Mark your Calendars! WATOA will be holding its Spring Workshop in Yakima, Tuesday, June 17

High speed internet service is as critical to the success of communities today as are basic utilities including water, sewer and power. Regrettably, a wide spectrum of Washington State residents still cannot obtain the benefits of broadband technology. Two sessions at this workshop will focus on efforts being made by State and local government to enhance wired and wireless broadband access. You will hear from experts about the issues, challenges and political environment surrounding this critically important topic. Another session will be devoted to the digital transition of cable providers and how that transition will likely effect PEG access providers. Presenters will include Tom Robinson, Executive Vice President of CBG Communications which is conducting the Washington State Broadband Technologies Survey; Wil Saunders, Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission Assistant Director for Telecommunications; Frank Antonovich, Charter Communications Northwest Vice President; Carl Nelson, Chief Information Officer for the City of Edmonds; Tony Perez, Director of the City of Seattle’s Office of Cable Communications; and others.

The man honored by NATOA as it's first "Community Broadband Visionary of the Year," will be the keynote speaker at the WATOA Spring Workshop in Yakima, June 17th. The 2007 NATOA award credited Jim Baller for "almost single-handedly putting the issue of the need for a national broadband strategy to the forefront of public consciousness." The luncheon address will give attendees the global picture of the lead issue being discussed at the workshop. Other speakers during the day will focus on the broadband strategy on a statewide basis and locally in Washington cities and counties. Jim Baller is a Senior Principal of the Baller Herbst Law Group, a national law firm based in Washington, DC, and Minneapolis.

Download the Conference Flyer for more information, or contact WATOA President Bill Oltman, at boltman@co.pierce.wa.us.

NATOA Annual Conference, September 16-21, Atlanta, Georgia

For more information, see the conference website.