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2023 NECTA Convention Agenda
Access. Opportunity. Engagement.
Sunday, November 12, 2023
6:00PM-8:00PM Registration Opens
(Ballroom Foyer on the third floor)
6:00PM-8:00PM Cocktail Reception (heavy hors d’oeuvres)
(Ballroom Foyer on the third floor)
Sponsored By Seven Letter
7:00PM-8:00PM The Changing Nature of Sports Entertainment in New England & Beyond
(Ballroom Salon 1 on the third floor)
Sponsored By NESN
From online sports gaming to the rise and fall of dynasties, to streaming as a prominent way consumers view sports, New England has a front row seat to the rapidly evolving sports landscape.
Moderator: Travis Thomas, Sports Media Host and Betting Analyst, NESN
Panelists:
Michael McCann, Professor & Director of the Sports & Entertainment Law Institute, UNH School of Law
Matt McCarthy, On-Air at 98.5 The Sports Hub
Meghan Ottolini, Co-Host, Jones & Mego, WEEI Sports Radio Network
Molly Tissenbaum, Director of Data & Insights, Sports Innovation Lab
Shukri Wrights, FOX Sports The Gambler Philadelphia Contributor, Bleav Network Host, Broadcaster & Commentator on ESPN+
8:15PM Sunday Night Football Featuring the New York Jets at the Las Vegas Raiders
(Skiff Bar on the second floor)
Sponsored By Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Monday, November 13, 2023
7:45AM Registration Opens
(Ballroom Foyer on the third floor)
7:45AM-9:00AM Breakfast
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Sponsored By Davis Wright Tremaine
8:00AM-8:45AM Public Release & Analysis of the NECTA Annual Innovation Index Polling Results
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Each year Seven Letter, a Boston and Washington, DC based public relations and public opinion research firm, conducts a 2000-person survey across the five NECTA states, soliciting consumer feedback on entertainment preferences, sports viewership, technology uses, and public policy. This public opinion data is the basis for the Annual Innovation Index, an important tool NECTA and its members utilize to assess shifting consumer needs, priorities, and habits.
Moderator: Matt George, Partner, Seven Letter Insight (confirmed)
Panelists:
Anna Lucey, EVP Legislative & External Affairs, NECTA
Drew O’Brien, Partner, Seven Letter (confirmed)
Tim Wilkerson, President, NECTA
8:45AM-9:00AM Opening Remarks
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Tim Wilkerson, President, NECTA
Hon. Dominick J. Ruggerio, President of the Rhode Island Senate
9:00 AM-9:55AM How Would You Spend $826 Million in Federal Funding to Achieve Internet for All?
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Examining best practices from state broadband officials, elected officials, municipal leaders, and industry experts on how best to utilize the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) federal funding program through public-private partnerships.
Part 1. Challenges and Opportunities to Bringing Ubiquitous Broadband Across New England and the United States
Jim Doyle, President, Business Forward Foundation
Part 2. Roundtable Discussion: Looking Beneath the Hood, A Conversation About Best Practices Across States and Municipalities in Leveraging Private Dollars to Expand Broadband Access and Adoption
Moderators:
Lindsay DeRoche, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Cox Communications
Alicia Matthews, Vice President of Government Affairs & Strategic Initiatives, Comcast
Jennifer Young, State Director Government Affairs, Charter Communications
Panelists:
Peter Favorito, Senior Digital Equity Manager, City of Boston
Hon. Alex Finkleman, State Representative, Rhode Island
Brian Patrick Kennedy, Speaker Pro Tempore, Rhode Island House of Representatives; President, NCSL
Peter Larkin, Chair, Massachusetts Broadband Institute & Special Advisor, Executive Office of Economic Development, Massachusetts
Ashley Stolba, Undersecretary of Economic Foundations, Massachusetts
Hunter Thompson, Director of Telecommunications & Connectivity, Vermont Public Service Department
10:00-10:10AM Welcome Remarks
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Hon. K. Joseph Shekarchi, Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
10:10AM-10:55AM Connecting America: How Nonprofits and Government are Working Together to Establish Digital Equity Programs that Provide Adoption, Computing Devices, and Digital Skills Training to Close the Digital Divide
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Sponsored By Comcast
Moderator: Hannah Donnelly, Producer & Correspondent, NBC10 Boston
Panelists:
Milton Irving, Executive Director/President, Timothy Smith Network
Jody Jones, Senior Program Director, Massachusetts Broadband Institute
Hon. Maria Rivera, Mayor of Central Falls, RI
Frank Robinson, Vice President, Public Health, Baystate Health
Tesha Tramontano-Kelly, Executive Director CfAL For Digital Inclusion
10:55AM-11:05AM Coffee Break
(Ballroom Foyer on the third floor)
Sponsored By Womble Bond Dickinson
11:05AM-11:55AM Federal Policy Crystal Ball: Predictions from the Halls of Congress, the Federal Benches, the Oval Office, and Regulatory Agencies
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Sponsored By Rasky Partners
Examining Federal Activity and its Impacts on Telecommunication Policy and the Larger Tech Ecosystem, Including Net Neutrality, Privacy, First Amendment and the Social Media Platforms, and the Reauthorization of the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Moderator: Anna Lucey, EVP Legislative & External Affairs, NECTA
Panelists:
James Assey, Executive Vice President, NCTA—The Internet & Television Association
Daniel Lyons, Professor & Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Boston College Law School
Kristian Stout, Director of Innovation Policy, International Center for Law & Economics
12:00PM-12:55PM Lunch & Keynote Fireside Chat
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Sponsored By Comcast
12:10-12:55PM Keynote Fireside Chat with Jonathan Martin Featuring Alison King (confirmed)
How traditional cable news and social media platforms are influencing the political news cycle and what it means for the 2024 election cycle, domestic and foreign policy, and America’s global leadership.
1:00PM-1:55PM Advocacy Best Practices from Legislative Leadership
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Sponsored By Rasky Partners
Real life Schoolhouse Rock! from legislative experts.
Moderator: Bill Fischer, President, True North Communications
Panelists:
Hon. Matthew Ritter, Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives
Hon. Marvin Abney, Chair, House Finance Committee, Rhode Island
Hon. Vincent Candelora, House Minority Leader, Connecticut
Hon. Hanna Gallo, Senate President Pro Tempore, Rhode Island
Hon. Michael Moran, Majority Leader, Massachusetts House of Representatives
Hon. Ryan Pearson, Majority Leader, Rhode Island Senate
Hon. Alice Peisch, Assistant Majority Leader, Massachusetts House of Representatives
CONCURRENT PANELS 2:00PM-2:55PM Connecticut Policy Roundtable
(Weatherly Room on the third floor)
Moderators:
Robert Earley, Vice President of State Government Affairs, Comcast
Lindsay DeRoche, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Cox Communications
Steve Iannazzi, Director Of Government Affairs, Cox
Panelists:
Hon. Matthew Ritter, Speaker of the House, Connecticut
Richard Baltimore, Chief Legal Counsel, Connecticut House Democrats
Hon. Vincent Candelora, House Republican Leader, Connecticut
Bryan Cafferelli, Commissioner, Department of Consumer Protection
Hon. Holly Cheeseman, Ranking Member of Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee, Connecticut
Hon. Paul Cicarella, State Senator, Connecticut
Hon. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, State Representative, Connecticut
Hon. Stephen Meskers, State Representative, Connecticut
Scott Muska, General Counsel, Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
Franklin Perry II, House Democrats Chief of Staff
Hon. David Rutigliano, State Representative, Connecticut
John Vamos, House Republicans Director of Research
Chris Zavagnin, Research & Policy Analyst, Senate Republican Office
CONCURRENT PANELS 2:00PM-2:55PM Massachusetts Policy Roundtable
(Ballroom Salon 2 on the third floor)
Moderators:
Kristin Christopher, Vice President, State Government Affairs, Comcast
Maureen Glynn, Partner, Issues Management Group
John Maher, Director, State Government Affairs, Charter Communications
Panelists:
Hon. Michael Moran, House Majority Leader, Massachusetts
Hon. Alice Peisch, Assistant Majority Leader, Massachusetts House of Representatives
Hon. Bruce Ayers, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Christine Barber, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Natalie Blais, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Dan Cahill, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Mark Cusack, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Mike Day, State Representative, Massachusetts
Layla D’Emilia, Undersecretary, Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation
Hon. Kipp Diggs, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Bill Driscoll, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Carole Fiola, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Jessica Giannino, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Rich Haggerty, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Dan Hunt, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Meghan Kilcoyne, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Michael Kushmerek, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Kathy LaNatra, State Representative, Massachusetts
Peter Larkin, Special Advisor to Executive Office of Economic Development & Chair of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute Board of Directors
Hon. John Lawn, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Jack Patrick Lewis, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. David Muradian, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. James Murphy, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Patrick O’Connor, State Senator, Massachusetts
Hon. Edward Philips, State Representative, Massachusetts
Hon. Jeffrey Roy, State Representative, Massachusetts
Ashley Stolba, Undersecretary of Economic Foundations, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development
Hon. Bud Williams, State Representative, Massachusetts
2:55PM-3:10PM Coffee Break
(Ballroom Foyer on the third floor)
Sponsored By Womble Bond Dickinson
3:10PM-4:00PM Keynote Presentation: Outpacing Consumer Demand — How Innovation and Investments are Driving Network Evolution to Support 10G Broadband and How This World Class Technology is Delivering the Future Now
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Sponsored By Cox
Keynote speaker: Curtis Knittle, Vice President of Wired Technologies, CableLabs (confirmed)
By conveying complex technologies in plain terms, myth busting technology comparisons, and showcasing behind-the-curtain technology upgrades, Dr. Knittle will illustrate how uncompromised network reliability, safe and secure connected future, 10x faster internet speeds and low latency enable the future of technology.
4:05PM-5:00PM Innovation Partners Panel: Showcasing Emerging Technologies & Industries Powered by Cutting Edge Broadband Networks
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Showcasing companies using 10G Networks to drive emerging technology sectors, products & services throughout New England, across the nation and around the globe.
Moderator: Rikin Thakker, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer & Senior Vice President, NCTA—The Internet & Television Association
Panelists:
Adam Delmolino, Senior Director, Virtual Care & Clinical Affairs, Massachusetts Hospital Association
Kenny Elcock, Vice President Technology, NESN
Peter Haas, Director of Robotics at the Innovation Institute, MassTech Collaborative
Matt Lenz, Senior Director, State Advocacy, BSA, The Software Alliance
Hakan Satiroglu, Vice President, Glimpse Group/XR Terra
5:00PM-6:00PM Cocktail Reception
(Hotel Atrium, second floor)
Entertainment provided by Disinterested Gentleman featuring John Dillon
6:00PM-8:00PM Dinner
(Hotel Atrium, second floor)
Sponsored By Willkie Farr & Gallagher
8:15PM Monday Night Football featuring the Denver Broncos at the Buffalo Bills
(Skiff Bar on the second floor)
Sponsored By NESN
Tuesday (11/14/2023)
8:00AM-9:30AM Breakfast
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Sponsored By Davis Wright Tremaine
8:45AM-10:00AM Tying it all Together
(Ballroom Salons 3 & 4 on the third floor)
Reflections on the NECTA Convention and how, by working collaboratively, government, nonprofits, and the private sector can improve public and private sector outcomes for access, opportunity, and engagement.
Moderators:
David Bogan, Partner Day Pitney LLP
Maureen Glynn, Partner, Issues Management Group
Dylan Zwicky, Partner, Vice President Government Affairs, Leonine Public Affairs
Panelists:
Layla D’Emilia, Undersecretary, Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation
Louis DiPalma, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance, Rhode Island
Peter Larkin, Chair, Massachusetts Broadband Institute & Special Advisor, Executive Office of Economic Development, Massachusetts
Hon. Aaron Michlewitz, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means, Massachusetts
Elizabeth Murray, Vice President Government & Regulatory Affairs, Comcast
Ross Nelson, Market Vice President New England, Cox Communications
Hon. Richard Westman, State Senator, Vermont
Tim Wilkerson, President, NECTA
10:00AM Closing Remarks
Tim Wilkerson, President, NECTA