Making The Final Third Happen - Agenda*

Digital Dales Colloquia - Informal, yet informative
26th Febuary, 2010 - Sponsored by    

Thursday 25th evening - Colloquium Special Pre-Event Visit to the Bugle Horn in Bassingham where we shall be practising our bartering for beer skills!

Friday
10:00-10:30 Registration & Coffee
Introduction - Welcome to the colloquium.

Morning Session - Fibre Finance

Property Tax on Fibre & Wireless - an increasingly hot potato in the Next Generation world. We welcome Aidan Paul, CEO of Vtesse, to inform everyone on the current status of the long-running legal challenge to the disparity between the rates charged to BT and to other operators. The Broadband Stakeholders Group are holding a meeting on property tax on 1st March with the VOA (Valuations Office Agency) and the colloquium will be feeding in to that meeting with ideas and solutions to this ongoing issue from attendees.

Aidan is also involved in the FTTC Virgin Media trials in Cornwall, so this is your chance to ask questions about the technical issues in Hatt.

The US Fibre Experience - A short presentation from Lindsey with photos and video of some of the financial FTTH network wisdom received during her recent visit to FTTH Projects in the USA.

Funding Rural Fibre - come and hear a little known secret about finding funding for fibre. This on its own could justify your attendance at the Colloquium! We will also be looking at why FTTH and FiWi are deemed not viable by the incumbents and how solutions can be/are being found to connect rural areas.

Buffet lunch sponsored by Timico.

Afternoon Session - Co-operation & Collaboration

Why We All Need To Work Together

Dr Charles Trotman, CLA , has proposed a broadband collaboration to work together to resolve the rural issue. This is your chance to hear the proposal first hand and discuss it.

Solving the Middle-Mile Problem - there is a distinct lack of competition when it comes to buying backhaul for any network, whether first generation wireless or next generation fibre. Is this a problem and is there a solution? We think so, as do the Americans who suffer the same problems. What do you think?

Afternoon Tea & Buns sponsored by NextGenUs Ltd and baked by Cyberdoyle

And if there is time.....FTTH as a political issue - in the run-up to the election, we are increasingly seeing statements from the main parties regarding superfast connectivity, the USO/USC, and so on as broadband becomes an election issue. There may well be representation present from Westminster, seeking to share their plans and be informed by industry, community and consumer on the approach required to make Digital Britain a reality, and to position the UK at the forefront of the knowledge economy.

Any other issues? Colloquia are driven by the participants so if there are subject areas you wish to cover, bring your voice!

17:00 Finish - Possibly the best bit! Your chance to talk to everyone you have heard from during the day, exchange business cards, and make plans.
After event networking and drinks sponsored by Broadsoft - Hosted VoIP Solutions.

(*Please Note: the agenda for a colloquium is notoriously flexible!)

REGISTRATION - SPACES ARE LIMITED - first come, first served! Get your ticket now to avoid disappointment. Events Colloquium 1 (Feb £50.00 Colloquia 1,2 & 3 £100.00