Sponsored By:
[1]
For almost three-quarters of a century, utilities have relied on private, ultra-reliable wireless communications networks to ensure the reliability and recoverability of their core energy and water systems. Examples range from traditional land mobile radio and large fixed networks to new broadband data networks and video surveillance. This symposium covers everything utility wireless engineers need to know, including:
Join us to gain a multi-faceted view of the unique benefits and problems of wireless regulations and technologies.
8:00 a.m.
Past UTC Chairmen’s Invitational Golf Tournament
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Pre-Conference Tutorials [2]
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Networking Lunch
ROOM: Wabash Ballroom 1-2
4:30 – 7:00 p.m.
UTC EXPO 2010 Grand Opening
ROOM: Exhibit Hall D & E
This is attendees’ first opportunity to meet and greet the vendors while enjoying food and drinks in UTC EXPO 2010. This reception is a great way to learn the layout of the exhibit hall and make plans to meet with vendors in the coming days to find out more about their products and services.
8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast Networking
ROOM: 500 Ballroom Reception
8:30 – 10:15 a.m.
Opening General Session
ROOM: 500 Ballroom
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Networking Break
ROOM: Maryland Street Lobby-East
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
New Wireless Options for Utilities—Know the Strengths and Weaknesses
ROOM: 106
Your utility’s need for wireless communications options has never been greater. Whether for AMI deployments or new control systems, wireless connectivity offers rapid, cost-effective, secure network deployment. Join this session to explore traditional shared licensed spectrum options as well as new commercial wireless offerings and leased spectrum opportunities.
Rick Schmidt, Vice President- Utility Communication Systems, Power System Engineering
Ken Davis, IT Telecom Engineer, Northeast Utilities
John Arnott, Sales and Marketing Manager, DigitaLogic
11:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
UTC EXPO 2010 Open
ROOM: Exhibit Hall D & E
Exclusive exhibit hall time allows attendees to see products and services from the leading vendors supplying critical infrastructure today. As a bonus, UTC has several prize drawings during this time for attendees. You must be present to claim your prize!
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2010
ROOM: Exhibit Hall D & E
4:30 – 5:45 p.m.
4G WiMAX for the Smart Grid -Why WiMAX?
ROOM: 108
The implementation of the smart grid requires a reliable and secure communications infrastructure. If you’re utility isn’t considering WiMax in its smart grid development it should. This presentation featuring a leading WiMAX vendor will address the important aspects related to wireless architecture, communications infrastructure and integration to get your smart grid solution implemented. The panel will also include vendor experts on smart meters, distribution automation, smart meter aggregation and overall integration to give the entire ecosystem perspective. Come hear about how WiMax is the effective solution that you’ve been searching for to integrate your utility’s smart grid and why you need to do more than just consider it, but use it to get up and running TODAY.
Monica Paolini, Founder & President, Senza Fili Consulting
Eedo Lifshitz, Director Business Development, Alvarion
Arun Sehgal, Director Marketing - OpenWay, Itron Inc.
Todd Harrod, Strategic Industries Sales Specialist, Alcatel-Lucent
Rob Keil, Vice President- Product Management for Network Infrastructure, Silver Spring Networks
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
UTC Gala
ROOM: Grand Ballroom, Westin Hotel
Race to the UTC Gala for food and fun after a long day attending educational sessions and networking in UTC EXPO 2010.
POWER HOUR
7:00 – 8:00 a.m.
A New Digital 900 MHz Trunked System
ROOM: 106
The Salt River Project recently installed, and is in the process of bringing on-line, a new 900 MHz Digital Trunked Radio System to serve the electrical territory in Greater Metropolitan Phoenix and the surrounding areas. The conditions prior to the upgrade may sound familiar:
This presentation will present SRP’s case study to help utilities decide when it’s time to upgrade from analog to digital radio and to present a method to make such a project successful.
Ron Taylor, Senior Principal Engineer, Salt River Project
Steve Fannin, Program Manager, Harris Corporation- RF Communications Division
Smart Networks Council Open Meeting
ROOM: 103
This meeting of the Smart Networks Council (SNC), a forum created for utility executives responsible for building and managing smart grids and smart network services, will provide an overview of what the Council is, how it operates and how UTC members can participate in the Council's activities. Under its new structure the SNC requires members to sign up for participation in the Council's important efforts. Attend this meeting to find out how the SNC can help you.
