A Telecommunications Policy Agenda for the Obama Administration

Over the past year, the Future of American Communications (FACT) Working Group, composed of sixteen telecommunications scholars from eleven American universities, has been putting together a communications policy agenda for the next administration. The culmination of the group's work, a volume entitled "...and Communications for All: A Policy Agenda for a New Administration" will be launched at this public event and discussion on January 26, 2009 (see below for speakers and agenda).

The group's research and analysis covers a broad range of communication policy challenges facing the new administration, directly addressing issues like media ownership, universal broadband, protecting teenage privacy, and revamping competition in broadband markets. Members of the group will discuss the group's recommendations and political feasibility with Washington veterans.

The event takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the offices of the New America Foundation, located at 1630 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. Lunch will be served.

RSVP for this free event. For questions, contact Stephanie Gunter at (202) 986-2700 x 340 or gunter@newamerica.net

EVENT AGENDA: 

Welcome 10:00 a.m.
Sascha Meinrath
Research Director,
Open Technology Initiative
Wireless Future Program, New America Foundation

Keynote 10:15 a.m.
Hon. Jonathan Adelstein 
Commissioner, FCC 

Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) invited
Vice Chair, Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Committee on Energy and Commerce  

Gene Kimmelman 
Vice President, Federal and International Affairs
Consumers Union

Panel I 11:00 a.m.
FACT Working Group A

Competition and Investment in Wireline Broadband 
Marvin Ammori
Assistant Professor of Law 
University of Nebraska - Lincoln

U.S. Cable TV Policy: Managing the Transition to Broadband
Richard D. Taylor
Palmer Chair and Professor of Telecommunication Studies
Co-Director, Institute for Information Policy
Pennsylvania State University

America's Forgotten Challenge: Rural Access
Sharon Strover
Chair and Philip G. Warner Regents Professor
Department of Radio-Television-Film 
Director, Telecommunications and Information Policy Institute
University of Texas

The Future of E-Rate: U.S. Universal Service Fund Support for Public Access 
and Social Services
Heather E. Hudson
Director of the Communications and Technology Management Program
School of Business Administration
University of San Francisco

Panel II 12:00 p.m.
Fact Working Group B

A Spectrum Policy Agenda
Jon M. Peha
Professor, Department of Engineering and Public Policy
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Associate Director of the Center for Wireless and Broadband Networking
Carnegie Mellon University

The Way Forward for Wireless 
Rob Frieden
Professor and Pioneers Chair in Cable Telecommunications
Pennsylvania State University

Public Service Media 2.0
Ellen P. Goodman
Professor of Law
Rutgers School of Law - Camden

Creating a Media Policy Agenda for the Digital Generation 
Kathryn Montgomery
Professor, School of Communication
American Univeristy

Moderator
Amit Schejter
Co-Director, Institute for Information Policy
Assistant Professor, College of Communications
Pennsylvania State University