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Program



Sun, May 06
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM Broadband over Power Line 101 Tutorial
Room: 18AB
 
 
Utility Telecom 101 Tutorial
Room: 18C
 
 
What You Need to Know About Wireless Business Opportunities -- Tutorial
Room: 19AB
 
12:30 PM - 01:30 PM Networking Lunch
 
01:30 PM - 04:30 PM New and Old Microwave Technology Tutorial
Room: 19AB
 
 
Introduction to Internet Protocol Tutorial
Room: 18AB
 
 
RF Engineering & Spectrum Management Tutorial
Room: 18C
 
04:30 PM - 06:30 PM UTC EXPO 2007 Grand Opening

Kick off UTC EXPO 2007, the exhibit hall of UTC TELECOM 2007, with other attendees along with UTC's technology partners with food, drinks and networking in the hall. Walk around and meet old and new friends as you get a glimpse of what UTC EXPO 2007 has to offer.

 
Mon, May 07
08:30 AM - 10:00 AM Opening General Session

Kick off UTC TELECOM 2007 at the Opening General Session on Monday morning where we will introduce all attendees to this year’s theme: Learning. Connecting. Celebrating. The Critical Infrastructure Communications Experience. The General Session will feature reports from UTC’s Chairman of the Board, Joseph Lackey, Telecommunications Supervisor at Southside Electric Cooperative, and UTC’s Division Chairs explaining what UTC is doing to help you with your jobs. Don’t miss UTC TELECOM 2007’s keynote address by Andres Carvallo, the nationally recognized Chief Information Officer at Austin Energy. Hear how this innovative CIO sees the future of critical infrastructure communications and learn how Austin Energy is on the cutting edge many new utility telecom ideas.

 
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM Smart Meters Need Smart Networks
Room: 17A
 
 
Using Spread-Spectrum to Improve SCADA Communications
Room: 17B
 
 
Thinking About Wireless Business Opportunities? Get Buy-In With a Business Plan
Room: 18D
 
 
Optical Fiber Technology Trends – Utility Architectures & Application
Room: 18C
 
 
Narrowbanding, Rebanding and 900 MHz, Too
Room: 19AB
 
 
BPL Technology Crossfire
Room: 18AB
 
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM Networking Break
 
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Building a BPL Business Case
Room: 18AB
 
 
Visions of the AMI/SmartGrid Future: the Technologists’ Perspective
Room: 17A
 
 
The Next Generation– Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)
Room: 18C
 
 
Integrating Wireless Technologies in Difficult Areas
Room: 19AB
 
 
Get Started Selling – Putting the Right People in Place
Room: 18D
 
11:30 AM - 01:00 PM Control System Vulnerabilities – It Isn’t Over Yet *SUPER SESSION*
Room: 17B
 
11:45 AM - 05:30 PM UTC EXPO 2007 Open
 
12:30 PM - 02:30 PM Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2007
 
01:45 PM - 03:15 PM HOT TOPIC: Two Projects for the Future Utility – Substation Communications and Fiber
Room: 17A
 
02:30 PM - 03:30 PM HOT TOPIC: Disaster Planning and Your Wireless and IT Systems
Room: 19AB

Businesses, including utilities, are missing the key role of wireless communications and IT networks in their business continuity and disaster recovery plans. Few commercial businesses have a comprehensive BC/DR plan: while some have a sketchy idea of procedures to meet basic requirements, many others don’t even have that. This presentation looks at the benefits of a top-down BC/DR plan, including the critical role of wireless, and you will hear from one utility that has been doing serious thinking about how to change its use of technology to meet new emergencies and possible pandemics.

 
06:30 PM - 09:30 PM UTC Gala
Room: Buffalo Billiards

A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, a little bit of everything -- Austin is the “Live Music Capital of the World” and UTC certainly can’t send you home without a taste of some great live music! That’s why this year’s UTC Gala will feature country western sounds and a starring lead singer - your chairman - Joe Lackey! Dance the night away or enjoy casual time with food and drinks to catch up with old friends. The UTC Gala will be a night to remember your trip to Austin and UTC TELECOM 2007.

 
Tue, May 08
08:00 AM - 10:00 AM Breakfast General Session Featuring:
Presentation of the UTC Apex Award & Special Keynote Address on Next Generation Infrastructures

The presentation of Third Annual UTC Apex Award, sponsored by Motorola, will be an awards breakfast to remember as we honor the absolute best in utility telecommunications. Join us as we showcase the winners of this distinguished award and the finalists - told through the stories they submitted. This year, we are adding a special address to immediately follow the UTC Apex Award presentation. Bruce Germano, Vice President of Retail Delivery at Long Island Power Authority, and Chairman of EPRI’s IntelliGrid Project, has been invited to give his unique perspective on the critical role of communications in the next generation of utility infrastructure.

