April 16-17, San Antonio, Texas
April 19-20, Atlanta, Georgia
April 23-24, Minneapolis, Minnesota
On November 18, 2011, independent telecom providers awoke to a new reality. The long-awaited winds of change indeed blew through, and the theory and speculation about the National Broadband Plan were replaced by the all-too-real pages of the FCC's USF and ICC Reform Order. Years marked by indecision on future policy goals and an unsettled industry environment awaiting resolution on intercarrier compensation and universal service reform gave way to a sea change in technological, financial and, perhaps most telling, social policy orientation. Led by the FCC and a whole new cadre of technocrat policymakers, the federal government convinced America to look at broadband as the yellow brick road that would enable our struggling nation to put its financial and economic ills behind it.
But the jury is still out on the question of if that path will reach all citizens in all corners of the land. As the broadband transition unfolds, we know that JSI clients and the other companies serving high-cost rural areas still must persevere against the operational and financial pressures that have always made our service industry so challenging. For whatever reasons, policymakers went "beyond broadband" as they took dead aim at many traditional cost recovery and support mechanisms. At JSI, we hope that the passage of time and the actual experience of community based providers will bring much-needed perspective and compromise to the coming of the Broadband Age. In a very real sense, only time will tell.
In 2012, JSI marks 50 years of partnership with the independent industry. Perhaps in all that time it has never been more crucial for our Management Seminars to focus clearly and candidly on the impact these policy and regulatory developments promise to have not only on JSI clients, but on the whole reality of rural connection. In 2012, it's about more than revenue and expenses, the network, or even broadband itself; this year, the "selling point," the raison d'etre of our Management Seminar is the future, yours and ours. Key questions remain: Can the FCC and Congress move the nation from a telecom system defined by voice connection for all to a technology-driven IP-based network on which voice is merely a commodity? Can national telecom goals be met by viewing broadband not just as a means to an end, but as an end in itself?
Yes, we believe the future of our industry and your business is what's at stake. For this reason, JSI believes we must plan for and present the 2012 Management Seminar as a timely and essential resource to help you make sense of this new world. With so many things still evolving, we've targeted the agenda to give you our best estimates of both short-term business factors and long-term industry change key to your operations. And we'll also offer the thoughts and analysis you tell us you value, so you will be better prepared to make the decisions you face about your future - decisions you can no longer put off.
Seminar Presenters:
• Manny Staurulakis, President
• Steve Meltzer, Senior Vice President
• John Kuykendall, Vice President
• Douglas Meredith, Director - Economics & Policy
Seminar Topics:
FCC USF/ICC Reform Order
- Overview of the Order
- Financial impact on rural ILECs and CLECs
- Understanding the FCC's regression methodology
- Annual compliance and certification requirements - what is required?
- How to complete a five-year build out plan
- Understanding the transition of switched access rates to bill & keep
- Review of the new Access Recovery Charge and Recovery Mechanism
- Impacts on pooling and future access tariff filings
- Mobility Fund participation for wireless CETCs
- Middle-mile cost recovery
- Business planning for the future
Learning Objectives: At the end of the seminar, attendees will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the rules changes made in the FCC's USF/ICC Reform Order, particular emphasis on federal USF, intercarrier compensation, network investment, and related broadband issues;
- Discuss the process and desired outcomes for the transition of traditional federal USF support and ICC mechanisms to the new FCC broadband models and the effects on rural network deployment;
- Prepare a plan of action to implement those changes at their companies, including how to comply with many new regulatory compliance and certification issues, as well as the scheduled filing and implementation deadlines
Seminar Information:
Fees:
$749/first registrant; $695/additional registrants.
JSI is offering an early-bird discount through March 1 - $699 for the first registrant and $645 for additional registrants.
The seminar will begin at 1:00 p.m. the first day and includes a reception after the session. On the second day the seminar will begin at 8:00 a.m. and will conclude at noon. The fee includes seminar materials, reception, and refreshment breaks.
All JSI seminars are "group-live" sessions as defined by NASBA
Who Should Attend:
Owners, General Managers, Supervisory Personnel, and Key Regulatory/Financial Staff. The JSI Management Seminar is considered an "Overview" program through NASBA classification.
Dress:
Dress for all JSI seminars is business casual.
CPE Credits:
This course provides eight hours of CPE credit in the Specialized Knowledge and Applications field. No prerequisites or advance preparation is required.
CPE Sponsorship Information:
JSI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org.
Registration:
Class size is limited. To register for this seminar, please use our online registration forms (see links below). If you would prefer to mail or fax your registration, please contact Leah Yoakum at lyoakum@jsitel.com or 301-459-7590. JSI will send a confirmation letter after your registration is completed. Online payment (through PayPal) is available, but prepayment is not required as JSI will send out invoices after each seminar has been conducted.
Cancellations must be received at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled start for a full refund; cancellations received after the 72-hour cut-off will be subject to a $100 cancellation fee.
For more information regarding refunds, complaints and/or program cancellation policies, please contact Leah Yoakum, seminar administrator, at lyoakum@jsitel.com or 301-459-7590.
Hotel Information:
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter
101 Bowie Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
210-223-1000
Room rate for hotel block: $169 Single/Double
Reservations can be made by calling 210-223-1000 or 800-228-9290
Hotel cut-off date: Monday, March 26, 2012
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/satrc-san-antonio-marriott-rivercenter/
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta Airport Marriott
4711 Best Road, Atlanta, GA 30337
404-766-7900
Room rate for hotel block: $129 Single/Double
Reservations can be made by calling 404-766-7900 or 800-228-9290
Hotel cut-off date: Wednesday, March 28, 2012
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atlap-atlanta-airport-marriott
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis Airport Marriott
2020 East American Boulevard, Bloomington, MN 55425
952-854-7441
Room Block Rate: $134 Single/Double
Reservations can be made by calling 952-854-7441 or 800-228-9290
Hotel cut-off date: Monday, April 2, 2012
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mspmn-minneapolis-airport-marriott/
Register Online:
April 16-17, San Antonio, Texas
April 19-20, Atlanta, Georgia
April 23-24, Minneapolis, Minnesota
