Making sure you have mobile capabilities is critical. That’s why this symposium’s sessions will focus on new ways for utilities to benefit from mobile voice and data communications technologies, as well as traditional land-mobile radio issues. Hear the detail of existing applications, cutting-edge technologies, and how to combine capabilities into your technology plan to achieve full mobility for your energy or water utility.

 

Sunday, May 4, 2008

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Pre-Conference Tutorials [1]

12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Networking Lunch

4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
UTC EXPO 2008 Grand Opening
Help us kick off UTC EXPO 2008 & UTC TELECOM 2008 in the exhibit hall! This event gives you a chance to get your first look at the exhibit hall while enjoying food and drinks at the same time. Renew old acquaintances and make new friends as you take advantage of this networking opportunity.

Monday, May 5, 2008

8:00 a.m.
Continental Networking Breakfast

8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Opening General Session
Location: Gatlin B

UTC TELECOM 2008 starts off with a bang at the Opening General Session. The session will feature reports from Chairman of the Board Jeff Selman and UTC's Division Chairs, explaining their key issues and activities. This session also features a keynote on the state of the industry by Jeff Lyash, President & CEO, Progress Energy Florida, Inc. You'll want to stay for UTC TELECOM 2008's keynote address by Larry J. Sabato a leading election analyst and university professor. 2008 is shaping up to be a major political contest -- come hear what's in store for the elections and what that means for you professionally and personally!

10:15 - 10:30 a.m.
Networking Break

10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
Mobile Data Management
Location: Gatlin A4

John Pomerleau, Mobility Solutions Principal, Motorola
Terri Snell, Alliance Director, Syclo

Growth in telecom is focused on data. Do you need a cradled or real-time mobility solution? What are the connectivity issues for one platform over another, and what have your colleagues done at other utilities? How are they mixing the two solutions to achieve the best results? And what is the role of geographic information systems (GIS)? Members have lots of questions - this session will help to address them as the issue of mobility at utilities is explored.

Creating a Useful IT Mobility Plan
Location: Gatlin A3

Paul Lanci, Director Mobility Practice, Motorola
Mark Lampe, Senior Director, CPS Energy

The need for mobility is placing new challenges on utilities today: while there are more choices than ever, what devices and applications make sense? Today's utility CIO must address the new realities of IP-based mobility and the various connectivity choices available to them to deliver on these demands. Learn how effective planning and a clear understanding of current requirements can simplify and improve the decision process, allowing you to create a useful architecture and roadmap for migration to the next generation of mobility in your utility.

11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
UTC EXPO 2008 Open

11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2008

2:15 - 5:00 p.m.
*SUPER SESSION*
Exploring New Wireless Technologies
Location: Gatlin A4

Adrian A. Grilli, Managing Director, Joint Radio Company Ltd.
Phil Kidner, Chief Executive Officer, TETRA Association
Kevin J. Babich, CEO, Utility Communications, Inc.
Robert Ma, Harris Stratex

Utilities continue to invest in private, wide-area, mission-critical voice and data networks, recognizing that full reliance on commercial service offerings just doesn't work to meet most utilities' coverage and eligibility needs. But private doesn't have to mean out-of-date. Utilities are considering and implementing new wireless technologies that support a variety of applications, while at the same time simplifying network and application integration. Using UTC's research paper, New Wireless Technologies for Utilities, this session looks at three advanced wireless technologies - WiMAX, Radio over IP, and mesh networking - and how utilities can implement them effectively. Come and hear how these options for communications systems do more at a lower cost, while using limited spectrum more efficiently.

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
Utility Interoperability is Different - How Do We Get There?
Location: Gatlin A1

Jeff Sheldon, Attorney at Law, McDermott, Will & Emery
Ronald Beck, Network Engineer, Central Lincoln People's Utility District

"Interoperability" is a Washington buzzword, but while everyone knows that utilities have to respond during emergency situations, that's only a small part of what interoperability means to you. When utilities are getting the lights back on, the gas running and water flowing, how do the right personnel from dozens of utilities talk to each other? Then, how do they talk with traditional public safety? And on an everyday basis, how do Smart Grids and better emergency planning drive connectivity among entire utility data networks? UTC's Regional Division has been working to define what "interoperability" means for OUR industry, and how to get there. Come hear about the progress, provide your input and help us work out the plan for this important part of our future.

3:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Networking Break in UTC EXPO 2008

3:45 - 5:00 p.m.
Next-Generation, Mission-Critical Utility Communications Networking
Location: Gatlin A2

Kamal Ballout, Director, Business Development, Alcatel-Lucent USA
Jim Fraley, Director of Telecom, IT and Security, Grand River Dam Authority

Through utility case studies, this session highlights how IP/MPLS capabilities add cost-effective support of existing and growing packet application traffic to existing wide area network communications solutions, converging traffic from application-specific networks. The session will cover ideas to maintain key capabilities, including high availability and security for mission critical information. Key engineering and operations challenges, and migration steps to a next-generation, converged IP/MPLS network solution utilizing optical, microwave and WiMAX are highlighted as well.

6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
UTC Gala
Location: Panzacola

Celebrate UTC's 60th birthday with us at Club Sesenta (or Club Sixty in English)! We've been around since 1948 -- that's something to celebrate. What better way than to mark this special anniversary with the very people that helped us make it to 60. And....in addition to a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday," and salsa dancing. Club Sesenta will include drinks, food, friends and fun all at Shingle Creek - don't miss it!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

8:30 - 9:45 a.m.
UTC Apex Award Breakfast
Location: Gatlin B

The presentation of the fourth Annual UTC Apex Award, sponsored by Motorola, will be an awards breakfast to remember! Join us again this year as we honor the absolute best in utility telecommunications to benefit our communities. This event will showcase the winners of this distinguished award and the finalists, told as only they can through the stories they submitted about their projects. Come and be reminded of what's special about being involved in the critical infrastructure communications industry!

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
UTC EXPO 2008 Open

10:00 - 11:15 a.m.
Meet the Network of the Future - WiMAX
Location: Gatlin A4

Al King, Applications Engineer-CCNA, GE MDS LLC
C. Douglas Jarrett, Partner, Keller and Heckman, LLP
Ed Davalos, National Director Utilities, Sprint Nextel

Utilities are at the crossroads of significant transformation in every segment of their services. As communications turns increasingly to IP, utilities are among those seeking to use these technologies to improve their own operations. This presentation will cover the changing landscape of wireless technologies including market trends, drivers and key technology players in the deployment of WiMax. Learn how WiMax will touch every segment within utilities starting with their metering infrastructure to mass automation of fixed assets to support smart grid initiatives.

11:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Networking Break in UTC EXPO 2008

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Advanced Data Capture and Mobile Applications Deliver New Productivity and Efficiency
Location: Gatlin A4

Jim Hanson, Energy & Utility Industry Principal, Motorola
Jim Pilant, SAP Process Designer, Sempra
Mustafa Tyebbhoy, Sr. Vice President, Shipcom Wireless

Facing pressures from multiple sources - customers demanding improved service levels and lower rates, increasing regulatory challenges and volatile energy prices - many utilities are implementing mobility to tap into new levels of operational efficiency. This session will explore the use of advanced data capture technologies (such as barcode or RFID) and converged voice and data devices to deliver mobile applications that improve productivity and asset use while enhancing customer service and satisfaction. In addition, the session will highlight how a number of utilities have deployed mobile applications and the benefits they were able to achieve.

12:15 - 2:15 p.m.
Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2008

3:00 - 4:15 p.m.
UTC Regulatory/Legislative Update - the Wireless Landscape
Location: Gatlin A4

Jill Lyon, Vice President & General Counsel, Utilities Telecom Council
Prudence Parks, Federal Legislative Representative, Utilities Telecom Council

As always, there are many regulatory issues and proceedings that will have an impact on utility mobility networks. Issues continue to affect your legacy spectrum, while new proceedings have possibilities for wireless broadband, telemetry and new technologies. Meanwhile, UTC is focusing on the energy side of regulation more than ever before as a way to get members' needs understood. This session, presented by UTC's Legal/Regulatory team, will go over the broad regulatory landscape that will determine the future of your communications systems.

The Power of Partnerships: The Value of Long-Term Utility Alliances with Technology Providers
Location: Gatlin A1

Jeff Selman,Manager, Telecom & Protection Engineering,
Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association
Kathleen Brown, Territory Manager,Harris Stratex Networks
Rusty Williams, Mgr-Planning & Engineering, Southern Company Services
Steve Ferguson, National Sales Manager - Utility Division,
AFL Telecommunications
R. Dee Stryker, VP-Sales & Marketing, EasTex Tower, Inc.