 
10:00 AM - 10:15 AM Networking Break
 
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM Building to Meet Commercial Wireless Needs
Room: 18C
 
 
Stay Out of Trouble With the FCC – Compliance Training For Everyone
Room: 19AB
 
 
BPL as an Intelligent Grid – City of Austin Case Study
Room: 18AB
 
 
Realities of Advanced Metering and Next-Generation Infrastructure
Room: 17A
 
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM Latest on Cyber Security Solutions for Enterprise and Process Control Systems *SUPER SESSION*
Room: 17B
 
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM Optical Network Surveillance: Architectural Challenges of Video Integration
Room: 18C
 
10:30 AM - 03:30 PM UTC EXPO 2007 Open
 
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM Networking Break in UTC EXPO 2007
 
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM HOT TOPIC: Retirement – How it Affects You and Your Utility
Room: 19AB

Sponsored by the UTC Career Center - This session will focus on two aspects of retirement: how it affects you financially when you make the choice to leave, and what impact retirement has on utilities. Experts from a financial services firm offer help on how to prepare yourself for retirement and the many issues associated with transitioning out of the working world – even if you plan to work after your “official” retirement. The second part of the session will include a discussion on how utility companies can cope with an aging workforce and make sure that no critical knowledge is lost in handing off jobs to younger professionals. This session is great for those about to retire and utility HR department curious about what to do next!

 
 
International Utility Telecom Roundtable *NEW*
Room: 11A
 
12:30 PM - 02:30 PM Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2007
 
01:00 PM - 03:00 PM HOT TOPIC: UTC Legal/Regulatory/Legislative
Room: 19AB
 
03:15 PM - 04:15 PM Ethernet Options For Utilities
Room: 18C
 
 
Being Able to Deliver – The Vendors You Need to Know
Room: 18D
 
 
Replacing SCADA Equipment: Trends and Best Practices
Room: 17B
 
03:15 PM - 04:45 PM How Government is Driving AMI, Distribution Automation & SmartGrids -SUPER SESSION
Room: 17A
 
03:15 PM - 04:15 PM Communications Master Planning – the Business and the Regulations
Room: 19AB
 
 
What Do 2 Million Texas Homes Have in Common? BPL!
Room: 18AB
 
04:15 PM - 04:30 PM Networking Break
 
04:30 PM - 05:30 PM Evolving the Intelligent Grid – The Pepco Holdings Story
Room: 17B
 
 
In-Building BPL – Another Opportunity Realized
Room: 18AB
 
 
Mesh Networking – From Concept to Reality
Room: 19AB
 
 
Your Fiber Network Can Drive Community Development
Room: 18C
 
 
Case Study: Wireless Business Opportunities In Practice
Room: 18D
 
 
Understanding What the Next Generation Electric Grid will Look Like
Room: 17A
 
06:30 PM - 09:30 PM UTC Awards Dinner
Room: Hilton Salon A/B/C

The UTC Awards Dinner is the main social event of UTC TELECOM 2007! Join us as we honor the recipients of UTC’s most prestigious awards, the Dondanville, Meehan and Chairman’s Awards after enjoying a formal, sit down dinner. What better way to end out UTC TELECOM 2007 than ending the last full day with a presentation honoring colleagues and friends. Make sure to stay after dinner for a great dessert and an evening spent listening to jazz. *semi-formal attire

 
Wed, May 09
08:00 AM - 10:00 AM Capstone - UTC Annual Membership Meeting & Breakfast
Room: Ballroom EFG

Help us wrap up UTC TELECOM 2007 in style on Wednesday morning as we elect UTC’s new officers for 2007-2008. Join outgoing UTC Chairman Joe Lackey and the senior members of UTC’s leadership as reports are delivered on activities over the past year and plans for 2007-2008. The Annual UTC Membership Meeting is an important aspect of being a member. But, it is also an important opportunity for anyone interested in becoming a UTC member. This is a short but ideal way to learn how you can benefit from greater involvement in UTC. Come and be a part of the annual progress of your trade association!

 
10:15 AM - 12:00 PM Grounding Workshop
Room: 19AB

Grounding systems help telecom systems operate at peak performance. To keep grounding systems functioning at their best, it is essential to understand how the key elements of a grounding system function and how to solve common problems. Attendees of this practical workshop will learn about subjects including grounding electrode systems, single point grounding, isolated ring and halo grounds, as well as tower grounding practices and site bonding.

 
 
Pole Attachment Workshop – Challenges and Opportunities
Room: 18AB

Pole attachment and joint use issues are heating up! This workshop will identify the legal/regulatory developments, business and operational issues and technical and safety considerations that face the utility industry. It will feature leading experts providing their perspectives and answering your questions about the big policy issues and the routine operational challenges you need to know. These are issues that affect every aspect of the utility business: reliability, safety, asset management, and communications. You can’t afford to miss this session.

 
12:30 PM - 05:00 PM Austin Energy/PowerGrid Communications BPL Site Visit

Ever wonder what BPL is all about really? Come see it live at the Austin Energy/PowerGrid Communications BPL demo house. After all the UTC TELECOM 2007 workshops are over on Wednesday afternoon, Austin Energy is inviting UTC TELECOM 2007 attendees to see their demo house. There is no set tour and attendees will be welcome to browse through the house at their leisure. PowerGrid Communications will treat attendees that visit the BPL Demo House to a barbeque lunch. Buses will leave the Austin Convention Center at 12:30 p.m. Buses will start coming back to the Austin Convention Center at 4:00 p.m. RSVP to stephanie.colbert@utc.org.