UTILITY WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYMPOSIUM

Ensuring Safety & Reliability – Wireless as the Backbone for Critical Infrastructure Communications

Sponsored By:

Private wireless communication systems often form the backbone of critical infrastructure communications. Today, these private systems are evolving and utility telecom professionals are faced with the challenge to upgrading them while at the same time exploring how to adapt new technologies and commercial systems to meet their fundamental job of ensuring the safety and reliability of core utility services. This symposium will feature utilities and wireless technologies experts addressing how you can best use the latest in private land mobile radio, microwave/telemetry, mobile data, multiple address systems, Wi-Fi and WIMAX. If you are responsible for utilities wireless communication, there is no better place to meet the experts in your field and stay on top of all your rapidly evolving options.

Sun, May 06
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	Narrowbanding, Rebanding and 900 MHz, Too Room: 19AB UTC members operating in the 150-512 MHz, 800 MHz and 900 MHz land mobile frequency bands all are facing requirements because of ongoing FCC proceedings. Hear from industry experts about the status of all of these, from the upcoming narrowbanding requirement (and 6.25 kHz licensing), 800 MHz rebanding almost two years into the process, and the latest news about the future of the 896-901 MHz band.
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM	Networking Break
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM	Integrating Wireless Technologies in Difficult Areas Room: 19AB The many forms of emerging and existing wireless communications can help a utility meet specialized needs. Learn how microwave, wireless LANs and wireless broadband can work together to enhance communications networks by enabling mobility in remote or hard-to-service areas - such as inside a dam – to deliver voice, video and other services to various devices. Hear a case study from the Grand River Dam Authority on how to make sense of each technology and best deploy them.
11:45 AM - 05:30 PM	UTC EXPO 2007 Open
12:30 PM - 02:30 PM	Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2007
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	Stay Out of Trouble With the FCC – Compliance Training For Everyone Room: 19AB Are you sure your wireless licenses are up to date and that you know what you have? How well are your towers lit? Is your utility planning a merger or other event that will impact your communications holdings? FCC licensees must be aware of key issues that could create liability or even lead to loss of license. This session will provide an overview of compliance issues and lay out the key elements of a formal compliance and training program that every licensee should have in order to minimize the potential for enforcement problems, or mitigate liability if a problem arises. More help is available through UTC’s Compliance Manual.
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!
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 What is the FCC planning for the frequency bands in which you operate? What is the status of the proceedings you’re worried about? What are Congress and Federal agencies doing to help critical infrastructure communications? In this always-popular session, get an overview of what the UTC Legal/Regulatory staff is doing and how we read the landscape for your communications systems, including the status of legislative work and the drive toward a critical infrastructure spectrum allocation.
03:15 PM - 04:15 PM	Communications Master Planning – the Business and the Regulations Room: 19AB Does your utility, like most, have an evolved communications system including both legacy and modern equipment? If some of your systems are reaching the end of the road, how do you decide where to head next, and where are the barriers? How do you develop a master plan, and the business case to sell it to those who write the checks? This session will look at strategic and master planning for your utility networks, including key success factors, the planning process and the regulatory considerations that must go into your upgrade planning. There may be more choices than you think.
04:15 PM - 04:30 PM	Networking Break
04:30 PM - 05:30 PM	Mesh Networking – From Concept to Reality Room: 19AB Mesh networking is part of a SmartGrid concept that provides greater redundancy, better signal range and lower infrastructure costs, because each piece of equipment strengthens the overall network. Through proper equipment and preventive maintenance, mesh networking holds the key to anticipating failures and more real-time monitoring. Hear from leading experts deploying mesh networking today on its uses and benefits, as well as how to make the decision to deploy.
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.