Utilities will need strong technology partners to successfully meet every telecom and IT challenge facing them in the years ahead. More and more, utilities are reexamining the concept of a long-term alliance with key technology providers as a way of ensuring their access to critical technologies and implementation resources. This session will feature case studies of these new alliances exploring what makes them work and explaining how they can work for you. Long-term relationships with technology vendors had been common at utilities until recent years. In many ways these new technology alliances are very different; however, as the wise philosopher of baseball, Yogi Berra, once said, "It's like déjà vu all over again."

4:15 - 4:30 p.m.
Networking Break

4:30 - 4:45 p.m.
It's a Bird, It's A Plane - No, It's a Satellite
Location: Gatlin A4

Jeff Staples, Chief Executive Officer, Ground Control
Bob Belton, Program Manager, Quantum Research, Intl.
Peter Liberi, Vice President, MVS USA

Satellite communications systems provide a means to access critical remote data. This session is a frank discussion on the satellite solutions available to utilities, including the positives and negatives associated with these solutions. This session will include a panel discussion by utility representatives who use satellite solutions currently. Come and find out if satellite service can help you address your remote monitoring and control needs.

Washington Roundtable
Location: St. Johns 23

Jill Lyon, Vice President & General Counsel, Utilities Telecom Council
Prudence Parks, Federal Legislative Representative, Utilities Telecom Council
Erik Stark, Associate Administrator for the Office of Policy Analysis and Development, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
Rita Wells, Manager/SCADA and Process Control Systems, Idaho National Laboratory

From the new Energy Act to emergency communications and cyber security, utility communications capabilities are being considered all over Washington these days. UTC’s Public Policy Division and staff are working with Congress, the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, NTIA and others, and you should hear what policymakers are doing that could have a profound effect on your utility and its systems. Finish your educational day with some inside information from our Washington guests in this important session.

International Roundtable
Location: St. Johns 25

MODERATOR: Dymitr Wajsman, Co-Chairman, UTC International Division, and Director, APTEL - Associaçao das Empresas Proprietàrias de Infraestrutura e Sistemas Privados de Telecommunicações (BRAZIL)
Miguel Angel Sánchez Fornié, Co-Chairman, UTC International Division, and Director of Telecommunications and Control Systems, Iberdrola, S.A. (SPAIN)
Ion Nedelcu, General Director, TELETRANS S.A. (ROMANIA) José Gonçalves Vieira, New Business and Telecom Superintendent, CELG – Cia Energetica de Goias (BRAZIL)
Cenildo Costa de Oliveira, Telecommunications Engineering Manager, CHESF – Cia Hidro Eletrica de Sao Francisco (BRAZIL)


A special invitation is extended to all international delegates attending UTC TELECOM 2008 to attend this unique session featuring utility telecom executives from around the world addressing key activities in Europe and South America. Following the presentations, all international participants will be invited to give a brief report on their activities. A great session to meet your counterparts from across the globe and make new, valuable friends.

9:30 - 9:45 a.m.
Networking Break

9:45 - 11:45 a.m.
NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection Compliance Workshop
Location: Gatlin A3

Jonathan Pollet, VP, Professional Services, Industrial Defender
Ori Artman, Chief Technology Officer, Teltone Corporation
Andrew Bartels, Chief Technology Officer, Aegis Technologies
Curtis Johnson, Project Manager, Black & Veatch

This workshop provides a pivotal look at utility compliance with CIP 002-009, the NERC Cyber Security standards. With fines that can hit up to $1 million, per instance, PER DAY, any potential problems can translate to huge liabilities for your utility. Mitigating risk before any surprise NERC audit is essential. This session will go over what you need to know in regards to NERC compliance no matter where you are in the process.

Pole Attachment Workshop
Location: Gatlin A1

Jeffrey L. Sheldon, Esq., Attorney at Law, McDermott, Will & Emery
Sean A. Stokes, Attorney, The Baller Herbst Law Group
Thomas B. Magee, Attorney, Keller and Heckman, LLP
Brett Kilbourne, Director-Regulatory Services & Associate Counsel, Utilities Telecom Council
Charles Zdebski, Partner, Troutman Sanders L.L.P.

Pole attachment issues are back at the forefront with the FCC's new look at rules, and you need to stay up-to-date on both federal and state issues that impact your utility. This session will provide the details on the latest pole attachments and joint use developments: what the FCC is saying, whether new court cases are likely, and more. This workshop will also cover how utilities can improve their pole attachment and joint use management processes to provide better service for attaching entities and to ensure that their costs are fully recovered. Utilities can develop collaborative solutions for pole attachments - even with new regulations. Make sure you know both the challenges and the possibilities.