Thursday, November 15, 6:00 – 8:15 p.m.
High Cost and Low-Income USF Reform One Year Later:  A Progress Report

The FCBA Wireline Committee will hold a CLE on Thursday, November 15, 2012 from 6:00 – 8:15 p.m. on High Cost and Low-Income USF Reform One Year Later:  A Progress Report.  This program will be held at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 800.

Over the past year, the FCC adopted sweeping reforms to modernize the High Cost and Low Income components of the universal service fund and to improve the efficiency of the fund’s administration.  This CLE will present a progress report on the USF reforms as the one-year anniversary of the reforms approach.  Program participants will discuss their experiences with the Connect America Fund, the Mobility Fund and the reformed Lifeline Program.  Government and administrative officials will discuss the status of efforts to improve the Fund’s efficiency and effectiveness.

Registrations and cancellations due by 12:00 Noon, Monday, October 22, 2012.

AGENDA

6:00 – 6:05 p.m.         Welcome and Introductions

6:05 – 7:05 p.m.         Re-Targeting the Beneficiary Programs: Is it Working?
Program participants will discuss their experience with the modernized funds.  Participants will discuss revisions to the Connect America Fund (CAF), including the election to receive additional CAF support under the public interest conditions established by the FCC and the status of the CAF Phase II process.  Participants also will discuss the Mobility Fund Phase I auctions and preparations for the Mobility Fund Phase II program.  Finally, participants will discuss the impact of the reforms to the Lifeline program.

Moderator:
Jennifer Ullman, FCBA Wireline Committee Co-Chair and Senior Telecom Industry Analyst, Universal Service Administrative Company

Speakers:
Jeff Lanning, Assistant Vice President, Federal Regulatory Affairs, CenturyLink
David LaFuria, Partner, Lukas, Nace, Gutierrez & Sachs, LLP
Danielle Frappiere, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

7:05 – 7:15 p.m.         Break

7:15 – 8:15 p.m.         Promoting Efficiency in Administration
This section will feature government and administrative officials who oversee the Universal Service Fund.  Representatives from the FCC and USAC will discuss reforms intended to improve the efficiency of the programs and to detect and reduce waste, fraud and abuse in the program.  This session will discuss efforts to identify duplicate households in the Low Income program and to implement a national database of eligible participants.  This session also will discuss the status of USAC audit and oversight programs including the BCAP and PQA processes.

Moderator:
Steve Augustino, FCBA Wireline Committee, Co-Chair and Partner, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Speakers:
TBD