Conference Program & Speakers

Morning

09:15 – 10:45

Session 1: Keynote Policy Session

Luis Lucatero, Independent Spectrum Expert

09:15 – 09:45

Presentation

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, FCC

09:45 – 10:15

Presentation

Oscar Leon, Executive Secretary , CITEL

10:15 – 10:45

Presentation

Martin Proulx, Senior Director, Spectrum and Information Technologies and Telecommunications , Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

10:45 – 11:10

Morning Refreshment Break

11:10 – 15:40

Session 2: After the dust has settled

We are currently in the middle of a period in which two hugely important events for the planning management of spectrum both regionally and globally are taking place - WRC-15; and the incentive auctions in the US. Both of these have been subject to a huge amount of discussion and debate in the build-up, but it is now time to look forward. This afternoon's sessions will do exactly this, and focus on the outcomes (or expected outcomes in the case of the incentive auctions) and what this might mean for spectrum users and the future of spectrum management in the region.

11:10 – 13:05

Session 2i: WRC reflections & decisions

This session will look at the key outcomes from WRC-15, and at what the decisions that have been made will mean for spectrum stakeholders in the region. Focus will be given on agenda item 1.1 and the other key Als for spectrum stakeholders, and also at looking forward to WRC-19 and what the key issues will be there.

11:10 – 11:45

Fireside Chat: WRC reflections and decisions

Two of the key figures in the negotiations at WRC-15 will discuss between themselves what the outcomes of WRC-15 mean for the Americas region and for the future of the wireless industries globally.
Carmelo Rivera, Vice-Chair WG WRC-15, Chair WG WRC-19, CITEL
Mario Maniewicz, Deputy Director - Radio Communication Bureau, ITU
Diana Tomimura, Project Manager, Ministry of Communications (Brazil)

11:45 – 13:05

Quickfire Panel Discussion: Stakeholder perspectives - What doest he outcome of WRC-15 mean for you?

Carmelo Rivera, Vice-Chair WG WRC-15, Chair WG WRC-19, CITEL
Audrey Allison, Senior Director - Frequency Management Services, Boeing
Winston Caldwell, Vice President, Spectrum Engineering, Fox Networks
Mindel De La Torre, Chief - International Bureau, FCC
Chris Pearson, President, 4G Americas
Gonzalo de Dios, Global Spectrum Regulatory Policy , ESOA

Afternoon

13:05 – 14:15

Lunch Break

14:15 – 15:40

Session 2ii: What Next? Plotting the lay of the 'post-incentive auction' landscape

This session will look beyond the upcoming incentive auctions and to what the post-auction landscape may mean for stakeholders, and the co-ordination of borders with Mexico and Canada. Moving forward, it will look more generally at the incentive auction model, and the extent to which this may be something that will be repeated in the future either in other bands in the US (for example, in the educational broadband service spectrum, which has been suggested by some), or in other countries.
• What will the newly defined spectrum landscape mean for broadcasters, mobile and other stakeholders (including for services using TV Whitespaces)?
• Following the deals that have been made between the US and Canada & Mexico respectively, what are the next steps for Industry Canada and IFT as they look to repackage TV stations and release the spectrum for mobile?
• Is the incentive auction model something that it is likely to see repeated in the future (either within the US or elsewhere)?
• If so then in which bands is it most likely?

14:15 – 14:30

Standalone Presentation: What next for incentive auctions – bands and options beyond 600Mhz

Gary Epstein, Head of Incentive Auction Task Force, FCC

14:30 – 15:40

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Johanne Lemay, Co-President, LYA

Joan Marsh, Vice President Federal Regulatory, AT&T
Patrick McFadden, Vice President - Spectrum Policy, NAB
Brett Tarnutzer, Head of Spectrum, GSMA
Charles E. Walters ASA, President, Walters & Associates Inc.

15:40 – 16:00

Afternoon Refreshment Break

16:00 – 17:30

Session 3: Breakout Sessions

Delegates will have the opportunity to attend one of the two following breakout sessions:

Breakout 1: Delivering secure, reliable and efficient public safety spectrum
Breakout 2: Recent Spectrum Auctions & Awards: Outcomes, lessons learnt and looking forward
Please note that this breakout session is now full. We will do everything we can to accommodate you on the event day. Should you require any further information, please contact Laura Carter at laura.carter@forum-europe.com

16:00 – 17:30

Breakout 1: Delivering secure, reliable and efficient public safety spectrum

The First Responder Network (FirstNet) Authority is aiming to use an innovative new Public-Private Partnership model and offering access 20Mz of prime spectrum in the 700Mz band to help raise the funding to create the first ever nationwide broadband network dedicated to public safety. Alongside this, Canada are also looking to develop a public safety broadband network, and indicated in its 2015 budget that an additional 10 MHz of broadband spectrum would be allocated to this along with additional funding in 2016 – 2017. This session will look at the models proposed in both countries, as well as the approaches seen elsewhere across the region, and discuss the best way forward in delivering reliable and efficient public safety spectrum.
• What is the current status with regards to the development of the FirstNet network, what obstacles remain to be overcome, and what are the likely timeframes as we move towards its launch?
• How does the development of FirstNet affect public safety spectrum users currently operating in the T-Band and 4-9Ghz band, and what is the future of these bands?

• What are the advantages of partnering with FirstNet to mobile operators, and how does it compare to acquiring spectrum in more traditional ways (for example through auctions)?
• What is the latest developments in Mexico, and what will the ‘wholesale’ approach adopted there mean for public safety spectrum users?
• What work is currently being done in Canada, and what co-ordination is being put to enhance interoperability between public safety agencies operating in the two countries?
• What other approaches are being seen in different countries in order to deliver reliable public safety networks and enhance the efficiency of the spectrum that is being used?

Moderator: J. Armand Musey, President and Founder, Summit Ridge Group (confirmed)

16:00 – 16:15 Case Study: FirstNet
TJ Kennedy, President, FirstNet (confirmed)

16:15 – 16:00 Case Study: The Mexican ‘Wholesale’ Approach and Public Safety Spectrum
Luis Lara, Director, Spectrum and Regulatory Affairs, Motorola Solutions (tbc)

16:30 – 17:30 Panel Discussion
Speakers to include:
Steve Berry, President and CEO, CCA (confirmed)
Luis Lucatero, Former Chief, Regulatory Policy, IFT Mexico (confirmed)
Michael McMenanim, President, 3 Birches Lane LLC (confirmed)



Moderator: J. Armand Musey, Co-Founder and Director, Summit Ridge Group

TJ Kennedy, President, FirstNet
Luis Lara, Director, Government Affairs, Spectrum and Regulation LATAM, Motorola Solutions
Luis Lucatero, Independent Spectrum Expert
Steven K. Berry, President & CEO, CCA
Michael McMenanim, Principal , Winning Strategies Washington DC

16:00 – 17:30

Breakout 2: Recent Spectrum Auctions & Awards: Outcomes, lessons learnt and looking forward

There have been important spectrum auctions and awards taking place over the last 12 months both in both the Americas region and beyond. Canada, for example, has seen a number of awards across different bands, and in the US, the AWS-3 auction was widely seen as being a huge success, raising over $44 billion in revenue (more than double the expected amount). Across the Atlantic, major awards have also been seen in both Germany and the UK amongst others. This session will look in detail at some of these auctions, the strategies used and the outcomes that were generated. Moving forward, it will look at what lessons can possibly be taken and how they may be applied with upcoming auctions expected over the next 12 months.

• What notable awards, trends and outcomes have been seen globally over the last 12 months and what may this mean for future auction design and strategy?
• What set-aside and competition measures have been seen in recent auctions and what results have these delivered?
• What can be taken away from the recent awards in Canada, and what lessons can be learnt here?
• What factors contributed to the US AWS-3 Auction becoming the highest-earning spectrum auction the country has ever seen, and how may this affect the way in which spectrum is awarded in the future?
• What awards are planned for the next 12 months

Moderator: Dr David Salant, Co-Founder & Director, Auction Technologies (confirmed)

16:00 – 16:15 Introductory Presentation from the moderator
Dr. David Salant, Co-Founder & Director, Auction Technologies (confirmed)

16:15 – 16:30 Case Study: Recent spectrum auctions and awards in Canada
Heather Hall, Senior Director, Spectrum Licensing and Auction Operations, Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (confirmed)

16:45 – 17:30 Panel Discussion
Johanne Lemay, Co-President, LYA (confirmed)
Glenn Fallas, Director, Directorate General of Quality and Spectrum, SUTEL (confirmed)
Heather Hall, Senior Director, Spectrum Licensing and Auction Operations, Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (confirmed)
John Hunter, Director, Spectrum Policy, Legal Affairs, T-Mobile (confirmed)
Stein Gudbjørgsrud, Director, Spectrum Strategy, Telenor Group (confirmed)

