Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District

Friday, 9 September 2005

1:00pm-4:00pm Pacific Time

Shaw Room, Seattle Center

305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA

On Friday, September 9th, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee hosted a Northwest Telecommunications Forum at the Seattle Center to give Northwest residents and businesses the opportunity to share their opinions about an upcoming re-write by Congress of the nation's telecommunications laws. Inslee and other local Members of Congress will conduct the forum with two panels that include industry representatives, local regulators, and public interest organizations. The event is open to the public and Puget Sound area residents are invited to attend. Citizens had the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists.

Background

The House of Representatives will soon likely consider two issues: 1) the digital television transition; and 2) regulation of new broadband Internet Protocol voice and video services. The Northwest Telecommunications Forum will divide relevant speakers into two panels to discuss the consumer, business, and regulatory concerns within these policy areas. Please note this event is not an officially sponsored forum of any Committee of the House of Representatives.

As a member of the Telecom Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is the starting point for crafting any possible telecom reform measure, Inslee wants to make sure that the Committee's decisions will be of maximum benefit to our communities in the Pacific Northwest. We have the opportunity to create jobs, increase broadband access, and offer consumers a whole new array of services. It is Inslee's privilege to ensure that Washington citizens and businesses have a voice in this upcoming debate.

Detailed Forum Schedule and Participants

1:00pm-1:10pm Pacific Time - Opening Remarks

1:10pm-1:50pm - Panel One, "The Digital Television Transition"
The benefits of the digital television (DTV) transition are threefold: 1) wireless broadband and other new services; 2) vital communications for our first responders; and 3) higher-quality television for consumers.

• Kevin Kearns, Regional Chairman, 700 MHz Public Safety Planning Committee.
• David Conn, National Director, State Government Affairs, T-Mobile.
• Richard J. Warsinske, Seniore Vice President and General Manager, KOMO TV 4.
• Steve Friedman, Chief Operating Officer, WAVE Broadband.
• Bart Preecs, Representative, Reclaim the Media.

1:50pm-2:20pm - Questions and Answers from audience for Panel One

2:20pm-3:00pm - Panel Two, "Broadband and IP-enabled Services"
Congress is likely to focus on how to achieve a truly robust, ubiquitous broadband deployment. As more voice and video services are offered via broadband connection, rather than traditional phone and cable systems, Congress is considering which regulations should apply to these new broadband services.

• Sharon Nelson, Chief, Consumer Protection Division, Attorney General of Washington.
• Marc Berejka, Sr. Director, Public Policy & Communications, Microsoft.
• Steve Banta, Group President, Northwest and Southwest Regions , Verizon Communications.
• Len Rozek, Senior Vice President, Comcast.
• Jim Haggerton, Tukwila City Councilmember.
• Philip Jones, Washington Public Utilities Commissioner.

3:00pm-3:30pm - Questions and Answers from audience for Panel Two

3:30pm-4:00pm - Closing Remarks