PRE-CONFERENCE TUTORIALS

Sun, May 06
09:30 AM - 12:30 PM	Broadband over Power Line 101 Tutorial Room: 18AB Always one of the most popular topics at the UTC Annual Conference, BPL continues to attract attention. There are several significant deployments around the country, and they continue to make progress. Meanwhile, the FCC and the states have issued policies to promote the deployment of BPL, deregulating BPL services and transactions. Also, the technology continues to improve, with SmartGrid applications attracting the most attention. Find out the latest developments, including the state of the industry as reported by UTC Research. Whether you are new to BPL or think you have heard it all before, you need to attend this session.
	Utility Telecom 101 Tutorial Room: 18C This session will introduce the many uses of telecom in utilities today. This is THE session for employees new to utilities or telecom fields, for IT professionals looking to see how telecom fits with what they do on a day-to-day basis or for vendors that sell to utility telecom professionals. This session will illustrate the changing role of telecommunications in utilities, focusing on data networks and telecom applications as well as wireless and fiber-based technologies.
	What You Need to Know About Wireless Business Opportunities -- Tutorial Room: 19AB This session will prepare attendees interested in the Wireless Business Opportunities Symposium. Specifically, speakers will address today’s wireless environment, including market saturation, Memoranda of Understanding, subscribers, competition and new technologies. Carriers are interested in utility infrastructure due to its ubiquitous geography, but using this to create revenue without taking on a lot of risk requires planning and strategy on the part of the utility. Come to hear how others are doing it, and the common problems and solutions they have developed to reap benefits from this growing industry.
12:30 PM - 01:30 PM	Networking Lunch
01:30 PM - 04:30 PM	New and Old Microwave Technology Tutorial Room: 19AB Even as utilities move to more advanced technologies, microwave applications still have a strong place at the table. Today's microwave technology enables utilities to operate and control equipment at remote sites, to gather data related to services, control monitoring functions and more. Join microwave experts as they present how utilities are using microwave technology in exciting ways and how microwave will stand the test of time and be used in the future.
	Introduction to Internet Protocol Tutorial Room: 18AB Internet Protocol-enabled (IP) communications are expanding from more basic uses to vital core communications, such as substation communications, as a result of the substantial cost savings IP can provide. This session will address ways in which utilities can and are taking advantage of IP in areas such as multimedia collaborations, instant messaging and presence management as well as convergence with Wireless LAN. Hear from experts from the field on the future of IP communications for every utility telecom and IT professional.
	RF Engineering & Spectrum Management Tutorial Room: 18C Hear from UTC Spectrum Services experts on RF Engineering and spectrum management, including RF safety issues such as defining RF emission standards and the rules and regulations associated with these standards. Additionally, speakers will guide attendees through what needs to be done in regards to signage and training to make sure you are creating a safe workplace that complies with government relations. On the spectrum management side, experts will guide you through the right way to complete FCC forms for frequency allocation. This is a can’t miss session for anyone involved in these areas.
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.
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM	Networking Break
11:45 AM - 05:30 PM	UTC EXPO 2007 Open
12:30 PM - 02:30 PM	Networking Lunch in UTC EXPO 2007
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
10:30 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	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
04:15 PM - 04:30 PM	Networking Break
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.
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.