Federal Communications Bar Association

Catholic University, Columbus School of Law’s 2010 Spring Symposium. "Implementing the National Broadband Plan: Perspectives from Government, Industry, and Consumers." Sponsored by: The Institute for Communications Law Studies and CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law & Policy at the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in association with the FCBA. The symposium will focus on reactions to the plan from various industries and stakeholders in the communications field, its international impact and context, regulation of content on wireless devices, and the numerous government agencies with critical roles in implementing the plan. The symposium will also feature a debate on the FCC's “Preserving the Open Internet” NPRM. The all-day symposium is free for government/academics/students, and costs $75 for private sector members. Application for Virginia CLE credits pending. For more information, including the panel topics, click here.

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All current federal government employees in communications-related positions (not limited to attorneys or FCBA members) are eligible nominees. The committee will consider an individual's dedication to excellence and long-term commitment to federal government public service in selecting the individual to be honored. In addition, the committee will view favorably nominees who have mentored more junior government employees. Nominations (1,000 words or less) should include the following information: 1) Full name, title, work address and contact information of the nominee; 2) Summary of nominee's outstanding service and/or achievements; 3) A narrative explanation of the nominee's service including the following information: how the nominee's dedication to excellence and public service is outstanding, significant and "above and beyond the call of duty”; the length of the government service; and any other relevant information, such as a history of mentoring, that would assist the award committee in evaluating the nomination. Please submit written nominations by email to kerry@fcba.org. Nominations are due no later than March 15, 2010.

To promote the goal of broad attendance and boost participation from public sector employees and academics, the FCBA is again offering Annual Seminar scholarships. Last year, the scholarship program was fully subscribed. An increase in attendance by the public sector and academics provides a unique networking opportunity and benefits all Annual Seminar attendees. The scholarship covers the registration fee (approximately $200), which includes meals, entertainment, and attendance at the seminar. Scholarship recipients will be responsible for the other costs of attending the Seminar, including travel and lodging expenses. A limited number of scholarships will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. We urge applicants to apply early. Information and Application Instructions: (1) Scholarships are available to all federal government employees and full-time professors. (2) To apply, please fax or email a completed registration form along with a copy of your ID card from your federal government agency or academic institution. (3) Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. The cut-off date for applications is Wednesday, March 31, 2010. (4) Scholarships may be applied only toward the registration fee for the 2009 FCBA Annual Seminar. (Individuals receiving scholarships are responsible for the other costs of attending a seminar, including travel and lodging expenses).
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The 2010 Membership Directories are now available for purchase. Cost: Members $60.00; Law Student Members $35.00; Non-Members $115.00. There is a 10% discount for orders of 10 or more Directories.
Click here to order a 2010 Membership Directory

We now have event registration, membership renewals and the FCBA membership directory available online.
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	Tuesday, February 9, 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Mass Media Committee Brown Bag Lunch. Location: Holland & Knight, 2099 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Topic/Speaker: Focusing the FCC on Future of Media in a Changing Technological Landscape: Meet Steven Waldman. Click here to RSVP
	Wednesday, February 10, 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Transactional Committee Brown Bag Lunch. Location: Hogan & Hartson LLP, 555 13th Street, NW. Topic: Meet the FCC's Transaction Team. Speakers: Jim Bird, Senior Counsel, Office of General Counsel Transaction Team, FCC. RSVP to Marc Knox, mknox@wbklaw.com.
	Monday, February 15, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. State and Local Practice Committee Brown Bag Lunch. Location: Renaissance Hotel, 999 Ninth Street, NW, Washington, DC, Meeting Room 12 and 13. Topic: Meet and greet Iowa Utilities Board Member Krista Tanner, who will discuss the Iowa Utilities Board's recent decision (Qwest v. Superior Telephone Cooperative; Farmers Telephone Company, et. al) addressing "access stimulation" disputes and the intercarrier compensation owed to certain local exchange carriers for traffic involving revenue sharing arrangements (e.g., free calling service companies, chat rooms, podcasts, international calling). Boardmember Tanner will also discuss the interplay between the FCC (Qwest v. Farmers and Merchants, et. al) and Iowa Utilities Board decisions in resolving the disputes with the Iowa local exchange carriers. RSVP to Garnet Hanly, 202-654-5908, garnet.hanly@t-mobile.com. (Space is limited, so please RSVP early).
	Thursday February 16, 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Access to Government and Broadband Committees Brown Bag Lunch. Location: TBD. Topic: Authorities Ken Kuchno, RUS, and John Morabito, NTIA, discuss Round II BTOP and BIP Application Process. Attention all practitioners advising broadband stimulus applicants in Round II of BTOP and BIP: Join Ken Kuchno, Director of the RUS Broadband Division, and John Morabito, Communications Program Specialist, NTIA, to learn more about their agencies’ respective programs and the nuts and bolts of applying in Round II. On February 16, the day the Round II application window will open, each expert will present an overview of the process, to be followed by a Q&A period. Spaces are limited and interest will be high. RSVP now to ensure your spot. Click here to RSVP
	Wednesday, February 17, 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. International Telecommunications and Young Lawyers Committees Brown Bag Lunch. Location: Wiley Rein LLP, 1750 K Street, NW, (10 East Conference Center - please enter through 1750 K Street and take the elevators to the 10th floor). Topic: Developing a Career in International Communications. Speakers: Steven Lett, Deputy U.S. Coordinator, International Communication and Information Policy, U.S. State Department; John Giusti, Chief of Staff and Legal Advisor for Wireless, Public Safety and International, Office of Commissioner Copps, FCC; Janet Hernandez, President, Telecommunications Management Group, Inc.; and Gonzalo de Dios, Director, Regulatory Affairs & Assistant General Counsel, Intelsat Corporation. For more information: Contact Jennifer Hindin, jhindin@wileyrein.com or Micah Caldwell, mcaldwell@fh-law.com. Click here to RSVP
	Monday, February 22, 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Video Programming & Distribution Committee Brown Bag Lunch. Location: Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 200. Topic: Video Distribution – The View from Wall Street. Speakers: Craig Moffett, Senior Analyst, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. and Rebecca Arbogast, Managing Director, Stifel Nicolaus. Description: With the announcement of the Comcast/NBCU merger and the emergence of online video services, 2010 promises to be a year of big developments in the regulation of video programming and distribution. Our panel of experts will discuss how activity at the FCC and on the Hill is viewed by the investment community. Click here to RSVP
	Wednesday, February 24, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Annual Seminar Committee Brown Bag Lunch. Location: Wilkinson Barker Knauer, 2300 N Street, NW, Suite 700. Drinks and dessert will be provided. Purpose: The Committee will work on planning efforts in connection with the Annual Seminar. All members interested in assisting with the Annual Seminar are encouraged to attend. Click here to RSVP
	Thursday, February 25, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Young Lawyers Committee Happy Hour. Location: James Hoban's Irish Restaurant & Bar, 1 Dupont Circle, NW (New Hampshire and Dupont Circle), 202-223-8440. More Info: Join the Young Lawyers Committee at James Hoban's for our monthly happy hour. All are welcome! James Hoban's is easily accessible off the Red Line from the Dupont Circle Metro Station, South Exit. For more information: Contact Cathy Hilke, chilke@wileyrein.com or Micah Caldwell, mcaldwell@fh-law.com.
	Thursday February 25, 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Engineering and Technical Practice Committee Brown Bag Lunch. Location: Sidley Austin LLP, 1501 K Street, NW. Topic: Spectrum Policy and Capital Formation For New Wireless Technologies. All new wireless technologies need capital to move from technical journals to the real marketplace. Do the FCC’s current spectrum policies and processes encourage capital markets to invest in new wireless technologies vis-a-vis other technologies with less regulatory risk, e.g. PCs, semiconductors, test equipment, etc.? How could the national broadband plan productively advance these goals? Join former FCC regulators, venture capital representatives and developers of new technologies for a discussion of how the FCC’s spectrum policy and procedures impact capital formation for innovative, new, wireless technologies. Speakers: Bryan Tramont, Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP; Toni Cook Bush, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Representatives of Investment Community and New Technology Companies (invitations pending). RSVP by Tuesday February 23 to Tami Smith at 202-736-8257 or tesmith@sidley.com.
	Thursday, March 4, 6:00 – 8:15 p.m. Wireline Committee CLE Seminar on Special Access – Historical Perspective and Current Issues. Location: Sidley Austin LLP, 1501 K Street, NW, 6^th Floor. Click here for more information Click here to register online Click here to download registration form
	Monday, March 8, 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Engineering and Technical Practice Committee Brown Bag Lunch.Location: Sidley Austin LLP, 1501 K Street, NW. Topic: Meet the FCC's Technologists: Join us for a discussion on the differing roles of FCC's top technical advisors and how engineering and technical analysis can better fit into FCC decision making. Speakers: Julie Knapp, Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology, FCC; Jon Peha, Chief Technologist, Office of Strategic Planning, FCC; Stagg Newman, Chief Technologist, National Broadband Task Force, FCC. RSVP to Tami Smith, tesmith@sidley.com.
	Thursday, March 11, 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. The 5th Annual ABA/FCBA Privacy & Data Security Symposium for Communications and Media Companies. Presented in association with the ABA Forum on Communications Law. Location: Arnold & Porter LLP, 555 12^th Street, NW. Topic: New Laws, Guidelines, Developments, and Risks in the Age of Obama. Click here for more information Click here to register online Click here to download registration form
	Tuesday, March 16, 6:00 – 8:15 p.m. Mass Media Committee CLE Seminar on Political Broadcasting Rules Update 2010. Location: Wiley Rein LLP, 1776 K Street, NW. Topic: The 2010 mid-term elections are shaping up to have competitive races across the country. The Supreme Court's Citizens United decision will allow corporations to run their own campaign ads. This CLE program will discuss the impact of the Supreme Court's decision, review the FCC's political broadcasting rules, consider new questions that will face stations, and look at how political time buyers view the political broadcast time process. Click here for more information Click here to register online Click here to download registration form
	Thursday, March 18, 12:00 Noon International Telecommunications Committee Luncheon on EU Electronic Communications Regulatory Developments. Location: Hogan & Hartson LLP, Fulbright Center, 13th Floor West, 555 Thirteenth Street, NW. Speakers: Gerry Oberst and Winston Maxwell, Brussels and Paris offices of Hogan & Hartson LLP and Mindel De La Torre, Chief of the FCC’s International Bureau. More information: In their presentations, Gerry and Winston will discuss recent changes affecting spectrum regulation, network neutrality, and data breach notification, as well as the creation of a new European regulatory body. ***Lunch will be provided. RSVPs are required.* Click here to RSVP**
	Wednesday, March 24, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Privacy and Data Security Committee Breakfast. Location: Reed Smith LLP, 1301 K Street, NW, East Tower. Topic: Coffee and Croissants with London Data Privacy Partner, Cynthia O'Donoghue – The European Commission has been active in the past few months and recent regulatory updates could have an impact on your data disclosure practices. Join Cynthia O'Donoghue for a discussion of the new cookie consent proposal, other recently proposed amendments to the EU Directive by the Article 29 Working Group and an update on EU enforcement power. Cynthia will discuss these regulatory 'hot topics' and provide a cheat sheet to guide attorneys through the analysis of when to involve local European counsel. RSVP to Desiree Logan at dlogan@reedsmith.com or 202-414-9318.
	Wednesday, March 31, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Mass Media Committee CLE Seminar on Media Regulation and the First Amendment in the 21st Century. Presented in association with the Freedom Forum and the ABA Forum on Communications Law. Location: Newseum, Freedom Forum, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Click here for more information Click here to register online Click here to download registration form
	4th Sunday of each month McKenna’s Wagon - Groups of 5-6 are needed to assist with McKenna’s Wagon each month on the following dates in 2010: 1/24, 2/28, 3/28, 4/25, 5/23, 6/27, 7/25, 8/22, 9/26, 10/24, 11/28, and 12/26. McKenna’s Wagon is a mobile soup and sandwich wagon that goes “on location” to deliver food to the needy. For those who have volunteered, it has been a wonderful experience and a great way to help the needy in the D.C. community. The Wagon is a white van that is loaded up with sandwiches, snacks and soup. We meet at Martha's Table at 4:45 pm in comfortable clothes and shoes. Martha's Table is located in a yellow building at 2114 Fourteenth Street, NW, in the District, near the intersection of 14th and U Streets. On-street parking is available. Upon arrival we get assignments (some of us will distribute snacks and sandwiches, others will serve soup), and put on aprons before we depart in the van to 5th and New York Ave., NW (near the new Convention Center). We are driven by one of our experienced volunteers and the trip to distribution location takes about 10-15 minutes. We serve about 30-75 people per visit including a few mothers who come for food for their families. The area is well patrolled by police. The food distribution is conducted in an efficient, calm and orderly fashion and many of the people we serve are quite appreciative of our efforts. Once we serve all of the food, we do a clean up of the immediate area. Total time for the distribution takes about one hour and we usually return to Martha's Table by or before 6:30 pm. Please contact Joanna Georgatsos at georgatsos@lojlaw.com or Tom VanWazer at tvanwazer@sidley.com, if you are able to assist in this effort.
	Last Sunday of each month Martha's Table - Volunteers are needed for the following dates in 2010: 1/31, 2/28, 3/28, 4/25, 5/30, 6/27, 7/25, 8/29, 9/26, 10/31, 11/28, and 12/26. Martha's Table feeds hundreds of hungry, homeless adults and children on the streets of Washington daily, through its mobile soup kitchen. Children and friends are also welcome. We will begin at 10:00 am and work until 1:00 pm. Martha's Table is located in a yellow building at 2114 Fourteenth Street, NW, in the District, near the intersection of 14th and U Streets. On-street parking is available. Volunteers are asked to bring food if possible, (e.g., cold cuts, bread, peanut butter, jelly, vegetables and potatoes) because the center often runs out of donated food. The FCBA volunteers on the last Sunday of every month, so mark your calendars now. For more information, contact Howard Weiss at 703-812-0471 -- weiss@fhhlaw.com.