Track 5-10: Media and Telecom Policy
From Wikimedia
What is the status of the Community Access Preservation Act (CAP Act)? Can the negative effects on PEG and consumer interests resulting from the newly implemented state laws be reversed and set on a corrective course? What is the latest information on recent actions at the FCC? This group of workshops will focus upon providing the most up-to-date information about media, broadband and telecom policy and the associated litigation. Learn how local governments and Community Media Centers, and PEG access should be responding to this rapidly evolving environment.
Track Leaders & Organizers:
- Alan Bushong, Capital Community TV, Salem, OR
- Jim Horwood, Spiegel & McDiarmid, Washington, DC
1. Pass the CAP Act, Move the FCC Petition (Thu. pm)
Communities all across America need help to restore community media services damaged or eliminated as a result of business decisions by AT&T (U-verse), cable operators (channel slamming) and state level franchising. Learn more and join the effort to make things right.
Moderator/Speaker:
- Tim Lay, Spiegel & McDiarmid LLP, Washington, DC
Speaker:
- Gerry Lederer, Miller & Van Eaton, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC
- Stephen Traylor, Executive Director/General Counsel, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, Alexandria, VA
2. Franchise Renewal 2010 (Fri. am)
While the process for franchise renewal remains unchanged and guided by Federal Law, the realities and outcomes of franchise renewal are changing with the business, regulatory, and technology environments. Workshop leaders will focus on the franchise renewal process and the status of current franchise negotiations and strategies. They will also focus on the connections between the outcomes of the franchise renewal process and the contractual relationships between Community Media Centers/PEG Access and local governments.
Moderator:
- Rob Brading, Chief Executive Officer,MetroEast, Gresham, Oregon
Speakers:
- Sue Buske, The Buske Group, Sacramento, CA
- James Horwood, Spiegel & McDiarmid LLP, Washington, DC
- Lonni Moffet, Moffet and Associates, Hyattsville, MD
3. The National Broadband Plan: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Fri. pm)
After the initial euphoria following the FCC's announced National Broadband Plan, as the details have become disclosed a number of problems with its rollout and initiation have become apparent, and many of them adversely affect community media. Listen to a panel of various stakeholders discuss the positive and negative aspects of the plan.
Moderator:
- Gloria Tristani, Moderator, Spiegel & McDiarmid, LLP, Washington, DC
Speaker:
- Geoffrey Blackwell, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC
- Michael Schooler, Senior Vice President, Law and Regulatory Policy, National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Washington, DC
- Stephen Traylor, Executive Director/General Counsel, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, Alexandria, VA
4. Organizing 101: Building Action-Ready Communities
What you can do today and tomorrow to build community media all across America? Get specific information combined with practical steps on how to organize your community into an action arm, from local elected officials to community leaders in education, non-profit services, churches, community groups.
Moderator:
- Alan Bushong, Executive Director, Capital Community Television, Salem, OR
Speaker:
- Carlana S. Rhoten, Pittsburgh, PA
- Celeste Taylor, Director, Regional Equity Monitoring Project, Black Political Empowerment Project, Addison Behavioral Care, Pittsburgh, PA
Session Archive: MP3 Audio File
Ever wish you had your own pro bono lawyer available to answer both those day-to-day questions as well as to address those “big picture” policy issues. Well, here is your chance. Some of the brightest and best attorneys working for Community Media Centers and ACM will lead this panel. You, the participants will determine the direction of the panel based upon the questions you need answered!
Moderator/Speaker:
- James Horwood, Spiegel & McDiarmid LLP, Washington, DC
Speakers:
- Daniel S. Cohen, Cohen Law Group, Pittsburgh, PA
- Joseph L. Van Eaton, Miller & Van Eaton, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC
