The 2002 Montana Telecommunications Association Annual Meeting.

July 10-12, 2002
Helena, Montana

MTA’s Annual meeting is just around the corner! We again will entertain, challenge and enlighten you. The General Sessions on July 11 and 12 will feature recognized speakers from around the nation as well as key policymakers in Montana, who will focus on public policy issues, technology, economic development, and a variety of other timely and thought-provoking topics.

To register on-line, go to http://www.telecomassn.org

The program features Joel Lubin, AT&T’s Vice President and Counsel, who also serves as a Director of the Universal Service Administrative Corporation (USAC) and is a former member of the Rural Task Force (RTF) to be one of our featured speakers. Mr. Lubin will discuss AT&T’s proposal to revise the universal service funding mechanism. On the same topic, Jeff Brueggeman from SBC Communications, will discuss an alternative to the AT&T universal service funding mechanism. Skip Haynes, Chairman of the U.S. Telecom Association (USTA) is our other featured speaker who will address the General Session on Friday, July 12.

Other speakers include John Ricker, an expert on universal service from NECA. Joe Gallan, an economist/consultant in competitive pricing, including forward-looking costs and unbundled network elements, will address the meeting. Jim Blundell, state regulatory attorney from Western Wireless Corporation will discuss his company’s views on eligible telecommunications carrier status in various states. Montana PSC Commissioner Bob Rowe, will discuss Joint Board and NARUC developments. Jay Driscoll, legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Max Baucus, and Shirley Bloomfield, Vice President of the National Telecom Cooperative Association, will join us to talk about a variety of important federal legislative initiatives, including those aimed at promoting national broadband deployment. In a stirring conclusion to the program, Beth Drohan, an executive from Verizon who managed her company’s operations during the tragic events of September 11, will recount what Verizon did during those critical days and hours following the tragedy.

On the state side of the ledger, the agenda includes Montana’s Chief Technology Officer, Brian Wolf, as well as a panel of Montana Commission staff who will discuss current regulatory issues.

In addition to these and other telecommunications-related topics, the agenda includes the President’s reception on July 10, and entertainment from Helena singer and songwriter, Bruce Anfinson, and the Helena Chamber Singers.

The 2002 MTA Annual Meeting will be held at the WestCoast Colonial Hotel, 2301 Colonial Drive, Helena, MT 59601. A block of rooms has been reserved in Helena at a special group rate. The block of rooms will be released to the general public and rates will go back to their normal levels on June 9, 2002. You may call the WestCoast Colonial at 406-443-2100 or 1-800-422-1002. Be sure to advise them that you want reservations in the MTA room block. The rates are: $85 per night + tax for single occupancy; $95 per night + tax for double occupancy.

Our Annual Meeting features a dozen vendors who will be displaying their products and services. Some of this year=s vendors are: Advanced Fibre Communications, Unipro Systems, Calix, NISC (National Information Solutions Cooperative), NECA, Harp Engineering, Martin Group, Mapcom Systems, Next Level Communications, Taqua Systems, and MetaSwitch.

MTA also wishes to thank its sponsors who are helping to make the Annual Meeting possible. Sponsors include the vendors listed above, as well as Gluon Networks, GVNW consulting, Federated Rural Electric Insurance, Power & Telephone Supply, Border States Electric Supply, CoBank, Conklin Corporation, Dakota Supply Group, Interstate Telcom Consulting and Mid America Computer Corporation.

Agenda

Wednesday, July 10

7:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

9:00 Annual MTA Scholarship Fundraisers:
· Golf at Bill Roberts Golf Course
· Flyfishing Expedition

1-5 p.m. Broadwater Water Slide/pool

6:30 p.m. "A Taste of Montana:" President’s Reception in the Capitol Rotunda

Thursday, July 11

7:00 a.m. Breakfast Buffet.

7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Exhibit area open.

8:00 Welcome: Geoff Feiss, General Manager, MTA

8:15 Bruce Anfinson, Montana singer/songwriter

9:00 Universal Service: What’s ahead?
· Joel Lubin, VP, AT&T; Director, USAC
· Jeff Brueggeman, Counsel, SBC Communications

10:00 Break. Visit vendor exhibits.

10:20 Eligible Telecommunications Carriers
· Jim Blundell, State Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, Western Wireless Corp.

11:05 NARUC and the Joint Board
· Bob Rowe, Commissioner, Montana PSC; Member, Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service; Past-President, NARUC

11:50 Lunch. Visit vendor exhibits.

1:00 p.m. Montana’s Economic Outlook
· Phil Brooks, Montana Chief Economist, MT Dept. of Labor and Industry

1:30 The Federal Legislative Picture
· Jay Driscoll, Telecommunications Aide, Sen. Max Baucus
· Shirley Bloomfield, VP, National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA)

2:15 Rural Wireless Policy Update
· Greg Whiteaker, Partner, Bennet & Bennet

3:00 Break: Visit vendor exhibits.

3:30 Competition and UNE Pricing
· Joe Gillan, TELRIC economist/consultant

4:15 Universal Service: A Historic Perspective
· John Ricker, National Exchange Carriers Association (NECA)

5:00 General Session Recesses until Friday, July 12

6:00 Annual Banquet
· Helena Chamber Singers

Friday, July 12

7:00 a.m. Breakfast Buffet

8:00 MTA Awards Ceremony

8:30 U.S. Telecom Association
· Skip Haynes, CEO, Rainier Group; Chairman, USTA

9:00 Montana’s Information Technology Outlook
· Brian Wolf, Montana Chief Information Officer

9:30 PSC Update w/Commission Staff
· Mike Lee, Staff Economist, PSC
· Monica Tranel, Staff Attorney, PSC

10:15 Break. Visit exhibits.

10:30 Delivering Quality Service in Montana: Strategies of successful Montana telecom providers
· Bill Squires, VP & Gen. Counsel, Blackfoot Companies
· Ron Warnick, President, VisionNet
· Kathy Duff, President, MAIN, Inc.

11:15 9/11 Disaster Recovery: A Case Study
· Beth Drohan, Exec. Dir., Manhattan Construction and Maintenance, Verizon

Noon General Session Adjourns. Drive safely!