Advanced Metering Infrastructure Tutorial
Room: 15

Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is the future. Yet implementation of an AMI system is a complicated process. The most critical step is to define the functional requirements for an AMI system by combining both hardware and software requirements. The attributes of the system will dictate the cost and capacity of AMI. Specifically, these costs and capacity objectives are based on three distinct sets of requirements - applications, functional elements and engineering specifications. This tutorial will look at each requirement in detail to help provide clarity on the deployment of an AMI system.

Critical Infrastructure Telecom Tutorial
Room: 13

Everything you always wanted to know about how utilities use telecom and how it’s regulated packed into one dynamic session! Perfect for professionals new to the field who need to know the background of critical systems, for experienced professionals who are curious about new technology, or for technology vendors who are looking to understand this market better. Learn how the industry uses telecommunications, facilities, media and mechanisms, and get the basics on how the FCC and other agencies regulate what we do. Highlights include a focus on data networks, telecom applications unique to utilities and wireless and fiber-based telecom technologies.

Pole Attachments Tutorial
Room: 16

Congress and the FCC are considering changes to pole attachment rules that could have a significant impact on joint use management. ILECs are lobbying for regulated rates, as part of a broader campaign for regulatory parity with their CLEC and cable competitors. This lobbying campaign is part of a broader business battle in which incumbent cable companies are entering the telecommunications market, incumbent telcos are entering the video market, and emerging technology service providers are both competing and partnering with incumbents. This tutorial will assess the operational challenges in this changing regulatory and economic environment. Join leading experts as they discuss the key business, regulatory and technical issues.

RF Exposure Tutorial
Room: 14

This session will define RF emissions electromagnetic spectrum, frequency, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and will describe their impact on the workplace. In addition, this session will discuss the health effects, safety standards and government regulations from the perspective of the maximum time for exposure as well as symptoms of overexposure. Guidelines for creating a safe workplace and training employees will round out the presentation by identifying the “10 Steps for Site Safety”. Attendees also will be able to determine if a site is compliant with current regulations. Join UTC Spectrum Services to determine what steps your organization should take to keep a safe site environment.

Birds of a Feather Networking Lunch
Room: Ballroom A

Grand Opening of UTC TELECOM 2006 in UTC EXPO 2006

Don’t miss the opening reception for UTC TELECOM 2006. Kick off your conference experience by meeting with potential partners in the UTC EXPO 2006. Network with colleagues and friends as you see new products and services. Enjoy the food, drinks and fun as you walk around UTC EXPO 2006 - the premier critical infrastructure technology showcase!

Opening General Session

Join us as we kick off UTC TELECOM 2006 in a grand fashion! As we look into the future of the utility industry, it often is hard to see beyond the demands and responsibilities of our current project. This session will draw on the expertise of one of our own – Leonard Leech, UTC’s Chairman of the Board – and a leading utility CEO to explore the question – where is technology leading the telecom and IT departments of critical infrastructure entities. It’s never to early to be educated about what is coming next to prepare for it and plan for it, for as the old adage says, failure to plan is a plan to fail. Additionally, this session will explore UTC in detail, outlining the benefits you receive as a UTC member or the benefits potential members could receive. In this era of change, it never hurts to have an ally on your side. That’s what UTC is – your ally. *New* UTC TELECOM 2006 General Session will feature Dr. Larry J. Sabato, a political analyst director of the University Of Virginia's Center for Politics and the Robert Kent Gooch -Professor Of Government and Foreign Affairs. He is a former Rhodes Scholar and Danforth Fellow. Dr. Sabato will be a touch of humor and insight to the opening general session on politics and the future.

UTC Works on Wireless and Homeland Security (Issues Update)
Room: 12

In one of UTC’s perennially popular sessions, you’ll hear an update on your trade association’s policy work on wireless issues, many of which tie in closely to Homeland Security and reliability concerns. From narrowbanding to 900 MHz, microwave and beyond, this session will provide an overview on what UTC is doing for you, and will prepare you for specialized sessions taking place throughout the conference. Join UTC's Legal/Regulatory Department for this important session.

Networking Break

BPL Regulatory Update
Room: 10/11

With the announcement of UTC as the Access BPL Database manager, the Federal Communications Commission has nearly completed its evaluation of BPL. In addition, some state PUCs have promulgated or proposed regulations to encourage utilities to invest in and roll out BPL services. However, regulatory changes are still ahead. This session will examine both state and federal regulatory activity and its effect on BPL deployment. Speakers also will propose additional regulatory measures that the FCC and state PUCs should adopt to provide utilities with necessary incentives.

Advanced Metering Infrastructure: California Dreaming
Room: 16

California utilities dream to provide customers with real time information and the capability to mange their energy use and bills. This dream is particularly unique because it focuses on customer-oriented or demand-side solutions. With a regulatory bill supporting these aspirations, California utilities have developed plans for pricing pilots for this program. This session will discuss what utilities such as Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric are doing to make this dream a reality.

NERC Cyber Security Standards and Your Future with Them
Room: 14

The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) Cyber Security Standards are in final draft. With possible modifications and updates to CIP definitions and the eight standards, compliance schedules are not far behind – and likely to be mandatory. Before utilities can attempt to meet the audit deadlines of 2007 and beyond, they must understand the current provisions of the standards and the requirements for compliance. The session will cover what utilities are included, how to identify critical assets and cyber assets, the questions being asked about the standards and more. Learn how corporate IT personnel and plant operators – the two groups that must jointly solve this problem – can work together.

UTC Expo Hall Opens

Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2006

HOT TOPIC: 2006 UTC Engineering Papers
Room: 16

Attendees won’t want to miss this special hot topic session featuring the student winners of the first annual UTC Engineering Paper Competition! The UTC Engineering Paper Competition was designed as a way to get student involvement on a technical engineering aspect of utility telecommunications. In an open presentation format, winners will discuss their paper as well as address questions from attendees. Before you attend this session, check out the UTC Engineering Paper Competition display inside UTC EXPO 2006. This display will feature the papers of the top finalists. Don’t be the one attendee who’s not talking about these papers!

HOT TOPIC: It May Not Say So, But It’s Telecom: the Energy Reform Act of 2005
Room: 10/11

The new Energy Act is hundreds of pages long, and you won’t find much mention of energy telecommunications in any of the text. But its requirements and deadlines will, nevertheless, require telecom system compliance and upgrades over the coming years, as well as give us new entities to deal with beyond the FCC. Here is another prime example of a UTC motto: “If you’re in the energy business, you’re in the telecom business.” Join the experts as they outline pieces of the Energy Act that may be applicable to your every day function as telecommunication and IT professionals.

UTC Gala

This year’s UTC Gala will be a “swashbuckling” event! “Walk the Plank” with us in the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina for a night of food, fun and friends as we celebrate this year’s UTC Gala with a pirate theme! In the long tradition of UTC Gala’s, this will be an evening to remember!

UTC Apex Award Presentation Breakfast
Room: Ballroom B

Sponsored by Motorola

The Second Annual UTC Apex Award promises to be an awards breakfast to remember honoring the absolute best in utility telecommunications. Join us as we showcase not only the winners of this distinguished award, but the finalists as well - told through the stories they submitted. Come and get inspired by how your peers have taken the jobs they do every day and made them a unilateral success story for their companies and their communities. As we continue to work through the many changes and challenges of the industry, the UTC Apex Award reminds us and our bosses of the critical function we deliver on a daily basis. UTC continues to strive for higher recognition of the importance of telecom and IT departments within critical infrastructure. The UTC Apex Award highlights the deeds and actions that make these departments stand out in a crowd. Learning from these stories is an essential step in raising the bar on your own successes with community assistance.

800 MHz Relocation – Life in the Trenches
Room: 12

The relocation of incumbent licensees in the 800 MHz proceeding has been difficult in some cases and easier in others, depending on a number of factors. This session will examine several relocation negotiations, the lessons learned from those negotiations, and the steps that incumbents can take to ensure a successful transition from the utility perspective. If you have yet to go through the relocation process, this is a must attend session to learn from current case studies how to use the relocation process to your best advantage. Speakers will provide tips on how to ensure the relocation process goes smoothly.

Upcoming FCC Auctions
Room: 16

Some utilities have taken the plunge and participated in specialized spectrum auctions offered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). If you have not already considered it, you may want to give spectrum auctions a look. The FCC has several upcoming auctions on the 2006-2007 auction schedule that could be of interest to UTC members. Join the FCC to gain insight and information on all aspects of these upcoming auctions including the spectrum being licensed, the regulatory parameters, and the required auction procedures. Sharing their success story as a case study, a utility that has participated in the auction process will present.

