Fiber Optics for Electric Utilities Conference

Developing, Designing, and Managing Networks

March 20, 2019 | Newport Beach, CA ::

The Developing, Designing and Managing a Fiber Optic Network for Electric Utilities Conference is constructed to showcase the best practices for cultivating successful Fiber Optics networks – no matter the location. Allowing ease of access to information is an essential aspect to the development of growing and thriving communities. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge of business strategy development, financing, designing and maintenance to build your area into a top fiber network. This conference will also provide in-depth case studies from IOU’s, cooperatives and municipalities, overviewing their processes of deploying fiber to their customers. Experts will be facilitating discussions around how to bring reliable information access to as many people as possible.

Learning Outcomes

Strategize how fiber deployment can benefit municipalities, cooperatives and investor owned utilities and their surrounding communities
Learn to adapt to a changing regulatory environment in order to seize future opportunities
Design financing strategies to drive successful implementation for electric utility fiber optics networks
Analyze key trends in the U.S. Telecom market
Engage and enhance partnerships among government entities, electric utilities and vendors
Design business plans to accelerate deployment of electric utility fiber optics networks
Discuss best practices for maintaining and managing a reliable fiber network
Review best practices for marketing fiber optics networks and leasing dark fiber

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.9 CEUs for this event.

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must sign in/out each day, be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

PowerPoint presentations, classroom discussion, case studies, group exercises, and a mock hearing exercise will be used in the program.

Agenda

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. :: Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 10:00 a.m. :: Making the Fiber Business Case

When making a business case for the implementation of Fiber Optics to your area, you must conduct both feasibility and viability of FFTH project studies of your area. Those tests and analyses include:

- Bandwidth analysis
- Field review
- Competitive analysis
- Financial models

Sherry McCuller, Senior Utility Consultant, Magellan Advisors

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. :: Networking Break

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. :: Exploring the Regulatory Landscape

Regulatory landscapes are changing in the wake of net neutrality. Federal, state and local organizations are evolving with the need for faster access to information. This presentation will review major public policy issues effecting Fiber Optic deployment.

Jeffery Sheldon, Partner, Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. :: Group Luncheon

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. :: Economic Development of Rural Communities

This presentation will review case studies regarding the implementation of telemedicine, smart agriculture, remote learning as well as the process of bringing fiber to the home throughout the U.S.

Sherry McCuller, Senior Utility Consultant, Magellan Advisors

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. :: Financing and Funding Fiber

Electric utilities constructing a fiber network will likely have different financing options than are typically available when constructing electric plant. From increased scrutiny of the business plan to loan structures, utilities should be prepared and anticipate the requirements necessary for fiber loans. In this session, you will learn what banks require to provide financing for these projects and gain a better understanding of the typical loan structures that banks will offer.

Doran Dennis, Regional Vice President – Electric Distribution, CoBank

3:00 – 3:30 p.m. :: Networking Break

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. :: Case Study Coming Soon

4:30 – 5:00 p.m. :: Networking Reception

Thursday, March 21, 2019

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. :: Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. :: Value of Building Next-Generation Fiber Broadband Architecture into Today’s Networks

Fiber network planners and operators need to make the right investment decisions in architectural solutions that can best “future-proof” their network to meet the demands of their communities and subscribers for many years to come. This presentation will explain how deploying next-generation 10 Gigabit PON in the network supports current service needs and economically scales as needed to address unlimited bandwidth demands in the future.

Kurt Raaflaub, Head of Strategic Solutions Marketing, ADTRAN

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. :: Unified Approach at Offering Fiber Broadband

Join Ashley Brown from National Information Solutions Cooperative to discuss the unified approach of selling broadband. Planning on offering broadband under your utility? Great. Creating a subsidiary? Great. Whole new company? Great. During this session Ashley will discuss the benefits of a unified approach and the logistics of making it happen. From the office to the field—it is possible to share information between organizations to create the best experience for your customers and meet revenue goals.

Ashley Brown, Sales Manager, National Information Solutions Cooperative

10:35 – 11:00 a.m. :: Morning Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. :: Marketing Fiber Services

Fiber in rural America is not a fringe benefit, but a necessity for economic development. Connectivity that rivals that of urban areas is crucial in fortifying and sustaining our rural communities. Andrea will be presenting on engaging with local policymakers, product positioning, leasing dark fiber and unique marketing opportunities through sponsorships and community engagements.

Andrea Oaks-Jaramillo, Marketing & Economic Development Coordinator, San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative