FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 24th, 2009
(contact info below)

Has Divestiture Worked?
A 25th Anniversary Assessment of the Break Up of AT&T.

DATE: FRIDAY, MARCH 6th, 2009 TIME: 6PM-9PM
LOCATION: New York University, Warren Weaver Hall (251 Mercer), Room
109
PRICE: ADMISSION IS FREE. (RSVP requested, rsvp@...)

In 1984, AT&T, then the largest company in the U.S., was broken up
because of the monopoly controls "Ma Bell" had over
telecommunications. Known as "Divestiture", we have reached the 25th
anniversary of the AT&T breakup and it is time to look carefully and
critically at the deregulation of telecommunications to evaluate the
effectiveness of this important
economic policy.

Open Infrastructure Alliance, (OIA) together with the Internet
Society, (ISOC) New York chapter, is convening a series of panels to
dialog on the deregulation of the telecommunications industry. Among
the key issues to be considered are:

. Has divestiture worked? A careful examination of the consequences
of divestiture and deregulation over the last 25 years.

. America is ranked 15th in the world in broadband. What role does
America's closed broadband networks (e.g., Verizon's FiOS and AT&T's
U-Verse) play in such a ranking? Do closed networks fulfill last mile
requirements of the Telecom Act of 1996?

. The Obama administration and Congress have put together a massive
economic stimulus package, including broadband infrastructure
projects. Does this new legislation address the major issues or are
other steps necessary?

The dialogue will assess whether deregulation has helped or harmed
America's digital future. What role should a new, reconstituted FCC
play? What policies and programs are needed to make America #1 again
in technology, broadband and the Internet?

Confirmed Speakers:(More to Come)

. Tom Allibone, LTC Consulting
. Jonathan Askin, Esq, Brooklyn Law School
. Dave Burstein, DSL Prime
. Frank A. Coluccio, Cirrant Partners Inc
. Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America
. Alex Goldman, ISP Planet
. Fred Goldstein, Ionary Consulting
. Bruce Kushnick, New Networks Institute
. Dean Landsman, Landsman Communications Group
. Scott McCollough, Esq.
. Joe Plotkin, Bway.net
. David Rosen, Consultant
. Dana Spiegel, NYCwireless

Market:
. A 25 year analysis of the Age of the Bell companies.
. How did America become 15th in the world in broadband?
. What is the role of the cable and phone companies?
. What happened to the price of phone service?
. Is wireless overtaking wireline services?

Regulation:

. Has deregulation helped or harmed the America's digital future?
. How do we deal with corporate controls over the FCC, or should we
scrap the FCC?
. How do we fund and create open, ubiquitous, high-speed networks?
. What should happen next with wireless services?
. What is the status of competition today, and what needs to be
changed for the future?
. What applications are going to drive the next generation?
. Is it time for another divestiture or other regulatory changes?

For More Information:
Joe Plotkin
T: 646-502-9796
E: bwayjoe@...
Internet Society, NY Chapter
E: president@...