Update on F2C 2009: Freedom to Connect
Friends, Colleagues, Critics, All who care about the future of the Internet,
F2C: Freedom to Connect 2009 will be held F2C: Freedom to Connect, March 30 & 31, 2009 in Washington DC. You can still register at the Very Early Bird price of $295 as long as the calendar says 2008! On 1/1/2009 it will cost you $100 more, so register here now.
The official F2C: Freedom to Connect Web site, with all the basics is at http://freedom-to-connect.net
The F2C: Freedom to Connect program has been coming together rapidly over the last two weeks! Below, please find the very latest details. The details of this aren’t even on the Web site yet.
But first, we interrupt this email for an important announcement: isen.com, LLC warmly welcomes the partnership of MuniWireless.com in the production of F2C: Freedom to Connect, and the able assistance of the amazing Esme Vos!
Returning to our regularly scheduled update, I am very excited to report that the newest CONFIRMED speakers at F2C now include:
Chris Vein, the first-ever CIO of San Francisco. Chris will present the vision and plan for San Francisco’s municipal fiber network. Speaking of first-ever CIOs, I’d bet Chris will have some choice insights into the role of the Obama Administration’s proposed Federal CIO!
Chris Vein will be part of a panel of distinguished municipal CIOs that Joanne Hovis is pulling together, all of whom are planning fiber for their cities. Watch this space for updates.
Jon Peha, who is CURRENTLY the Chief Technologist of the FCC (who knows what he’ll be by March 30!) will tell us everything he possibly can about the important issues that have crossed his radar screen over the past months.
Esme Vos and Sascha Meinrath will review municipal networking efforts that have, ahem, been less than successful, and discuss what we’ve learned from them, and how to apply these learnings to make new efforts more successful.
James Salter, one of the original been-there, done-that guys of the Fiber to the Home movement. He’ll discuss what it takes to build a state-of-the-art Internet access network in your community.
Terry Huval, the fiddle-playing Cajun visionary at the head of Lafayette, Louisiana’s municipal fiber network will have turned on his first FTTH customers by the time F2C rolls around. He’ll tell us what he’s learned and what’s next for Lafayette.
Paul Kaputska, of Sidecuts Report, will discuss the prospects for Wi-Max. Dewayne “Broadband Cowboy” Hendricks will discuss, and perhaps even debate. The ether will grow warmer during this session.
Derek Slater, co-author of “Homes with Tails” will present the “condominium fiber” concept. Bill St. Arnaud, one of the prime movers behind the condo fiber idea will elaborate. I expect that Bill will also give an update on another area where he is a global thought-leader; Green Broadband.
Larry Keyes, a researcher and entrepreneur from fiber-rich Burlington VT, will show some applications of what he calls “Tele-HealthCare.”
You can find the full list of speakers – including some great ones I’ve already announced – at http://freedom-to-connect.net/speakers.
F2C Futures: After the Inauguration, we’re going to make a big push to get the shapers of Obama Administration Internet policy to share their Internet visions with the F2C: Freedom to Connect audience, so watch for important announcements in early February!
Musicians in Residence: We’re in advanced stages of negotiation with The John Jorgenson Quintet. (Note: NOT confirmed, but very likely!) Jorgenson played in the Elton John band for six years, and he is a founding member of The (legendary, formative) Desert Rose Band. He plays guitar, clarinet, sax, piano, pedal-steel and mandolin. The Quintet’s specialty is gypsy jazz, featuring John’s guitar and the hot, hot violin of Jason Anick. Thanks to David Eisner of the House of Musical Traditions for helping F2C score this great band.
New Sponsor: Millennium Communications Group Inc. has agreed to become supporting sponsor, joining Alcatel-Lucent (lead sponsor) and The Sunlight Foundation (supporting sponsor), all of whom are absolutely critical to F2C’s existence.
So that’s the hottest news from F2C. I’m thrilled. I hope you’re catching enough of my emotion that you’ll consider registering at the outrageously low Very Early Bird price of $295. This price is only in effect 13 more days, most of which are holidays . . . you know what to do!
See you at F2C: Freedom to Connect!
David I (and Esme Vos)
