Peering Points

The Technology + Business Conference continues with a set of three Peering Points—a series of sessions dedicated to showing where other telcos are finding successes. With three tracks of content, you are sure to find thought-provoking discussions on the issues and opportunities that matter most to you.

• Business-to-Business (B2B) sessions consider all of the ways your business can help other businesses in your community thrive.
• Business-to-Consumer (B2C) sessions cover the wide range of products and services carriers offer to their residential customers.
• Central Office (CO) sessions explore the hardware and software that keep the network functioning efficiently and securely and the staff to make it all happen.

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION

9:00 a.m.–Noon
PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOP: NRTC*
Investigation Station Rotation: Small-Group Moderated Discussions with Industry Experts
Kick off the conference with a highly interactive, round-robin info-sharing session. Take the driver’s seat in small-group discussions with your peers to get the information that is most valuable to you, as you learn from industry experts in the hottest topics facing our industry today. 

Here’s how it works:
After a brief orientation, you will split into small groups and share ideas via moderated discussions with industry experts. Next, you’ll rotate through all three topic areas, giving you a chance to learn actionable strategies on how to enhance your business. Last, you’ll gather back with the group after everyone has had a chance to discuss all the topics, and we’ll all share lessons learned.

Be a part of this exciting opportunity to get the answers to the most pressing challenges you face. 

1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOP: Cisco*
Service Provider Transformation Through Innovation

*All preconference workshops require registration. Space is limited.

5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

Welcome Reception + Solutions eXchange Forum
The Solutions eXchange provides an atmosphere of learning and networking between telco industry solution providers and decision makers. Join your industry partners over some light refreshments and stay on top of the leading edge of change.

The Solutions eXchange Forum is an exciting new feature to experience product demos directly in the exhibit hall. 

Presentation Schedule:

5:50 p.m. – 6:10 p.m.  |  CHR Solutions
6:25 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.  |  Calix

 

WEDNESDAY,  APRIL 24

7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION

7:00 a.m.–8:30 a.m.
BREAKFAST BUFFET

7:00 a.m.–7:45 a.m.
Strategies for Increasing SMB Revenue
Sponsored Presentation by SecurityCoverage
Small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) represent a growing source of revenue for many broadband service providers. Sponsored by SecurityCoverage, this interactive session features a discussion of successful strategies for capturing revenue from your SMB customers.

8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
OPENING GENERAL SESSION
 

Tomorrow's Telco Technologies
Joe Candido, Co-founder, Executive Crash Course
Rural service providers are faced with a sea of technologies, trends, and applications many of which are expensive with long lead times before profitability. Looking at business strategies and the technology behind 5G, cloud, NAS, IoT, security, IP, and VR, we will examine the existing rural market and what to expect for the near future.
 

Balancing Business and Technology
Seth Arndorfer, Chief Executive Officer, Dakota Carrier Network
Justin Huebner, Assistant General Manager, Solarus
When it comes to strategic decision making for rural operators, savvy executives must weigh technical considerations against business impact. Hear about specific examples where peers have established this balance and played it to their advantage.

 

FirstNet in 2019
Edward Parkinson, Acting CEO, FirstNet Authority
Shirley Bloomfield, CEO, NTCA
Parkinson shares his thoughts about next steps for the nationwide broadband network for first responders, and is joined by Shirley Bloomfield to discuss how innovation and investment in the network will involve various parties, especially rural broadband providers.

 

11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Luncheon + Solution eXchange Forum
The Solutions eXchange Forum is an exciting new feature to experience product demos directly in the exhibit hall. 

Presentation Schedule:

11:50 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.  |  Comtrend
12:25 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.  |  netElastic

1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
PEERING POINTS A

B2B
Expanding Your Footprint and Your Revenue
Patrick Guarnella, Director of Sales, Hart Telephone Co.
Dave Pruse, Director of Business Development, Voyant
One of the best ways to grow your company is by reaching out to businesses outside your service area in addition to your present customers. Today’s business customers rely more than ever on sophisticated telecommunications and require coordinated services tying together their offices, work force and customers. Hear about strategies your peers have used to be the local provider with global capabilities that businesses need.

B2C
Small Operator Considerations for NG911
Moderator: Robert Bengel, Director of Customer Services, Vantage Point
Panelists: Tracer Giess, Product Development Engineer, Nex-Tech
Roger Hixson, 911 Services Senior Consultant, National Emergency Number Association (NENA)
Robert Sherry, Senior Systems Engineer, West Systems
From a broad look at the current 911 ecosystem to specific steps small providers should be taking to prepare for the transition to Next Generation 911, this discussion will set you on the right path to meet critical public safety obligations for your community.

CO
Attracting, Retaining and Developing Great Talent in Small Markets
Jack Latzer, VP of Productivity Solutions, NCTI
Tom Whitaker, Senior Vice President, Shentel
Managing tech talent has unique challenges in smaller markets where location, community and culture are every bit as important as pay and benefits. With required skills, level of expertise and generations changing, approaches must evolve to yield strong and loyal employees who can keep up with a rapidly-changing industry. A dynamic panel of industry leaders will delve into this critical and timely topic and share successful practices, as well as potential pitfalls.

2:00 p.m.–3:40 p.m.

Networking + Solutions eXchange Forum
The Solutions eXchange Forum is an exciting new feature to experience product demos directly in the exhibit hall. 

