Consumer and Small Business Forum Cable and Broadband Competition:
In the Home and in the Office

Sponsored by The National Consumers League and Consumers for Cable Choice
Monday, October 17, 2005
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Resources for the Future Conference Center
1400 16th Street, N. W.
Washington, DC

8:30 - 9
Registration continental breakfast

9 - 9:30
Welcome, Introductions, Presentation of Results of Consumer Survey on Cable Competition
Bob Johnson, President, Consumers for Cable Choice
Linda Golodner, President, National Consumers League

9:30 - 9:45
What is at Stake for the consumer and what are the Roadblocks?
Lawrence J. Spiwak, President and Chairman of the Board of Editorial Advisors, or Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal and Economic Public Policy Studies

9:45 - 10:15
Broadband Video Access and Economic Advancement for Small Business
Dr. Esteban Soriano, Researcher, California Small Business Education Foundation

10:15 - 10:45
A look at the Technology
Michael Rivera-Dirks, Marketing Manager, Microsoft TV --Technology Presentation

10:45 - 11:00
Break

11:00 - 11:45
Panel on the Impact on Consumers and Workers
Moderator: Ted Debro, Jefferson County Committee for Economic Development
Ken Peres, Research Economist, Communications Workers of America
Larry Mitchell, President, American Corn Growers Association
Jon Linkous, Executive Director, American Telemedicine Association
Steve Pociask, Founder, American Consumer Institute

11:45 - 12:30
Panel on the Impact on Community Programming
Moderator: Linda Sherry, Director - National Priorities, Consumer Action
Dr. Gabriela Lemus, Policy Director, League of United Latin American Citizens
Bob Townsend, President, The Townsend Group
Brian Woolfolk, Partner, Mattox Woolfolk

12:30 - 1:30
Lunch
Recognition of LaChania Govan by Jim Conran, Executive Director, Consumers for Cable Choice

Luncheon Speaker: The Honorable Marsha Blackburn

1:30 - 2:00
A View from the Hill
Bob Johnson, President, Consumers for Cable Choice
Keith Murphy, Counsel on Communications and Technology, U.S. Senator Gordon Smith
James Reid, Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller

2:00 - 2:30
A Second look at the Technology
Presentation by Corning, Incorporated

2:30 - 3:15 A View from the States:
Moderator: Stephen Hannan, Administrator, Howard County Office of Consumer Affairs
Phil Montgomery, State Representative & Chair, Committee on Energy and Utilities, Wisconsin Assembly
Trey Trainor, General Counsel, Office of the Secretary of State, Texas
Rachel Holland, President, Consumers for Cable Choice New Jersey
Jake Posey, General Counsel for Rep. Phil King, Austin, Texas

3:15 - 3:30
Wrap up & Adjournment:
Linda Golodner, President, National Consumers League
Bob Johnson, President, Consumers for Cable Choice

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