David Salant, Co-Founder & Director, Auction Technologies

Moderator: Johanne Lemay, Co-President, LYA

Glenn Fallas, Director, Directorate General of Quality and Spectrum, SUTEL
Heather Hall, Senior Director, Spectrum Licensing and Auction Operations , Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
John Hunter, Director of Spectrum Policy, Legal Affairs, T-Mobile
Stein Gudbjorgsrud, Director Spectrum Strategy , Telenor Group

Morning

09:00 – 11:15

Session 4: Achieving the global vision for 5G – meeting the spectrum requirements

A major part of the discussions at WRC-15 was to set some of the key topics for discussion for WRC-19, and in particular bands to be considered for 5G technologies. The outcomes have seen a focus on the ‘millimeter’ bands (above 24 Ghz), with 11 bands in that range identified for consideration. On a more localized level, focus also seems to be on the millimeter bands, with FCC recently releasing an NPRM that proposes a framework for flexible spectrum use rules for bands above 24 GHz, including for mobile broadband use. This session will look at what this means for the future shape of a 5G ecosystem, at the extent to which these millimeter bands can meet the spectrum requirements and where (if anywhere) lower frequency bands may also be necessary.
• Where can the spectrum be found to meet the demand for 5G, both in terms of providing the additional capacity and also achieving ubiquitous coverage?
• To what extent can spectrum in the millimeter-wave frequency bands (above 24Ghz) be used to provide a solution, and how can line-of-sight limitations be overcome? What frequency bands in this area would be most suitable?
• To what extent is spectrum in lower frequency bands (which is better suited to delivering the wide area coverage) also necessary and which bands could be considered for this?
• What does the decision at WRC-15 to focus on the millimeter bands mean for the future use of spectrum in the 6Hhz – 20Ghz range for 5G?
• What work now needs to be done prior to WRC-19 to ensure that the correct decisions are made on spectrum assignment for 5G, and to ensure a smooth deployment in 2020?
• Which bands are likely to see 5G deployment first, and to what extent can requirements be met by operators refarming existing spectrum rather than seeking new bands?

09:00 – 09:10

Introductory Presentation from Moderator

Moderator: Roger Sherman, Chief - Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC

09:10 – 09:25

Keynote Presentation: Delivering the spectrum to fuel the 5G revolution

Mario Maniewicz, Deputy Director - Radio Communication Bureau, ITU

09:25 – 09:40

Presentation: The Mobile Perspective on 5G

Wladimir Bocquet, Head of Policy Planning - Regulatory and Government Affairs, GSMA

09:40 – 09:55

Presentation: The Satellite Perspective on 5G

Donna Bethea-Murphy, Global Spectrum Regulatory Policy , ESOA

09:55 – 11:15

Interactive Panel Discussion

Moderator: Roger Sherman, Chief - Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC

Charla Rath, Vice President - Wireless Policy Development, Verizon
Chih-Lin I, Chief Scientist of Wireless Technologies,, China Mobile Research Institute
Gerry Oberst, Senior Vice President - Global Regulatory & Governmental Strategy, SES
Thibault Kleiner, Head of Unit, Network Technologies,, European Commission

11:15 – 11:30

Morning Refreshment Break

11:30 – 12:55

Session 5: Liberating federal spectrum: Should Governmental & Federal Agencies be given more rights on how to assign their spectrum in order to increase its efficiency?

Following the recent success of the US AWS-3 auctions, there has been a growing interest from US politicians in liberating federal spectrum for wireless use and at ensuring that federal agencies have the right incentives to either use their spectrum efficiently or release it. As part of this, the 2015 budget deal agreed by Congress included ‘The Spectrum Pipeline Act’, which calls for 30Mhz worth of federal below 3Ghz to be reassigned for wireless use via competitive bidding. Focusing on this and other acts (such as the ‘Federal Spectrum Incentive Act’ of 2015) This session will look at the growing work that is being done in the area and the potential benefits that liberating federal spectrum for wireless uses and creating a spectrum ‘pipeline’ could bring.
• What work is being done to liberate federal spectrum? What different approaches are being seen?
• What are the respective pros and cons of reallocating spectrum licences and sharing spectrum on a unlicensed basis? In which situations should each different approach be used?
• How will the reallocation process mandated by the Spectrum Pipeline Act be handled, and in which bands can the 30Mhz of spectrum be found?
• To what extent should Governments entities be offered incentives to turn in their spectrum or allow shared use, and what power should they have over the rights to decide how this is done?
• Can this process of offering Government users more control over the allocation rights of their spectrum be a useful tool in increasing its efficiency?

11:30 – 11:45

Presentation: Federal and Non-Federal Spectrum Sharing – A Balanced Approach for Increasing Spectrum Access

Paige Atkins, Associate Administrator - Office of Spectrum Management, NTIA

11:45 – 12:55

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Brent Skorup, Research Fellow, Mercatus Center, George Mason University

Dorothy Robyn, Former Commissioner, Public Buildings Services
Paige Atkins, Associate Administrator - Office of Spectrum Management, NTIA
Brian Carney, Senior Vice President, Rivada Networks
Carl Povelites, Assistant Vice President Public Policy, AT&T

Afternoon

12:55 – 13:55

Lunch Break

13:55 – 15:05

Session 6: What role for spectrum sharing in delivering an efficient future spectrum landscape?

With the emergence of companies such as Uber and AirBnB, the notion of the ‘sharing economy’ is something that is receiving a huge amount of interest in general society, whilst also causing regulators a number of headaches as they look to develop a policy framework to accommodate these new models. This session will look at the extent to which this situation is being mirrored in the spectrum arena, where sharing is seen by many as an ideal method of increasing bandwidth efficiency, but where there is also a need to have the correct regulatory framework in place to both encourage innovation and also protect existing users. Ultimately, it will look to answer the question of where the balance lies between shared and exclusive spectrum, and what needs to be done to ensure that the benefits of spectrum sharing are maximized for all.
• What is the future of spectrum sharing and what potential does this realistically have as a tool to open up access to more spectrum and support innovation?
• Where does the balance lie between shared and exclusive spectrum?
• What are the respective advantages of sharing on a licensed, license exempt and dynamic spectrum access basis, and what challenges does each approach provide?
• In a shared model, what is the best approach to introduce new technologies into bands occupied by existing users?
• Are current rules on sharing protocols sufficient and fair for all, and what needs to be done to create a regulatory environment that maximizes innovation and efficiency but also protects users of all kinds?
• What work is being done to increase the efficiency of federal spectrum through sharing and what is the best approach to avoid spectrum wastage in this area?


Moderator: Elena Scaramuzzi, Head, Latin America Telecoms and Media, Cullen International

Patrick Welsh, Assistant Vice President, Wireless Policy Development, Verizon
Suzanne Malloy, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, O3b Networks
H Nwana, Executive Director, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance
Kurt Schaubach, CTO, Federated Wireless

15:05 – 15:25

Afternoon Refreshment Break

15:25 – 16:35

Session 7: Spectrum Management 2015 – 2025: Enabling the ‘Brave new World’ of Wireless Technologies

With more and more innovative new products, services and ‘game changer’ technologies such as IoT and 5G starting to enter the market, the way in which spectrum is managed, allocated and used is also evolving in order to keep pace. This highly interactive session will offer speakers, panelists and the wider audience (via the use of voting pads and opportunities to contribute from the floor) to look forward over the next 10 years at how spectrum management is likely to change and at the key challenges and opportunities ahead.

Participants will be asked to address 4 key questions (25 minutes for each):

• How ‘future-proof’ are current processes of managing and allocating spectrum, and how are these likely to change over the next 10 years?
• What new technologies are likely to emerge over the next decade, and how will things like 5G, Cognitive Radios and the IoT change the way in which spectrum is managed and ‘traditional’ business models?
• As the way in which spectrum is managed and regulated continues to evolve, how can it be ensured that measures are in place to promote new entry and competition, and that these are fair to both new entrants and existing users?
• What needs to be done by policymakers and other stakeholders to create a regulatory environment that encourages spectrum users everywhere to continue to innovate and embrace the ‘brave new world’?


Moderator: Richard Marsden, Senior Vice President, NERA Economic Consulting


Moderator: Amit Nagpal, Partner, Aetha Consulting

Julius Knapp, Chief - Office of Engineering and Technology, FCC
Jonathan Spalter, President, Mobile Future
Dean Brenner, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Qualcomm