Commercial Telecommunications Opportunities for Utilities

What you need to know about business and regulatory issues

July 29-30, 2021 | Online ::

EUCI’s Commercial Telecommunications Opportunities for Utilities course provides a deep dive into telecommunications technology of 5G, Broadband and computing and how electric utilities can implement those technologies as commercial service providers. Attendees will learn how to apply, manage and monetize communications technology and services and how to navigate the telecommunications regulatory environment with the Federal Communications Commission and state/local government standards.

This course is designed to provide an understanding of how energy utilities can implement and utilize communications facilities and services as a commercial provider and how those services and technologies are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The course will discuss the importance of telecommunications to the modern energy utility, the types of systems and technologies such as 5G, broadband and cloud computing that are used, and how FCC regulations can significantly impact utility operations. It will cover the basics of FCC compliance, spectrum acquisition, pole attachment regulations, and the unique opportunity for utilities to become commercial service providers. The course will also identify other regulatory issues and trends in telecommunications that could impact utility operations.

Consumers are demanding new and faster ways of communicating and Corporations are struggling to keep up. The focus on application integration and the impact of the “cloud” is changing the way electric utilities do business and the technology required to support it. Who is responsible for what? Why and how are “real-time communications” different from data communications? Join us to gain clarity on today’s landscape and utility standards on entering and/or optimizing the telecommunications market as commercial service providers like:

• Artificial Intelligence implementation and the utility service changes that follow
• 5G and the affect on utility poles and infrastructure
• Federal standards and regulations and how they apply to commercial service offerings

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the interdependence between energy and communications
• Describe how FCC regulations can significantly impact energy operations
• Practice strategies for negotiating agreements as a commercial service providers and as purchasers of communications technology and services
• Discuss how to identify and mitigate regulatory and financial risks related to communications systems and services
• Examine types of assets that can be deployed as commercial assets
• Review how to market and sell commercial telecommunications services while fully embracing regulations
• Recognize what it takes to support the emerging technologies
• Identify the current technology options and the future trends for developing technology

Thursday, July 29, 2021 : Central Time

How and Why Energy Utilities Use Telecommunications

• Land Mobile Radio and Microwave Radio
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
• Fiber optics
• Wide Area Networks (WANS) and Multi-Protocol Labeling Services (MPLS)
• Public Switched Telephone Network
• SIP Trunking (Voice over IP)
• Cloud/Hosted Services versus Premises-based Systems

Current Issues / Telecom Developments

• Telecom Transitions (from circuit-switched networks to IP-based networks)
• Telecommunication Options for Physical Distribution
• Unified Communications
• Broadband Deployment and Virtual Networks (development and funding)
• Net Neutrality
• NERC CIP Standards

Introduction to the Federal Communications Commission

• Scope of FCC Jurisdiction and Enforcement
• Statutory basis for FCC Authority
• Agency Organization
• Development of FCC Rules and Policy
• State and Municipal Regulation

Utilities as Commercial Providers of Telecom, Infrastructure and Related Services

• Wholesale (Infrastructure) Provider versus Retail (Services) Provider
• Connectivity and Carrier Relationships
• Transmission Options
  • Dark-fiber and Indefeasible Rights of Use (IRUs)
  • Fiber to the Home, Fiber to the Node, etc.
  • Lit Fiber Networking Options (Active, PON, etc.)
  • RF Spectrum
• FCC Regulation of Utility Poles, Conduits and Rights-of-way
• Strategies to Minimize Telecom Regulation and Regulatory Fees
• Leasing of Utility Facilities for Wireless Collocations
• FCC regulation of wireless facilities and services

Friday, July 30, 2021 : Central Time

Transactional Issues for Buyers and Sellers of Communications Services

• Introduction to purchasing telecom and network services
  • What is being bought/sold
  • How regulation affects the transaction
• Basics of the telecom procurement/sales process
• Contracting basics
  • The importance of structure and order of precedence
    • The role of service guides
  • Understanding service level agreements (SLAs)
  • Key terms that must be included in all buy/sell agreements

The Future of Utility Communications

• Software Defined Networks
• Network security and cybersecurity
• Analytics and the role of Artificial Intelligence
• The “Internet of Things”
• 5G and next generation networks

Laura McDonald, Partner, Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP

Ms. McDonald, a partner at LB3, has spent two and a half decades negotiating custom and complex network service agreements on behalf of enterprise users.  With the insight and perspective gained through her litigation and regulatory experience, and her on the ground experience, she negotiates contracts that minimize customer risk as they maximize customer leverage.  Ms. McDonald has negotiated scores res of multi-million dollar telecommunications, network and service deals on behalf of large enterprises in the professional services, real estate, hospitality, insurance, publishing, financial, and manufacturing sectors as well as on behalf of one of the largest municipalities in the US.  She assists in merging telecom contracts of acquired companies, helps enterprises navigate the regulatory issues surrounding network transactions and assists users in resolving disputes with carriers, resolving disputes with carriers, and conducts multi-team training to assist an enterprise in the development of new IT/telecom strategies. 

