Comptel Plus (Spring 2015) - Day 2 Show Daily

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COMPTELPlus | Tuesday, April 14, 2015 Beka Publishing, 16
DAY 2
Davis Wright Tremaine partners Jim
Smith and Danielle Frappier will be
presenting on a panel at the Schools,
Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition
(SHLB) 2015 Annual Conference, May 21, at the Hyatt
Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va.
The SHLBCoalition is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) advocacy
organization that supports open, affordable, high-capacity
broadband connections for anchor institutions and their
surrounding communities. The SHLBCoalition, which is
based inWashington, D.C., has a diverse membership of
commercial and non-commercial organizations.
The Coalition was formed in 2009 as a short-
term project to support the Broadband Technology
Opportunities Program (BTOP) funded by the federal
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
On the policy front, the coalition supports a variety
of federal initiatives to support broadband for anchor
institutions. It works with the FCC to promote capital
investment in the E-rate reform, and it recently submitted
a study estimating the costs of deploying fiber to the
remaining schools and libraries without fiber.
With the support of the Gates Foundation, the
coalition has completed a strategic plan to chart its
course through 2017.
Davis Wright Tremaine is dedicated to providing
excellent legal services, and delivering them in a
manner customized to each client’s particular needs
and preferences. The commitment has remained
intact for decades as the firm has grown throughout
the nation and into China.
Smith centers his practice in telecommunications
and government relations. A telecommunications
industry veteran, Smith has more than 30 years of
experience as an attorney, industry association leader
and communications company executive. He advises
clients on complex regulatory issues and has devel-
oped policies and influenced laws and regulations
impacting the industry.
Frappier advises communications entities
regarding legal and regulatory matters, including
compliance, market entry, licensing, and regula-
tory fees, with a particular focus on universal service
matters, including contribution, and the Lifeline,
E-rate, and High Cost/CAF programs.
During their appearance at the conference the
two will discuss one of the most consequential of the
new FCC E-rate Order’s changes to the program – its
equalization of funding treatment for dark versus lit
fiber and its greater acceptance of “self-construction”
as a way to push out high-speed broadband
(especially in rural areas).
The panel will bring together school and library
experts and network/service providers to lend
perspectives on the pros and cons of the “build vs.
buy” decision and provide tips on navigating the
process under the new regulatory framework.
Other panelists include Bob Collie of Education
Networks of America, Sheryl Abshire of Calcasieu
Parish (LA) Public Schools and Duke Horan of Henkels
& McCoy. o
Law Partners to Appear on SHLB Panel
Contact us at 307.685.5557 or visit
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Mammoth Networks: Your off-net provider.
The panel will bring
together school and
library experts and
network/service providers
to lend perspectives
on the pros and cons
of the “build vs. buy”
decision.