UTC EXPO 2006 Open

Networking Break in UTC EXPO 2006

HOT TOPIC: Hurricane Response Town Hall Meeting: Lessons Learned from Katrina, Rita, Wilma, Etc.
Room: 10/11

The critical communications networks deployed by America’s utilities in the regions devastated by hurricanes in 2005 performed amazingly well, supporting recovery as designed and often providing the only communications in affected areas for the first days following the storms’ impact. However, while much worked well, response to the hurricanes of 2005 also pointed out problems and opportunities for improvement that will be of use to everyone who responds to disasters. The Hurricane Response Town Hall Meeting will feature an open discussion among leaders from critical infrastructure industries, as well as their counterparts from public safety, Federal or State government, commercial telecommunications – and YOU! Please plan on being a part of this unique and essential event.

HOT TOPIC: The A,B,C’s of Creating a Successful Business Case for Utility Telecom and IT Projects
Room: 16

A serious challenge faces telecommunications/IT departments of critical infrastructure companies - how to gain the support of executive management for the necessary capital funding for network improvements. A well thought-out, organized and written business case can make all the difference in the critical step of justifying a project and securing management support. This session will explain the basics of A) How to write an RFP or RFI document for vendors; B) How to calculate and present key financial benchmark; C) How to write a business case document incorporating all of the elements of a successful plan. You can learn from the examples of your industry peers as you prepare to launch the “big idea”.

Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2006

Telecom Act Rewrite: Impact on Utilities
Room: 14

Congress is considering major legislation that would change the face of telecommunications regulation in the digital era as they prepare to rewrite the Telecom Act. What impact will these changes have on utilities in the management of their infrastructure for pole attachments? What will it mean for UTelcos and municipal utilities? Learn about the prospects for reform, the activities of UTC and the opportunities that a telecom rewrite could create for critical infrastructure entities. This session is a great way to stay ahead of the curve on this legislation and the implications it may have on your organization.

Spectrum Update: Where Will Your Next Generation System Run?
Room: 12

UTC has launched a member campaign toward our long-term goal of an interoperable spectrum home for next-generation wireless technology. It’s a process that requires a lot of patience, as we continue to educate policymakers about our needs, our role in Homeland Security and our position in the everyday life of all Americans. Hear the latest from those involved on all sides of this complex issue.

Networking Break

The Process Control System Forum and Many More: Securing Control Systems
Room: 14

Everyone agrees on the importance of securing the nation's critical infrastructure. Protecting control systems from cyber attacks has been on the national agenda since the 1990s; now, there are many public and private efforts underway across multiple industries. One of these efforts is the Process Control System Forum’s (PCSF) Systems Analysis and Modeling group, designed to identify and characterize logical domains that form security boundaries needed to combat the most probable cyber security attacks. This presentation looks at this particular effort and several other policy efforts to secure control systems and describes legal requirements for control system security.

Secondary Markets and Spectrum Leasing
Room: 13

With the FCC’s recent relaxation of spectrum leasing requirements, utilities are beginning to benefit from access to third-party spectrum. The rules also allow you to lease your own spectrum, if feasible, a potential revenue stream for some critical infrastructure entities. However, this may be only a short-term answer to critical infrastructure’s long-term spectrum problem. Join us to hear who’s doing it currently, and how it can work for critical infrastructure. The discussion will focus on the specific rights and obligations of lessees, buyers and licensees under the Commission’s Rules. If you have or need Spectrum, this is a can’t miss session.

UTC Awards Dinner

The UTC Awards Dinner is the social event of UTC TELECOM 2006! Join us as we honor the recipients of UTC’s most prestigious awards, the Dondanville, Meehan and Chairman’s Awards. This event will feature cocktails, dinner and award presentations with colleagues and friends.

Coffee Service

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s . . . Coming Toward Your Tower?
Room: 12

Communications tower issues range from the well-known painting and lighting requirements to nesting and migratory bird concerns, to a new construction standard and to new procedures for locating towers on historic property or tribal lands. The FCC sought existing scientific research concerning the number of migratory bird collisions with communications towers and the role that specific factors, such as lighting, height and type of antenna structure, weather, location, physiographic features of sites, and migration paths may have in increasing or decreasing the incidence of such collisions. This session will discuss it all.

Capstone Session and UTC Annual Membership Meeting
Room: Ballroom B

Help us close out UTC TELECOM 2006 with brunch and installation of new officers. Join the outgoing Chairman and the Board as we report on the activities over the past year and the planned activities in our next membership year. We know that you’ve absorbed a LOT of information over the past few days, this session gives you a chance to reflect on what you’ve learned and how UTC is addressing the issues we feel will develop as we move forward. As UTC expands our focus, especially in advocacy, it is important to understand how this benefits you and your company. Find out how you can benefit more in your professional life by volunteering to serve in some capacity with UTC. If all you do with UTC is attend the annual conference, this session will point out all that you are missing. Come and be reminded of why you joined UTC!