Consensus FCC Reforms and the Communications Agenda for the Next Administration

Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 8:30 a.m. - National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC

Despite controversies swirling over issues such as Network Neutrality, media ownership and universal service, some policy observers believe that a range of reforms may attract bi-partisan consensus. These opportunities may be more likely to be realized if identified prior to the November 2008 election. This conference of the Information Economy Project at George Mason University brings together two former chairmen of the Federal Communications Commission - William Kennard, who served under President Clinton, and Michael Powell, who served under President George W. Bush - with top former officials familiar with the agency's agenda, structure, and day-by-day operations to discuss just such possibilities for reform.

Conference Agenda:

8:30 AM - Welcome: Thomas W. Hazlett, Professor of Law and Economics, GMU

8:40 AM - Panel I: Improving Procedures at the Federal Communications Commission
Peter Pitsch, chief of staff to Dennis Patrick, FCC Chairman, 1987-1989
Robert Pepper, former chief, Office of Plans and Policy, FCC, 1989-2005
Ken Robinson, senior legal advisor to Al Sikes, FCC Chairman, 1989-1993
Blair Levin, chief of staff to Reed Hundt, FCC Chairman, 1993-1997
Kathy Brown, chief of staff to William Kennard, FCC Chairman, 1998-2001
Moderator: Drew Clark, Assistant Director, Information Economy Project

9:45 AM - Panel II: A Cross-Partisan Agenda for Telecommunications Policy Reforms
William Kennard, Chairman, FCC, 1997-2001
Michael Powell, Chairman, FCC, 2001-2005
Moderator: Amy Schatz, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal