OPTICAL NETWORKING SYMPOSIUM

Managing Utility Fiber Networks Effectively to Meet Today’s and Tomorrow’s Needs

Optical networks have been a mainstay of critical infrastructure communications. Keeping abreast of the latest changes in optical networking technologies is essential for every utility telecom professional. The Optical Networking Symposium will feature utility and technology experts demonstrating how you can use and improve your fiber networks to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency. You will learn how to evaluate and integrate new systems and upgrade existing fiber networks from experts. If fiber networks are an important part of your overall critical infrastructure communications network, you should not miss this Optical Network Symposium designed exclusively for the utility market.

Sun, May 06
04:30 PM - 06:30 PM	UTC EXPO 2007 Grand Opening Kick off UTC EXPO 2007, the exhibit hall of UTC TELECOM 2007, with other attendees along with UTC's technology partners with food, drinks and networking in the hall. Walk around and meet old and new friends as you get a glimpse of what UTC EXPO 2007 has to offer.
Mon, May 07
08:30 AM - 10:00 AM	Opening General Session Kick off UTC TELECOM 2007 at the Opening General Session on Monday morning where we will introduce all attendees to this year’s theme: Learning. Connecting. Celebrating. The Critical Infrastructure Communications Experience. The General Session will feature reports from UTC’s Chairman of the Board, Joseph Lackey, Telecommunications Supervisor at Southside Electric Cooperative, and UTC’s Division Chairs explaining what UTC is doing to help you with your jobs. Don’t miss UTC TELECOM 2007’s keynote address by Andres Carvallo, the nationally recognized Chief Information Officer at Austin Energy. Hear how this innovative CIO sees the future of critical infrastructure communications and learn how Austin Energy is on the cutting edge many new utility telecom ideas.
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM	Smart Meters Need Smart Networks Room: 17A A smart network is the linchpin of smart metering. AMI needs meters that measure interval consumption, record voltage, verify outage and accept commands. But, it is the network that creates the bridge between the user and the utility allowing for the efficient transfer of data between multiple endpoints and the utility’s operations center and its various business applications. This session will help make you smarter about knowing what kind of “smarts” your smart meter network really needs to deliver the best value.
	Optical Fiber Technology Trends – Utility Architectures & Application Room: 18C Optical fiber use spans multiple utility applications deployed by gas, water or electric entities. The 30-year maturation of optical fiber – from long-distance communications with an emphasis on optical propagation to attributes like bending loss, handling and reliability – has led to utilities embracing this medium. This session will discuss migrating existing fiber assets toward passive optic networking (PON) architectures, using PON technology for FTTX deployments, and trends in communications infrastructure planning with project examples of a 1000M fiber project by a California water utility.
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM	Networking Break
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM	The Next Generation– Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) Room: 18C Utility telecom professionals will realize benefits and cost savings associated with early transition planning to IPv6 infrastructure. While lower run costs for internal applications (such as control systems and standard information networks) increase the attractiveness of the migration, the current of lack of IPv6 compliant SCADA devices and management software are issues preventing immediate transition. This session will discuss the evolutionary steps from IPv4 to IPv6 and transition mechanisms, along with their corresponding benefits and challenges. Learn how IPv6 infrastructure may offer long-term savings to your utility.
11:45 AM - 05:30 PM	UTC EXPO 2007 Open
12:30 PM - 02:30 PM	Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2007
01:45 PM - 03:15 PM	HOT TOPIC: Two Projects for the Future Utility – Substation Communications and Fiber Room: 17A Join the KEMA team that carried out one project and is working on the other, along with major sponsors, to discuss how utilities are working to upgrade their substations and communications networks, but at a pace consistent with available resources and budgets. This session also will look at the technologies being considered; how legacy networks are integrated with new systems; and how fiber networks will increasingly be used to meet a wide variety of internal challenges as well as serve as a revenue opportunity.
02:30 PM - 03:30 PM	HOT TOPIC: Disaster Planning and Your Wireless and IT Systems Room: 19AB Businesses, including utilities, are missing the key role of wireless communications and IT networks in their business continuity and disaster recovery plans. Few commercial businesses have a comprehensive BC/DR plan: while some have a sketchy idea of procedures to meet basic requirements, many others don’t even have that. This presentation looks at the benefits of a top-down BC/DR plan, including the critical role of wireless, and you will hear from one utility that has been doing serious thinking about how to change its use of technology to meet new emergencies and possible pandemics.
06:30 PM - 09:30 PM	UTC Gala Room: Buffalo Billiards A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, a little bit of everything -- Austin is the “Live Music Capital of the World” and UTC certainly can’t send you home without a taste of some great live music! That’s why this year’s UTC Gala will feature country western sounds and a starring lead singer - your chairman - Joe Lackey! Dance the night away or enjoy casual time with food and drinks to catch up with old friends. The UTC Gala will be a night to remember your trip to Austin and UTC TELECOM 2007.
Tue, May 08
08:00 AM - 10:00 AM	Breakfast General Session Featuring: Presentation of the UTC Apex Award & Special Keynote Address on Next Generation Infrastructures The presentation of Third Annual UTC Apex Award, sponsored by Motorola, will be an awards breakfast to remember as we honor the absolute best in utility telecommunications. Join us as we showcase the winners of this distinguished award and the finalists - told through the stories they submitted. This year, we are adding a special address to immediately follow the UTC Apex Award presentation. Bruce Germano, Vice President of Retail Delivery at Long Island Power Authority, and Chairman of EPRI’s IntelliGrid Project, has been invited to give his unique perspective on the critical role of communications in the next generation of utility infrastructure.
10:00 AM - 10:15 AM	Networking Break
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM	Optical Network Surveillance: Architectural Challenges of Video Integration Room: 18C Security remains a major priority for all utilities and providing a secure optical network is a key objective. With all major applications supporting the core utility business driven by optical networks, providing real-time video monitoring is a viable security solution. This session will discuss the advantages of an integrated multi-service optical network and how to overcome architectural impediments associated with a converged optical backbone designed for transport of multi-service voice, data and video.
10:30 AM - 03:30 PM	UTC EXPO 2007 Open
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM	Networking Break in UTC EXPO 2007
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM	International Utility Telecom Roundtable *NEW* Room: 11A All delegates to UTC TELECOM 2007 are invited to attend this special roundtable discussion about key utility telecom initiatives underway outside the United States. A discussion will be led by UTC’s International Division Co-Chairmen and will feature an update on Smart Grids activities in the European Union and projects of note from South America with a special emphasis on activities in Brazil. In addition, all international delegates present will be invited to report on activities in their countries. Regardless of where you are from, this session will provide unique perspectives on utility telecom around the world.
	HOT TOPIC: Retirement – How it Affects You and Your Utility Room: 19AB Sponsored by the UTC Career Center - This session will focus on two aspects of retirement: how it affects you financially when you make the choice to leave, and what impact retirement has on utilities. Experts from a financial services firm offer help on how to prepare yourself for retirement and the many issues associated with transitioning out of the working world – even if you plan to work after your “official” retirement. The second part of the session will include a discussion on how utility companies can cope with an aging workforce and make sure that no critical knowledge is lost in handing off jobs to younger professionals. This session is great for those about to retire and utility HR department curious about what to do next!
12:30 PM - 02:30 PM	Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2007
03:15 PM - 04:15 PM	Ethernet Options For Utilities Room: 18C Ethernet technology provides the density, bandwidth and quality of service needed for the most demanding applications, along with SCADA, internal communications and telemetry requirements. The key is an architectural design that provides flexible, scalable infrastructure capable of multi-mission, multi-topology that will support and evolve along with changing business parameters. This session will provide an understanding of Ethernet technology, architectural design and business opportunities.
04:15 PM - 04:30 PM	Networking Break
04:30 PM - 05:30 PM	Your Fiber Network Can Drive Community Development Room: 18C This session will explore how deploying optical networks throughout a community can enable economic development. Many utilities are finding their communications expertise is critical in helping communities grow by delivering triple play (voice, video and data) to homes, business parks, schools and hospitals.
	Case Study: Wireless Business Opportunities In Practice Room: 18D This session will wrap up the symposium with the case studies of two utilities with extensive experience in the wireless infrastructure business. They will share their experiences and answer your questions regarding any aspect of the business.
06:30 PM - 09:30 PM	UTC Awards Dinner Room: Hilton Salon A/B/C The UTC Awards Dinner is the main social event of UTC TELECOM 2007! Join us as we honor the recipients of UTC’s most prestigious awards, the Dondanville, Meehan and Chairman’s Awards after enjoying a formal, sit down dinner. What better way to end out UTC TELECOM 2007 than ending the last full day with a presentation honoring colleagues and friends. Make sure to stay after dinner for a great dessert and an evening spent listening to jazz. *semi-formal attire
Wed, May 09
08:00 AM - 10:00 AM	Capstone - UTC Annual Membership Meeting & Breakfast Room: Ballroom EFG Help us wrap up UTC TELECOM 2007 in style on Wednesday morning as we elect UTC’s new officers for 2007-2008. Join outgoing UTC Chairman Joe Lackey and the senior members of UTC’s leadership as reports are delivered on activities over the past year and plans for 2007-2008. The Annual UTC Membership Meeting is an important aspect of being a member. But, it is also an important opportunity for anyone interested in becoming a UTC member. This is a short but ideal way to learn how you can benefit from greater involvement in UTC. Come and be a part of the annual progress of your trade association!
10:15 AM - 12:00 PM	Grounding Workshop Room: 19AB Grounding systems help telecom systems operate at peak performance. To keep grounding systems functioning at their best, it is essential to understand how the key elements of a grounding system function and how to solve common problems. Attendees of this practical workshop will learn about subjects including grounding electrode systems, single point grounding, isolated ring and halo grounds, as well as tower grounding practices and site bonding.
	Pole Attachment Workshop – Challenges and Opportunities Room: 18AB Pole attachment and joint use issues are heating up! This workshop will identify the legal/regulatory developments, business and operational issues and technical and safety considerations that face the utility industry. It will feature leading experts providing their perspectives and answering your questions about the big policy issues and the routine operational challenges you need to know. These are issues that affect every aspect of the utility business: reliability, safety, asset management, and communications. You can’t afford to miss this session.
12:30 PM - 05:00 PM	Austin Energy/PowerGrid Communications BPL Site Visit Ever wonder what BPL is all about really? Come see it live at the Austin Energy/PowerGrid Communications BPL demo house. After all the UTC TELECOM 2007 workshops are over on Wednesday afternoon, Austin Energy is inviting UTC TELECOM 2007 attendees to see their demo house. There is no set tour and attendees will be welcome to browse through the house at their leisure. PowerGrid Communications will treat attendees that visit the BPL Demo House to a barbeque lunch. Buses will leave the Austin Convention Center at 12:30 p.m. Buses will start coming back to the Austin Convention Center at 4:00 p.m. RSVP to stephanie.colbert@utc.org.