Net Neutrality: Battle for the Last Mile

Tue, 11/16/2010 - 2:04pm — atpadmin
02/08/2011 5:30 pm
02/08/2011 8:30 pm

 


When: Tuesday February 8, 2011
Where: Crowne Plaza Ravinia
Networking: 5:30PM

On December 21, 2010 in a 3-2 vote, the FCC adopted a Report and Order on Preserving the Open Internet.  Commonly referred to as “Net Neutrality”, this Order adopts rules requiring transparency and banning blocking of  and unreasonable discrimination by broadband providers.  Proponents of this Order point out that it merely safeguards against abuses, expands on open Internet principles adopted by a previous FCC administration and that it is generally consistent with broadband providers’ current practices, therefore requiring little change in their day-to-day operations.

However, opponents of this Order (including 2 of the current FCC Commissioners) see net neutrality as a “solution in search of a problem.”  They note that the Internet has flourished with minimal governmental regulation and that over 60% of American homes have gained broadband access in just the past 10 years. Furthermore, the April, 2010 federal appeals court decision in Comcast v. FCC calls into question the FCC’s ability to impose regulations on broadband providers.

Come join us as our panel brings years of policy and operational experience in examining the biggest regulatory decision to affect the Internet in many years and, potentially, for years to come.

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Moderating:

David BakerDavid N. Baker, Managing Director
Sapronov & Butler Government Affairs
 
David N. Baker, Firm counsel, is Managing Director of the Firm’s government affairs affiliate, Sapronov & Butler Government Affairs. Mr. Baker, formerly Vice President, Law and Public Policy for Earthlink, is an attorney and former elected official with extensive experience representing Internet, communications and technology companies before federal, state and local legislators, regulators and courts. As Commissioner and Chairman of the Georgia Public Service Commission, Mr. Baker was appointed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to serve on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service. Mr. Baker subsequently served on the Georgia Governor’s Task Force on Telecommunications and Technology, the Georgia legislature’s Advisory Panel in Emerging Communications Technologies, and the Board of the Universal Service Administrative Company which oversees the $7.5 billion Federal Universal Service Fund.

 

Speakers:

Walt Sapronov

Walt Sapronov, Managing Partner
Sapronov & Associates

Walt Sapronov, Firm managing partner, is AV Peer Review Rated and has been named in the International Who's Who of Telecom Lawyers. He has represented enterprise, carrier and service provider clients - including some of the largest in the United States - in telecommunications deals and regulation for over twenty (20) years. AVVO, a law firm rating agency, recently gave Walt Sapronov its highest rating ("superb") among telecommunications lawyers in the Atlanta area. Please see www.avvo.com/business-telecommunications-law/ga/atlanta.html for more information. Born in Kempton, West Germany, November 10, 1947; admitted to bar, 1983, Georgia; 1986, Georgia Supreme Court and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia; 2010, U.S. Supreme Court.

 

Sandra Sheets GardinerSandra Sheets Gardiner, Partner
Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP

Sandra Sheets Gardiner is a partner at Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP. Ms. Gardiner counsels manufacturing and technology companies and large end users in complex technology transactions. She advises these clients in a variety of mission-critical transactions, including outsourcing matters, joint ventures, strategic alliances, technology procurement and acquisition, management of intellectual property assets and privacy and security issues.

Ms. Gardiner’s clients represent a variety of industries, ranging from mobile, wireless, telecommunications, new media, clean energy, healthcare and traditional manufacturing.

 

Jennifer Hightower, Vice President Regulatory Affairs
COX

As vice president of regulatory affairs for Cox Communications, Jennifer Hightower oversees all telephone regulatory functions including compliance with rules and regulations, and relationships with other telecommunications providers. She also assists with policy making and strategic initiatives related to Cox’s telecommunications business.

Hightower joined Cox in 1997 as legal counsel and, prior to her current role, she oversaw all transactional and operational legal support. Previously, she served as assistant general counsel for regulatory affairs. Prior to joining Cox, she served in various legal positions at BellSouth Corporation, RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc. and Drew, Eckl & Farnham.
 
In 2005, Hightower was honored as one of the Rising SuperStar Attorneys in Georgia and in 2007 was named SuperStar Attorney by the Georgia Corporate Counsel magazine. She served as chair of the Georgia Federal Bar Association from 2003 to 2005. An active member of the Women in Cable Telecommunications, she served as membership chair of the Atlanta chapter from 2004 through 2006. She also has served on the boards of Callanwolde School of Fine Arts, Piedmont Park board of young members and Junior League of Atlanta.
 
Hightower is admitted to practice in Kentucky and Georgia, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court. She earned a juris doctor degree from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta and her bachelor’s degree in political science from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.