The 2010 TATOA Conference was held July 29-30, 2010 at the beautiful Sheraton Dallas North hotel located at 4801 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway in Dallas.

The conference included the 9th annual Government Programming Awards.  Visit our programming page for more information and a list of the 2010 award winners.

Want a copy of the conference materials on CD?

---

Conference Agenda

Wednesday, July 28th

5:00 p.m. Pre-Conference Workshop:  Telecom 101 – An Introduction to Telecom Networks (Bronze I-II Room)
This informative workshop is a must for those new to telecom regulation.  The workshop will provide an overview of telecom network architecture – from the public switched telephone network to broadband networks – and the impact of regulation and innovation on network evolution.  The session will include discussion of a strategy for public libraries to access affordable broadband connectivity. (2.0 hr)
Gabriel Garcia, Assistant City Attorney, City of San Antonio
Gene Crick, Texas Telecom, Bastrop, Texas

Thursday, July 29th

7:30 a.m. Conference Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:15 a.m. General Session -  Welcome & Housekeeping (Copper/Nickel Room)
Mayor Tim O’Hare, Mayor of Farmers Branch

8:30 a.m. General Session Keynote Address – The Effect of Telecom Innovation and Deregulation on Local Governments (Copper/Nickel Room)
Today, local governments have the ability to exert more control over internal communications networks due to technological innovation and deregulation in the telecom industry – but it comes at a price.  Deregulations has increased responsibilities on municipalities and altered the contractual relationship between cities and telecom companies leaving cities to adapt to this brave new world.  Our keynote speaker will address how cities must adapt to these industry trends. (.5 hr)
Hugh Miller, Chief Technology Officer, City of San Antonio

9:00 am General Session – Maximizing the Use of PEG Funds (Copper/Nickel Room)
Under federal law, funds designated to support Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) access channels and institutional networks (I-Nets) are limited for capital expenses, but running PEG channels requires an operating budget, in addition to network connectivity.  This session will discuss ways to maximize PEG funds to address these challenges. (.5 hr)
Tillman Lay, Spiegel McDiarmid, Washington, D.C.

9:30 a.m. PROGRAMMING TRACK – Panel:  Creative Partnerships (Silver Room)
Are you looking for ways to increase programming and production quality but don’t have additional staff?  We’ll see how to utilize partnerships with city departments and schools to produce creative, interesting programming. (.75 hr)
David  McElroy, City of Denton Producer
Courtney Taylor, ICTN, Executive Producer

POLICY TRACK – Panel:  End of Municipal Cable Franchises and Transition to SB5 – A Primer on Legal, Policy and Financial Issues (Copper/Nickel Room)
Within the next 18 months, many municipal cable franchise agreements will expire in Texas.  Municipalities will face new legal, policy and financial obligations.  This session will provide a primer focusing on these issues to assist cities in the transition. (.75 hr)
Cherly L Dunlop, Administrative Services Director, City of Rockwall
Connie Cannady, Jack Stowe & Co., Richardson, Texas

10:30 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. PROGRAMMING TRACK – Programmers Roundtable (Silver Room)
Do you want to learn how other channels are handling the same issues you deal with every day?  This session gives you the opportunity to have an open discussion with other programmers.  (1.25 hr)
Moderator: Bobby Bracken, City of Missouri City

POLICY TRACK – Telecom Access Lines Revisited:  Update of PUC Review (Copper/Nickel Room)
Municipalities receive access line fees from wireline telecom companies for the use of local rights-of-way.  Under state law, the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) is required to review the definition of “access lines” on a periodic basis.  This session will discuss the current review of “access lines” by the Texas PUC and its implications on cities. (.5 hr)
Clarence West, Law Offices of Clarence West, Austin, Texas

11:15 a.m. POLICY TRACK – Roundtable Networking Session (Copper/Nickel Room)
Take the opportunity to network with and ask questions of colleagues and experts concerning the leading trends in the telecom industry affecting local governments.  This interactive session will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and dialogue. (.75 hr)
Facilitators: Rondella Hawkins, Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs Manager, City of Austin
Gabriel Garcia, Assistant City Attorney, City of San Antonio

12:00 p.m. Annual TATOA Programming Awards Luncheon (Bronze Ballroom)
Welcome -Margaret Somereve, TATOA President
President’s Address -Kenneth Fellman, NATOA President, Washington, D.C.

