• A Network in Transition: The Competitive Imperative of the 21st Century - This panel will discuss the steps that carriers and regulators must take to ensure a smooth transition as communications networks evolve to IP technology. This transition is a massive undertaking, comparable in scope to implementing the AT&T divestiture or the Telecommunications Act of 1996. But, unlike those transformations, there is no clear path that will protect customers, competition and universal service.
• Filling the White Space:  Spectrum Benefits for Consumers and Communications - With the completion of the FCC's white space rules, there will be an increase in commercial deployments of this technology both here in the U.S. and around the world. During this session, speakers will discuss the domestic and international implications for this technology in terms of supporting multi-megabit enterprise broadband, backhaul, Wi-Fi, services in rural markets and M2M communications, as well as the the immediate opportunities available and how current projects, such as Super Wi-Fi, are progressing.
• Grand Theft Copper: Protecting Against the ILEC Assault - ILECs appear to be making a full frontal assault on their copper networks in order to migrate to next generation fiber or wireless. These initiatives have the potential to have a significant impact on other providers that rely on copper for last mile access to their customers. Panelists will discuss the range of legal and regulatory options available to combat these tactics by the ILECs, as well as potential alternative network infrastructure solutions from cable, fiber and fixed wireless companies.
• Follow the Money: A USF Round-Up - Huge amounts of money are at stake in ongoing Universal Service Fund (USF) contribution reform and Lifeline proceedings. Panelists on this roundtable will discuss the latest developments on the contribution side of the federal USF and timely information and insights that will enable you to understand how money is flowing into and out of the fund - and more importantly, how these money flows impact your business.
• The Competitive Spark for Innovation:  Where Policy and Business Strategy Converge - With cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art high-performance services, competitive broadband providers have been at the forefront of communications innovation for the past two decades. During this interactive session, panelists will showcase the innovative products and services launched by competitive providers, how customers are benefiting from them, and why competition policy plays a vital role in continued innovation as networks evolve to IP technology.

 

The workshop will be free and open to the public, and will also be streamed live at www.fcc.gov/live. 

  

FCC Reports on Savings from Lifeline Program Reform

On February 12, the FCC announced that savings from its comprehensive reform of the Lifeline program are on track to reach at least an additional $400 million in 2013, adding to the more than $214 million saved in 2012 by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse.  

FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Chief Julie Veach said in a press release, "While Lifeline since 1985 has helped tens of millions of low-income Americans afford basic phone service - providing some of our most vulnerable citizens a communications lifeline to jobs, family, emergency services and more - the program rules we inherited were designed for the age of the rotary phone and failed to protect the program from abuse.

During his State of the Union speech last week, President Obama referenced an executive order on improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity.  The order notes that "repeated cyber intrusions into critical infrastructure demonstrate the need for improved cybersecurity and that the cyber threat to critical infrastructure continues to grow and represents one of the most serious national security challenges we must confront." The goal of the order is to "enhance the security and resilience of the Nation's critical infrastructure and to maintain a cyber environment that encourages efficiency, innovation, and economic prosperity while promoting safety, security, business confidentiality, privacy, and civil liberties." By doing so, the order states that "[w]e can achieve these goals through a partnership with the owners and operators of critical infrastructure to improve cybersecurity information sharing and collaboratively develop and implement risk-based standards."  

To read the full executive order, visit the White House website.

On February 13, Chairman Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Ranking Member Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) reintroduced Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA, H.R. 624).  The legislation would enable cyber threat sharing within the private sector and, on a purely voluntary basis, with the government, while providing strong protections for privacy and civil liberties.

All COMPTEL Committee meetings are held at the Association's headquarters, 900 17th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20006, unless otherwise noted.  All times listed are Eastern. For more information, call 202-296-6650.

February 26    Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy

March 5           Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy