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Detailed
Conference Agenda |
DAY ONE: Thursday January 31st, 2008 |
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7:45 AM |
Registration & Sponsor Exhibits Open |
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8:15 AM |
Opening Address From The Chair |
Craig Settles, President, successful.com |
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8:30 AM |
Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going |
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Plotting the course for municipal broadband networks |
| The past year saw major changes in the municipal network industry. However, municipal network projects continue to grow as communities develop new strategies, novel applications and a fresh crop of ideas. This session will give you a perspective on municipal wireless’ past, present and future. Hear about… |
- Why “free” networks sunk
- Fiscal realities of a municipal network
- Where cities and the industry can go now
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Learn from the past to ensure the success of your future or currently deployed network. |
| Craig Settles, President, successful.com |
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9:15 AM |
Your “Business Case” for a Municipal Wireless Network |
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Achieving ROI and Profitability Objectives |
Municipal officials need to understand the business case and ROI related to a municipal wireless network since proof of concept and evidence demonstrating ROI brings a lot to the table. This session will demonstrate what you should consider while assessing costs and benefits of wireless broadband for your community. |
- Design, validation and verification of the business case
- The characteristics of a successful deployment
- Calculating estimated budget and defining the marketing plan
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| Come away with the valuable revenue making opportunities you need to know! |
| Brenda Halloran, Mayor, Waterloo, ON |
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10:00 AM |
Networking Break |
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Network with speakers and delegates and explore new ideas. |
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10:30 AM |
Municipal Feedback Panel |
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Value Added Information, Lessons Learned and Guidance From Leading Municipalities Who Have Been There! |
| Hear this one of a kind panel of municipal leaders from diverse communities share with you what’s working and what challenges they face. Use this session as your opportunity to learn what your next step needs to be. |
- Business models and partnerships that work
- Unique challenges and achievements in each of these communities
- Understand the critical points in the deployment timeline
- Avoiding superfluous costs
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Interact with veterans of municipal wireless networks and obtain the answers you need – a must-attend session for cities of any size. |
| Charles Hewitt, CIO, Providence, RI
Reid Haire, Executive Judge and Chair of Green River Area Development District, Owensboro, KY
Steve Ruger, Contracts Administrator, Rio Rancho, NM |
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11:15 AM |
Funding Models |
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Private/Public Partnership Financing to Get Your Project off the Ground |
| Developing a wireless vision for your city and securing the proper financing is the first step to deployment. This panel session is an opportunity to quiz successful cities who have structured innovative financing packages through public/private partnerships. |
- Who funded the projects?
- Private/public partnership deal structures
- The politics and legalities of private/public partnerships
- How to get local government, vendors and businesses on your side
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Understand the financial ins and outs of developing PPPs from the experts in these municipalities. |
| Bruce Etherington, Treasurer, South Shore Community Broadband
Chris Cope, Economic Development Consultant, Ottawa, ON
James McFarlane, Project Manager, Washtenaw County, MI |
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12:00 PM |
Networking Luncheon |
This is your opportunity to make new contacts and discuss ideas presented in the morning session. |
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1:30 PM |
Keynote Presentation |
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Oulu, Finland Wireless City Project |
Providing an open and free WiFi network may be a wish for some cities, but in Oulu, Finland citizens, municipal workers and businesses are surfing the net and using its applications hassle-free on the panOULU network. Find out how they successfully deployed their unique network in this information-packed session. |
- Overview of the city’s ICT strategy
- The structure, geographical coverage and network services of panOULU
- Incorporating Telco incentive in municipal wireless
- Utilizing the network for research and development
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Learn from the world-class city on how they went about delivering an effective municipal wireless network. |
| Heikki Riikonen, Project Manager, Oulu, Finland
Timo Ojala, Professor, University of Oulu, Finland |
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2:15 PM |
Measuring Success |
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Strategies on Managing Quality and Density Metrics |
Too often in evaluating RFPs and implementing a network, the method for measuring success is misunderstood; assumptions are made by different parties as to what is a “successful” network. Service providers and vendors may have one definition, while cities and residents may have another. Establishing the terms and definition of quality and standard metrics is key. |
- The meaning of success to the different players
- Managing user-experience expectations
- Definitions of density metrics
- Reporting and sharing results
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Learn from this session on how to go about the important process of measuring a network’s success. |
Karl Edwards, COO, Excelsio Communications |
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3:00 PM |
Networking Break |
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Continue the debate with fellow attendees and conference speakers. |
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3:30 PM |
Network Applications |
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Bringing Major Value to a Municipal Wireless Network |
The real value for a municipal wireless network involves the added applications in the delivery of public services, from transportation to public safety. By extending network access to the field, you can improve service provisions, facilitate collaboration throughout the chain of command and with other agencies, and increase your municipality’s productivity. |
- Applications that are moving to the field and delivering key value to city services
- Discuss the advances and limitations of wireless technology for municipal public services
- Understand the costs and benefits of investment for public safety agencies of all sizes
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Learn what applications are available to improve your municipality’s services. |
| Larry Daluz, Wireless Services Director, Novax Industries Corporation |
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4:15 PM |
Exploring the Pros and Cons of an “Anchor Tenancy” |
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The NEW development taking place in Municipal Wireless initiatives is a request by service providers to be an “anchor tenant.” This involves providing a commitment to your wireless carrier related to usage and revenue. Many providers are now making this a prerequisite in their RFPs. What are cities to make of this? Hear this enlightening session on the pros and cons of an anchor tenancy. |
- Why service providers are now asking for this commitment
- What are the options for striking a deal?
- Why an anchor tenancy is good for your city
- What to look out for in any type of anchor tenant arrangement
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Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of being an anchor tenant and get the answers you need to make your decision. |
George K. Noe, City Manager, Corpus Christi, TX |
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5:00 PM |
Exclusive Cocktail Reception |
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Bring your business cards & network with industry leaders |
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Day Two: Friday February 1st, 2008 |
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7:45 AM |
Registration & Sponsor Exhibits Open – Continental Breakfast |
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8:15 AM |
Recap Of Day 1 From The Chair |
Craig Settles, President, successful.com |
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8:30 AM |
Panel Discussion |
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Revolutionizing Your City’s Operations Through Innovative Use of Wireless Technology By Cutting Costs, Improving Efficiency, and Enhancing Public Safety |
| Learn from these cities on how they, along with their technology partners, completed at least the first phase of their wireless network pilot schemes and have been operating them across different areas of the city. |
- Delivering significant cost savings for the city
- Transforming city council services
- Improving safety in the city and fighting criminal activities
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| Improve your city’s services and learn how you can benefit from these experiences in your own community. |
| Damian Goulbourne, Mayor, Welland, ON
Horace Matthews, Program Manager, Brampton, ON
Gary Gregg, IT Manager, Southlake, TX |
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9:15 AM |
International Municipal Wireless Trends |
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Their Impact on North American Initiatives |
How does the international municipal wireless scene influence your tiny rural or large urban community’s deployment plans? This session will inspect progressive communities overseas and what international initiatives will greatly impact North American wireless projects in the near future. Hear about… |
- Unique business models
- Municipal wireless trends in Europe, Asia and Latin America
- Progressive applications
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| Come away from the session armed with insight and knowledge of what’s working abroad! |
| Patrick McCamley, Senior Partner, Civitium |
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10:00 AM |
Networking Break |
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10:30 AM |
Key Success Factors in a Build-Out |
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Key Success Factors in a Build-Out: From Working with Power Companies and Zoning to Achieving Deployment Benchmarks |
- The phases involved in a network deployment timeline
- The importance of a detailed network design process
- Understanding the needs resulting from your topography
- Ensuring local participation for long-term growth
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Create a solid plan of action with proven best practices in mind! |
| Ryan Walker, CEO, SSI Micro, Yellowknife, NT
Lorraine Thomas, Project Manager, Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation |
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11:15 AM |
Crisis Response |
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Learn How Wireless Technology Can Help Your City in Emergency Situations |
- Sustaining a high level of quality service can replace communications channels interrupted by crisis
- Situations can improve with the resources from your network
- The applications of the technology fight the difficulties that result in emergencies
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Improve your city’s contingency plans and services! |
| Erik Leidekker, IT Manager, Chilliwack, BC
Doug Petersen, President, MDT Technical Services |
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12:00 PM |
Networking Luncheon |
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1:15 PM |
Keynote Presentation |
The World’s First Wireless Country |
Bringing Macedonia into the tech age took two years, a slew of successful partnerships and a unique funding grant. Learn from this pioneering case study how Macedonia was transformed into the Silicon Valley of Eastern Europe. |
- Macedonia Connects network strategy and design
- Developing the economy
- Cutting the cost of broadband for residents
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Learn to revolutionize a community with broadband connectivity. |
| Natasha Murdzeva Buleska, Macedonia Connects Cognizant Technical Officer, United States Agency
for International Development |
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2:15 PM |
Maintaining Your Network |
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The Costs Required in Sustaining an Already Deployed Network |
Knowing what steps to take in maintaining your wireless set-up is just as important as how you got the system deployed in the first place. Obtain the tips you need to maintain your network’s service for the long run. |
- Building maintenance fees into your business plan
- How to manage the technology and interference
- What’s coming to help you maintain and enhance your network
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Continue your city’s access by learning what you need to know to maintain services with success. |
| Brantz Myers, Director of Enterprise & Industry Marketing, Cisco Systems |
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3:30 PM |
Next Generation Hardware Technologies |
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What new technology will make the system more robust? New technology is resulting in developments that are significantly enhancing municipal wireless networks. This presentation will provide you with an understanding of how to build your network’s performance and capability and what options are available to carry you into the future. |
- Making a more robust system
- Aligning technology initiatives with end-users’ needs
- Better use of spectrum
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Learn what’s to come as wireless hardware continuously progresses. |
| Mike Dixon, VP of Wireless Networks, Motorola Canada Ltd. |
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CONFERENCE ADJOURNS 4:15 PM |
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