1:30 p.m. PROGRAMMING TRACK – Panel: Veoh, Vimeo, & Viddler (Silver Room)
Discussion will include the latest innovations in video on demand from Flash, Silverlight, HTML5, YouTube and how can you utilize them to enhance your programming. (.75 hr)
Cyrus Haskell, Town of Flower Mound
LeeAnn Dearman Brooks, City of Midland

POLICY TRACK – Management of Library Telecom Networks and Integration into City Communications Infrastructure (Copper/Nickel Room)
The state of technological innovations requires local libraries to operate internal telecom networks in order to deliver the services that local citizens need and expect.  These networks must deliver robust broadband services, while protecting children from inappropriate on-line content and without compromising the city’s overall internal communications system.  This session will address how to integrate a library network into the city’s larger telecom infrastructure in order to isolate usage, develop efficiencies and design the network to facilitate E-rate requirements. (.75 hr)
Hugh Miller, Chief Technology Officer, City of San Antonio

2:15 p.m. PROGRAMMING TRACK – Panel:  Reboot Your Programming (Silver Room)
Do you need to adjust your programming to match the viewing habits of your residents?  Have you had to rethink what programming you produce?  We’ll hear from some producers that have recently gone through this process and launched new shows.  (.75 hr)
Mark Kaufmann, Allen City Television Executive Producer
Scott Evans, Allen City Television Video Producer
Terri Dean, City of Dallas Video Producer

POLICY TRACK  – Panel: Maximizing E-Rate Funds for Libraries – Regulatory and Practical Issues (Copper/Nickel Room)
A recent study by the Governor’s Office has found that million of dollars in federal funds go unclaimed annually by Texas public libraries due to failure to request E-rate discounts.  This panel of experts will explain the filing process, developing regulatory issues and resources available to assist libraries in obtaining these discounts.  (.75 hr)
Gene Crick, Texas Telecom, Bastrop, Texas
Henry Stokes, Texas E-Rate Coordinator, Texas State Library & Archives Commission, Austin, Texas

3:00 p.m. Break

3:30 p.m. PROGRAMMING TRACK -  Award Winning Programming (Silver Room)
We’ll take a look at the 2010 Programming Award winners with commentary from the winning cities. (1.0 hr)
Keith Reeves, City of Austin Executive Producer

POLICY TRACK – Panel:  Audit of Municipal Telecom Bills (Copper/Nickel Room)
Learn how much you could recover and save by auditing your telecom bills.  Our panel of experts will address the auditing process and latest regulatory and legal developments impacting telecom billing. The written materials will include a legal analysis of telecom fees and surcharges that municipalities are exempt from paying.  (1.0 hr)
Moderator – Gabriel Garcia, Assistant City Attorney, City of San Antonio
Carolyn Arnold, CACC, Inc., Boerne, Texas
Ben Sanford, Ben Sanford & Associates, San Antonio, Texas
Larry Pfeil, Southwest Tariff Analysts, Houston, Texas

4:30 p.m. Adjourn Conference Day One

5:30 p.m. Evening Reception (Bronze III Room)

Friday, July 30th

7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. General Session:  Implementation of SB5 – Lessons Learned from the Trenches (Copper/Nickel Room)
As cable franchise agreements expire, cities in Texas must transition to statewide regulation of the cable industry under SB5 (Chapter 66 of the Public Utilities Regulatory Act). The City of San Antonio was the first major city in Texas to go through this transition.  This session will discuss the legal and policy issues common to cities undergoing this transition.  (.75 hr)
Gabriel Garcia, Assistant City Attorney, City of San Antonio

9:15 a.m. PROGRAMMING TRACK – Storytelling Workshop (Silver Room)
The most popular session from last year is back!  Abe Moore from Texas Parks and Wildlife will show clips from the Emmy-award winning magazine show and he will discuss the art of storytelling in a government environment. (2.5 hr)
Abe Moore, Texas Parks and Wildlife

POLICY TRACK – National Broadband Plan – Implications for Local Governments (Copper/Nickel Room)
Earlier this year, the FCC delivered to Congress its National Broadband Plan (NBP), which sets out a policy road map for expanding broadband capability throughout the United States.  But what are the policy and legal implications for municipal governments?  From right-of-way issues to public safety networks, the NBP has surprises for municipalities. (.75 hr)
Tillman Lay, Spiegel McDiarmid, Washington, D.C.

10:00 a.m.  Break

10:15 a.m. POLICY TRACK – Increasing FCC Intrusion into Local Regulatory  Authority (Copper/Nickel Room)
Over the last few years, the FCC has used contested proceedings filed as “petitions for declaratory ruling” as the policy instrument to preempt local authority in several important areas of telecom and cable regulation that have resulted in litigation.  This session will explain this disturbing trend and what local governments can do to fight back. (.75 hr)
Nicholas Miller, Miller & Van Eaton, Washington, D.C.

11:00 a.m. POLICY TRACK – Joint Task Force on Access to Public Rights-of-Way (Copper/Nickel Room)
In the National Broadband Plan (NBP), the FCC recommended the creation of a Joint Task Force of local, state, federal and tribal officials to make recommendations concerning terms and conditions for access to public rights-of-way.   What impact will the Joint Task Force have on the development of these issues of critical importance to local governments?  This session will address these concerns.  (.75 hr)
Kenneth Fellman, NATOA President, Washington, D.C.

11:45 a.m.  Conference Adjournment

12:00 p.m. Business Meeting Lunch (Copper/Nickel Room)
Open to Agency members who RSVP at registration.

2:00 p.m. PROGRAMMING TRACK – Tour of Irving Community Television Network (ICTN) [Meet in lobby]