minnesota: An Update and Vision

The Office of Broadband Development is the new kid on the block in Minnesota broadband law, policy and program.   The Border to Border Broadband grant program is a key feature of the agenda for the Office.  Danna MacKenzie will discuss the work of the agency.   Margaret Anderson Kelliher will highlight the work of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband.  Their comments will provide a perspective on the future of broadband development in Minnesota.

Speakers:  Danna MacKenzie, Executive Director, MN Office of Broadband Development and                      Margaret Anderson Kelliher, President and CEO, MHTA and Chair, Governor’s Broadband Task Force

9:45 – 10:00 Break

10:00 – 10:30 FCC Panel: Where are They Now – A Big Picture Look at Recent Regulatory Developments in the Federal Universal Service Programs

The telecommunications regulatory world is rapidly evolving and savvy telecommunications practitioners know that a cutting edge knowledge of the changes in broadband and federal universal service regulation is a must.  The panel will discuss recent changes in FCC broadband and federal universal service regulation and what they mean for telecommunications and broadband providers in the broadband era.

Speakers:  Chin Yoo, Deputy Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, FCC Wireline Competition Bureau  and
Shannon Heim, Senior Counsel, Government Policy and Telecommunications Regulatory Attorney, Dykema Gossett PLLC
Moderator: Kristin Berkland, Associate, Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs Attorney, Dorsey & Whitney LLP

10:30 – 11:30 Legislative Wrap Up:  The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Legislators and lobbyists who are leaders in telecommunications and broadband issues will share their views on the results of the 2015 legislative session and provide perspective on next steps.

Speakers:

Representative Sheldon Johnson, Minnesota House of Representatives
Representative Ron Kresha, Minnesota House of Representatives
Senator Matt Schmit, Minnesota Senate
Brent Christensen, President and Executive Officer, Minnesota Telecom Alliance
Dan Dorman, Executive Director, Greater Minnesota Partnership
Moderator:      Milda Hedblom, Dain Legal Services & Professor, Augsburg College

REGISTRATION

TISP PARTICIPANTS      $25
Non-profits/Government/Law Students $25