Colorado Law Hosts Conference on Cable Industry and Regulation

Note to Editors: Members of the press are welcome to attend without charge. To arrange, call Travis Litman at (303) 738-5633 or email Litman at sftp@colorado.edu.

Exploring how federal legislation over the last 20 years has shaped the cable industry in the United States will be the focus of an upcoming conference at Colorado Law.

Titled "The Cable Acts In Perspective: A Twenty Year Retrospective," the Sept. 29 conference features keynote speaker Tim Wirth, a former Colorado congressman and senator who chaired the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications during the writing and passage of the landmark Cable Act of 1984. Wirth is now president of the United Nations Foundation and Better World Fund in Washington, D.C.

"The Cable Act of 1984 reflected an important piece of public policy that provided the template for the cable industry's subsequent growth and reflected the collective efforts of a number of remarkable individuals -- many of whom are participating in this conference," said Wirth.

The four-hour conference begins at 2:30 p.m. in the law school's Lindsley Memorial Courtroom. A reception in the Fleming Law building immediately follows the proceedings.

The law school's Silicon Flatirons Telecommunications Program, established almost five years ago to examine cutting-edge issues involving telecommunications technology, business and policy, is sponsoring the conference.

"The cable industry grew up over the last 20 years under the watchful eyes of Congress, local municipalities and the FCC," explained Phil Weiser, Silicon Flatirons' executive director. "In this conference, we will bring together leaders from all of these areas, as well as from the industry itself, to reflect on the development of the current legislative framework."

Three panel discussions will follow former senator Wirth's talk. The panelists come from a variety of different backgrounds in government and industry including Tom Rogers, former counsel, House Subcommittee on Telecommunications; David Aylward, former chief counsel and staff director, House Subcommittee on Telecommunications; Joe Waz, vice president for External Affairs and Public Policy, Comcast Corp.; Robert Sachs, president and CEO for the National Cable and Telecommunications Association; Cablelabs CEO Dick Green; Marsha McBride, executive vice president for the National Association of Broadcasters, and Ken Fellman, mayor of Arvada.

Because seating is limited, attendees should register in advance at www.silicon-flatirons.org. A registration fee is required, however, Silicon Flatirons program supporters, CU students, faculty and staff will be admitted free of charge.

For more information, contact Travis Litman at (303) 735-5633 or send email to travis.litman@colorado.edu.

Contact: Phil Weiser, (303) 735-2733
phil.weiser@colorado.edu
Travis Litman (303) 735-5633
travis.litman@colorado.edu
Dirk Martin, (303) 492-3140