Ms. McDonald is lauded for her collaborative approach, working closely with all members of the client team – legal, procurement, engineering, and operations – to enable enterprises to assess their needs and risks, streamline the procurement of telecom and data services, and create comprehensive solutions and contracts.  

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

Jeffrey L. Sheldon is a partner in the law firm of Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP, where he advises clients on a wide range of telecommunications regulatory and transactional issues, with an emphasis on the use of wireless technologies and the development of telecom infrastructure. Mr. Sheldon has advised clients with interests in wireless devices and systems, broadband deployment, pole attachments, and universal service. He has assisted clients in obtaining FCC authority for the operation of radio systems in a variety of frequency bands and radio services, including private and commercial mobile radio systems, point-to-point and point-to-multipoint microwave systems, satellite earth stations, and experimental radio systems. Mr. Sheldon has also represented companies in FCC enforcement proceedings, including the negotiation of consent decrees to resolve such cases. After beginning his career as an associate with a boutique communications law firm, Mr. Sheldon served as vice president and general counsel of the Utilities Telecom Council (UTC), where he represented the telecom and IT interests of electric, gas, and water utilities before the FCC, NTIA, Congress, and the courts.

J.R. Simmons, Principal Consultant, COMgroup, Inc.

J.R. Simmons has over 40 years of experience in the telecommunications systems industry, including over 30 years as a consultant providing strategic planning, design, analysis, and implementation management skills. He is considered a thought leader in unified communications and collaboration technologies. J.R. is the owner and Principal Consultant of COMgroup, Inc., which is located in Kirkland Washington. COMgroup is one of the most widely respected independent telecommunications consulting firms in the nation and a recognized leader for telecommunication systems design and communications infrastructure consulting projects. As an industry expert J.R. has provided expert testimony in several legal cases. He contributes to two of the most respected industry web sites (No Jitter and BC Strategies) and frequently gives speeches on a wide variety of telecommunications management and technology subjects. He taught advanced telecommunications courses for a Community College Certificate program and continues to teach via independent seminars, and educational programs such as this one offered by EUCI. J.R.’s experience includes work on complex telephone systems and call centers, cabling infrastructure and layer one electronics, and both local and wide area networks. His current projects tend to focus on strategic planning and business process analysis, but also include data networking design, systems analysis, unified communications, and contact centers. COMgroup works with organizations of all sizes with increasingly complex technical environments. As a teacher at heart, J.R. has a passion of sharing his knowledge of trends and emerging technology in an effort to educate others and assist his customers in making the best decisions. J.R.’s team are experts in all facets of voice and data communications; they provide professional services that incorporate multiple technology disciplines including:

• Strategic planning
• Functional and technical requirements definition
• System design
• Infrastructure communication design and cabling coordination
• Contact Center design and operational improvements
• Carrier services including Telecom Expense Management
• Telecom facility/utility audit
• Project management services

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: After November 30 you will not be able to join a Teams meeting using Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a meeting invitation will include a link to join the meeting.
• Separate meeting invitations will be sent for the morning and afternoon sessions of the course.
  • You will need to join the appropriate meeting at the appropriate time.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Commercial Telecommunications Opportunities for Utilities

July 29-30, 2021 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before June 25, 2021 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

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 1.0 CEUs for this event.

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program  

You must be logged in for the entirety of the course and send in the evaluation after the online course is completed.

Instructional Methods  

PowerPoint presentations will be used in this course.  

Who should attend

The course is intended for attorneys, business development managers, telecom and IT managers or technicians, outside plant managers, government affairs professionals, procurement specialists, and others whose scope of work includes at least some involvement with communications assets or services used in support of utility operations. The course will help in-house counsel better understand and manage regulatory and commercial risks, and will help others in the organization better understand how the FCC works and how to comply with FCC regulations. The course will also benefit the following professionals:

• Telecom Analyst
• Telecom Specialist
• Voice and Data System Admins
• Data communications staff
• IT Business Analyst / Program Manager
• Technical Project Managers
• Telecom Field Installers / Engineers
• Administrative and support staff from utility telecom departments
• In-house counsel, compliance officers and regulatory affairs personnel