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
UTC Apex Award Presentation Ceremony & Breakfast
ROOM: 500 Ballroom
9:15 – 10:30 a.m.
The Role of Commercial Wireless Services in Critical Infrastructure Communications—Time to Team Up?
ROOM: 106
When it comes to mission-critical voice and data communications, utilities’ private wireless networks offer advantages in reliability, security, and coverage compared to commercial networks. However, as we look to the future, commercial networks offer utilities new options. The growth of high-speed commercial services may let utilities deploy wireless connectivity faster and cheaper than they can on their own. Explore your options, benefits, and challenges.
Shirley Fujimoto, McDermott, Will & Emery
Rita Mix, Senior Marketing & Offer Manager – Utilities, AT&T
Robert Gustin, Utilities, Sprint-Nextel
Digital Mobile Radio Panel Discussion - A Comparative Analysis
ROOM: 104
What is digital mobile radio (DMR) and what does this land mobile technology mean for your utility. Specifically, what benefit do utilities get from using it? This session will present a DMR technology overview to illustrate what is out there and how it can be applied to your utility. You'll also get a solid grounding in leading standards, such as P25 that come into play when examining DMR for your utility.
William Fredrickson, Vice President- Global Utilities, Tait Radio Communications
Klaus Bender, Director of Standards and Engineering, Utilities Telecom Council
Legal/Regulatory Update – What Washington Has in Store for You!
ROOM: 103
Congress, a variety of federal agencies, and state regulatory commissions are looking at issues that will impact the way utilities can do business in the future. Issues include smart grid deployments, cyber security, consumer data issues, spectrum, cost recovery, rate design and federal/state jurisdiction. Join us to review the upcoming challenges as we peer into the Washington (not so) crystal ball to identify recent initiatives and the trends that will impact your ability to upgrade your communication networks and meet your new utility responsibilities.
Mike Oldak, Vice President & General Counsel, Utilities Telecom Council
Prudence Parks, Federal Affairs Counsel, Utilities Telecom Council
10:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
UTC EXPO 2010 Open
ROOM: Exhibit Hall D & E
This is attendees' final opportunity to meet with vendors and see their products and services. Make sure you finish up your tour of UTC EXPO 2010 today! UTC will continue its prize drawings, including a grand prize right before the close. You must be present to claim your prize!
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2010
ROOM: Exhibit Hall D & E
1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Wireless Broadband Network Choices—How You Can Fill the Demand
ROOM: 109-110
With the emerging demand for broadband communications such as Smart Grid applications, utilities face increasing choices. Your utility must understand the issues presented by emerging broadband spectrum bands, including:
Learn how these options present you with benefits and tradeoffs, and how technology availability will impact your current and near term decisions. This session will also present how UTC Canada members are using their 1.8 GHz spectrum to support different technologies.
Mark Madden, Regional Vice President- Energy, Alcatel-Lucent
Richard Bertolo, Project Director, Distribution Business Development, Hydro One
Jeff Nichols, Director- Network & Communications Services, Sempra Energy Utilities
Legal/Regulatory Update: the Wireless Landscape—How to Deal with “The Driver”
ROOM: 106
Wireless runs on spectrum and the FCC is driving the bus when it comes to accessing new spectrum and protecting existing spectrum. Join us to discover opportunities to support mobile and fixed applications. Review the challenges to existing spectrum, including narrowbanding deadlines, spectrum inventory initiatives, and ongoing rebanding developments. Stay in compliance and learn strategies for upgrading your communications systems. A comprehensive review with lively debate!
Brett Kilbourne, Director- Regulatory Services & Associate Counsel, Utilities Telecom Council
Donald Vasek, Director of Spectrum Services, Utilities Telecom Council
2:45 – 4:30 p.m.
Networking Break
ROOM: Maryland Street Lobby-East
3:00 – 4:15 p.m.
Navigating Spectrum and Tower Licensing Pitfalls—Avoiding Problems in Route to Success
ROOM: 106
There are many compliance issues when you work with the FCC. Join us to examine the entire land mobile and private microwave spectrum management process with an eye toward making the most of your frequency requests. Learn the step-by-step processes and common pitfalls in application preparation, communication tower clearance, and registration and frequency coordination. An excellent overview for attendees unfamiliar with the process and for those needing a review.
Mona Lee, Owner, Mona Lee & Associates, LLC
Donald Vasek, Director- Spectrum Services, Utilities Telecom Council
Washington Roundtable – We're From Washington and Here to Help!
ROOM: 109-110
For better or worse, what goes on in DC and at your state regulatory commission will impact your job and the future of your company. The Federal Communication Commission's National Broadband Plan and the spectrum inventory that sets the stage, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's adoption of interoperability and security standards, and the state regulatory commissions' bold new policies on smart grid deployments will all change your world. Here's your chance to find out "just what were you thinking" during this give-and-take session with those who will be impacting your future, find out exactly what's on their mind, and maybe give them a piece of yours.
Scott Blake Harris, General Counsel, United States Department of Energy
Ray Palmer, Energy Industry Analyst, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
4:30 – 5:45 p.m.
Smart Grid Wireless Networks: Spectrum Resource Options—Is There Room for You?
ROOM: 109-110
Smart Grid applications such as AMI, Distribution Automation, SCADA, and Demand Side Management often depend on wireless broadband connectivity from customer premises and other utility data collection points to the utility’s fiber or wireless backbone network.
These applications typically require far more bandwidth than is generally available to utilities for point-to-multipoint data communications. Presently there is no dedicated spectrum for utilities, which is why you need to learn about:
Gregory Kunkle, Keller and Heckman LLP
Brett Kilbourne, Director -Regulatory Services & Associate Counsel, Utilities Telecom Council
White Spaces Networks: Solution for Reliable Smart Grid Apps?—What’s Working
ROOM: 106
Now In November of 2008, the FCC ruled that unused broadcast channels from the transition to digital TV would be made available on an unlicensed basis. These free channels commonly referred to as “white spaces,” offer potentially hundreds of Megahertz at frequencies with excellent propagation characteristics. Could this spectrum handle the high-bandwidth, high coverage, high-reliability networks needed for successful Smart Grid deployments? Explore the options your utility can pursue. Includes actual performance metrics from the world’s first white space networks!
Mickey DeChellis, Director – Sales & Business Development, Spectrum Bridge
Al Ittner, Manager – Spectrum & Regulatory Strategy, Motorola
Klaus Bender, Director of Standards and Engineering, Utilities Telecom Council
Capitalizing on New Mobile Operator Backhaul Needs for Revenue Growth—A Proven Boost to Your Bottom Line
Symposia: Business Development Symposium, Wireless Symposium
ROOM: 105
Mobile operators are introducing new fourth generation (4G) broadband capabilities that enable new applications and services. One of the biggest challenges is acquiring the required higher bandwidth connectivity between cell sites and mobile switching centers. Explore how you can leverage your communications infrastructure for new revenue by offering mobile backhaul transport service. Learn about architectural options, service offerings, and business cases from utilities that have deployed the service.
Ronald Bilodeau, Staff Contracting Agent, NV Energy
Gary Croke, Product Marketing, Aviat Networks
6:30 – 7:00 p.m.
UTC Awards Dinner Reception
ROOM: Capitol Ballroom Foyer, Westin Hotel
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
UTC Awards Dinner
ROOM: Capitol Ballroom, Westin Hotel
The UTC Awards Dinner celebrates the achievements of individuals involved in UTC and the industry. Come join us for a semi-formal sit down dinner as we honor individuals for Chairman’s Awards, the Dondanville Award, and the Meehan Award.
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
UTC Annual Membership Meeting & Breakfast
ROOM: 500 Ballroom
9:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Networking Break
ROOM: Maryland Street Lobby-East
9:45 – 11:45 a.m.
Smart Grid Technologies Workshop: A New Era of Mandatory Standards—What You Must Know Now
ROOM: 109-110
America became the world leader in technological innovation through the use of voluntary standards and market-driven interoperability. Today, the voluntary nature of standardization is viewed as an impediment to the deployment of Smart Grid networks. As a result, the federal government is on a path to mandate interoperable technologies as FERC adopts NIST Smart Grid standards, including those for communications technologies. Plus this session will review the Priority Action Plan associated with the use of wireless technology for the Smart Grid, the process used to evaluate wireless technologies and the standards under consideration. Examine the total impact on the evolution of the Smart Grid and how it affects your utility.
Mike Oldak, Vice President & General Counsel, Utilities Telecom Council
Klaus Bender, Director of Standards and Engineering, Utilities Telecom Council
Links:
[1] http://www.aclaratech.com/Pages/default.aspx
[2] http://www.utctelecom2010.utc.org/content/pre-conference-tutorials
[3] http://utctelecom2010.utc.org/content/user-group-meetings