7:30 am

Conference Registration & Continental Breakfast

  8:30

Welcoming Remarks

Copper/Nickel Ballroom

Bob Phelps, Mayor, City of Farmers Branch, TX

Rondella Hawkins, City of Austin, TX, TATOA President

8:45

Regulatory Update

Copper/Nickel Ballroom

An overview of federal and state issues related to telecom and cable regulation. What actions are currently under consideration before Congress, FCC and the Texas PUC? What does the Texas Legislature have in mind for 2005? Also hear about the efforts of NATOA.

Moderator: Rondella Hawkins, TATOA President

Speakers: Clarence West, Attorney at Law

Coralie Wilson, NATOA President

8:45

Programmers' Roundtable Discussion

Silver Ballroom

Think you're all by yourself with a problem? Or a solution? Here's your chance to discuss current issues and network with other government access programmers and brainstorm new ideas.

10:15

Break

10:30

Fee Audits

Copper/Nickel Ballroom

Audits can be costly and are they worth the effort? Is your city getting all it should? How do you determine if access lines are paid properly? What are the current laws regarding cable franchise fees? Learn more about telecom and cable obligations, monitoring, record keeping and what enforcement options are available.

Moderator: Nick Fehrenback, City of Dallas, TX

Speakers: Marilyn Fox, CPA, Fox, Smolen & Associates

Timothy P. Leahy, SBC Communications

10:30

Innovative Programming

Silver Ballroom

Stumped for new ideas? Government access producers will discuss some of their original programming ideas as well as unique ways to use your government access channel.

Moderator: Mark Dobson, City of Denton, TX

Speakers: Tom Bryson, City of Farmers Branch, TX

Ken Jones, City of Richardson, TX

Mark Kaufman, City of Allen, TX

12:00

3rd Annual TATOA Programming Awards Luncheon

Gold/Platinum Ballroom

Master of Ceremonies: Mattie Roberts, TXCN

1:30

ICTN Production Truck Tour

Ballroom Entrance Parking Lot

Moderator: Paul Wahlstrom, City of Irving, TX

2:00

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Copper/Nickel Ballroom

You may have heard about Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP). What is it? What does it mean to local government, public safety, and revenues? What are the PUC and FCC thinking about this new technology? What does the future hold?

Moderator: Tommy Hudson, City of Midland, TX

Speakers: Joseph E. Cosgrove, Jr., SBC Communications

Kathy Grant, Texas Cable & Telecommunications Association

Gerry Lederer, Miller and Van Eaton (part 2)

2:00

Award Winning Video Presentation

Silver Ballroom

All 2004 Programming Award winning entries will be available for viewing & discussion.

3:15

Break

3:30

WiFi/Technology

Copper/Nickel Ballroom

What is Wifi? Come learn your way through the alphabet soup of technology and gain a better understanding of the current technology as well as a glimpse into the future.

Moderator: Paul Smolen, Fox, Smolen & Associates

Speakers: Mark Bennett, AireSpace

John C. Dupree, Sprint Business Solutions

Sterling McMath, T-Mobile

Jeff Hartshorne, T-Mobile

3:30

Legal Issues for PEG

Silver Ballroom

Can we? Can't we? Answers to your questions on various legal issues including use of copyrighted materials, fair use, and release forms.

Moderator: Keith Reeves, City of Denton, TX

Speaker: Dr. Steve Craig, University of North Texas

5:00

Traffic Buster Reception

Ballroom Foyer

Why fight the traffic? Stay and enjoy networking opportunities, food, fun and door prizes. Live video feed of traffic cameras in and around the Hotel will be shown to help you in your travel plans for the evening.

7:30 am

Continental Breakfast

7:45

Annual Business Meeting

Copper/Nickel Ballroom

 8:30

Cable Customer Service Issues

Copper/Nickel Ballroom

Is there anything that you can do if customer service regulations are not followed? What are other cities doing? So you think the FCC standards are good enough for your community. But are they? Hear what other cities are doing especially a consortium of cities in North Texas regarding cable call centers.

Moderator: John Cabrales, City of Denton, TX

Speakers: Connie T. Cannady, C2 Consulting Services, Inc.

Margaret Lejust, Charter Communications

Randy Westerman, City of Fort Worth, TX

 8:30

Lighting Workshop

Silver Ballroom

Does your idea of good lighting mean the lights are on? Want to improve your productions? This is your chance to learn new lighting techniques from a professional during a hands-on workshop.

 9:45

Cable Rates

Copper/Nickel Ballroom

Is cable rate regulation worth it? If satellites are competing for customers from cable companies, why are cable rates increasing by double digit percentages? What is the FCC considering in its rules? How does this affect cities?

Moderator: Margaret Somereve, City of Farmers Branch, TX

Speakers: Susan Patten, Time Warner Cable

Amy Sprinkles, City of Grand Prairie, TX

Dick Treich, Front Range Consulting, Inc.

 9:45 - 12:00

Government Access Technology

Silver Ballroom

What is the new technology for government access channels? Come hear about current and future technology as well as what government access channels are actually using to get the job done today.

Moderator: Ana Gonzalez, City of McKinney, TX

Speakers: Jeff Moshier, City of Richardson, TX

Chris Nicolaou, Nicolaou and Associates

 11:00

Broadband Service Providers (aka Overbuilders)

Copper/Nickel Ballroom

What is an overbuilder and will they actually over build your community? Learn about the state of competition and what some cities have learned from the overbuilders that came, stayed and are operating in their city.

Moderator: Jerry Leal, City of Laredo, TX

Speakers: Paul Lewis, Grande Communications

Dottie Palumbo, City of Denton, TX

12:00

Adjourn