Presentation Schedule:

2:50 p.m.–3:10 p.m.  |  SaskTel International

 

 

3:40 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
PEERING POINTS B

B2B
Refining the Preorder Ecosystem
Zach Bracey, Director, Solutions Engineering
Survival means expansion. Expansion means new business customers. New business customers mean the need for a refined preorder process integrating marketing, sales, sales engineering, sales cost and pricing. Hear how other telcos are finding success with improvements to their systems and processes to prepare for offering new solutions to new customers.

 

B2C
Beyond Managed Wi-Fi
Charles Austin, Manager, Network Engineering and Operations, Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative
Frank Bulk, CTO, Premier Communications
Teresa McGaughey, Senior Director of Solutions Marketing, Calix
Subscribers keep adding connected devices in their homes and expect them to always work; when they don’t, you are to blame. This panel of service providers will explore how they are looking at the problem and where they see opportunity to generate more revenue while ensuring the devices in the home don’t consume their operations personnel.

CO
Peering Into Your Future
Michael Boyle, Strategic Planning Director, Westin Building Exchange
Mike Rushing, Business & Product Development Manager, Westin Building Exchange
This panel discussion reveals the process and implementation of public peering, impacts for both the provider and end users, network considerations, and comparative before and after data.

4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.

Networking Reception + Solutions eXchange Forum

The Solutions eXchange Forum is an exciting new feature to experience product demos directly in the exhibit hall. 

Presentation Schedule:

5:20 p.m. – 5:40 p.m.  |  Ribbon Communications
5:55 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.  |  Security Coverage

 

 

THURSDAY, APRIL 25

7:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
REGISTRATION

7:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m.
BREAKFAST BUFFET

7:00 a.m.–7:45 a.m.
Lessons from the Leaders: How to Compete Better and Sell Smarter 
Sponsored Presentation by CrowdFiber
What are the marketing behaviors that drive demand?  Explore the best practices and unexpected insights that separate the average service provider from the leaders.  Discover what may be missing from your marketing mix and the data you actually need to impact your bottom line. 

8:00 a.m.–8:50 a.m.
PEERING POINTS C

B2B
Better Connectivity with Business Opportunities: Managing and Maintaining Business Customers
Patrick Moreno, Product Marketing Manager, Zyxel
Service providers are providing faster Internet access, which is great for residential applications but, what about small to mid-sized business? Find out about these hidden opportunities to deliver and manage this unique market with the same tools and techniques already in place for most service providers for their residential subscribers.
 

B2C
Can We Stop Robocalls? 
Brian Ford, Director of Industry Affairs, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association
Scott Meyer, Marketing Director, Innovative Systems
The battle lines have been drawn in the war on robocallers and telemarketers, but weapons to combat the issue remain confusing. Hear updates on the latest regulatory actions and provide peer perspectives about solutions you can deploy today with a high degree of success.

CO
Gigabit and Beyond … And How to Get There
Moderator: Ken Pyle, Managing Editor, Viodi View
Panelists: Brian Hough, Broadband Network & Data Services Supervisor, PTCI
Lynn Merrill, President, Monte R. Lee and Co.
Helge Tiainen, Director of Marketing & Sales, InCoax Networks
Gigabit networks with symmetrical bandwidth, reliability and security that produce a return meeting the corporate objectives, even when customers are in multi-dwelling units of various shapes, sizes and build-quality. Sounds good but hear what our panelists have to say about technology standards, costs and overcoming business challenges when plans meet reality.

9:00 a.m.–9:50 a.m.
PEERING POINTS D

B2B
The Future of Business Services
Jerry Horton, Technology Director, Blue Valley Telecommunications / Networks Plus
Dee Dee Longenecker, Director of Business Development, Eastex
Barbara Sessions, COO, Silver Star
This panel of peers share perspectives on the business and technology ramifications of planning to grow their company’s services for business customers. Join the conversation to hear what’s on their radars and share your thoughts on how to overcome potential obstacles.

 

B2C
Enhancing Customer Service Through Technician Tech
Ryan Larson, Sr. Product Line Manager, NISC
In a competitive market, consumer trust and loyalty are critical and built on great service. Giving technical and outside plant staff access to emerging data tools while in the field can improve efficiency and build your reputation for great service. In this session, telecom representatives talk about the tools and techniques they use to boost customer loyalty and do their jobs more efficiently.

 

CO
A Rural Provider’s Perspective on Open Source Networking
Moderator: Brian Ford, Director of Industry Affairs, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association
Panelists: Ron Isom, Director of Business Development, Open Networking Foundation
Dave Martin, CTO, Blackfoot Communications
An open source movement is underway in the virtualization of network function in the telecom industry. While this might seem to be something for only Tier 1/2 carriers, there are benefits even for a small operator. Learn about what the Open Networking Foundation is currently working on and hear from a peer about their involvement with these initiatives.

10:10 a.m.–Noon
CLOSING GENERAL SESSION

 

Telecom Perspectives from the 34^th Floor
Michael Boyle, Strategic Planning Director, Westin Building Exchange
Mike Rushing, Business & Product Development Manager, Westin Building Exchange
This unique view of the telecommunications industry from a carrier hotel operator will cover a wide range of trends, including cloud computing, content distribution, peering exchanges, cellular technology, IoT, the cable industry, and others.
 

5G, Wi-Fi6, 10G, 50G PON: The Alphabet Soup Continues 
Teresa McGaughey, Senior Director of Solutions Marketing, Calix
We’ll always be talking about the next new technology or application, but how do you decide which new technologies and applications can truly make a difference in your business? We’ll demystify what’s on the horizon, look at some of the choices your peers in the industry have made and explore options to help you decide when it’s time to make a move.

 

Noon
Conference Adjourn