OBJECTIVES

To help develop an integrated vision of convergence between broadcast and telecommunication regulators, and move toward a consensus on the key future issues regarding convergence and their solutions. In those instances when public policy objectives for telecommunications and broadcasting affect each other, to identify issues on which OECD members can achieve consensus.  For issues on which no consensus can be reached at this time but are still worth investigating, to identify benefits and trade-offs of different policy options.

This event was co-hosted by UK OFCOM (Office of Communications) and the UK Department of Trade and Industry.

AGENDA

DAY 1 Thursday 2 June 2005

WELCOME REMARKS BY DAY 1 CHAIRS:

• Lord David Currie, Chair, OFCOM, United Kingdom
• Dietmar Plesse, Chair, OECD Working Party on Telecommunications and Information Services Policies

OPENING REMARKS

• Stephen Carter, CEO OFCOM, United Kingdom

SESSION 1: CONVERGENCE AND THE GOALS OF REGULATION
PART I: Are existing gaols affected by convergence and what are institutional challenges?

• Laetitia Dufay, Head of the Coordination for international organizations, ARCEP (Autoirté de régulation des communications électroniques et des postes), France
• Michael Hennessy, President, Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association 
• Clive Ansell, BT Group Strategy Director, United Kingdom
• Innocenzo Genna, General Counsel, Tiscali, Italy

PART II: Challenges in creating a single converged regulatory institution

• Simon Hampton, Time Warner
• Tony Stoller, External Relations Director, OFCOM, United Kingdom
• Lyn Maddock, acting Chair, Australian Broadcasting Authority, Australia

SESSION 2: STRUCTURAL RULES AND CONVERGENCE
Vertical and horizontal integration of conduit and content

• Andrea Camanzi, Senior Vice-President Regulatory Affairs Telecom Italia
• Dennis Weller, Chief Economist, Verizon, United States
• Richard Home, Director Convergence, Australian Competition Consumer Commission (ACCC), Australia
• Campbell Cowie, Director, Public Policy, Time Warner

SESSION 3: CONVERGENCE AND REGULATORY FORBEARANCE
Digitization of broadcasting and the opportunity for new entry

• Robin Foster, Partner, Strategy & Market Developments, OFCOM, United Kingdom
• Luca Di Mauro, Chief Economist, Sky Italia 
• Jos Huigen, Director, Interconnection & Special Access, OPTA, Netherlands
• Elizabeth Filkin, ATVOD, United Kingdom

DAY 2: Friday 3 June 2005
Day 2 Chair: Lyn Maddock, acting Chair, Australian Broadcasting Authority, Australia
OPENING REMARKS 

• Fabio Colasanti, European Comission Director General for Information Society and Media

SESSION 4: MULTIPLATFORM ACCESS AND ENHANCED COMPETITION
Multiplatform competition and content diversity

• Arnaud Decker, Head of Research, Conseil supérieur de l'Audiovisuel, France
• Jonathan Levy, Deputy Chief Economist, Federal Communications Commission, United States
• Dwight Ellis, President/CEO, Dwight Ellis & Associates Ltd, United States
• Jean-Paul Simon, France Telecom

SESSION 5: REGULATION IN A CONVERGING  WORLD - NEW MEDIA PERSPECTIVE
Role of public broadcaster and the purpose of content regulation

REMARKS: Nigel Hickson, Department of Trade and Industry, United Kingdom

• Andy Birchall, Chairman, ON Demand Group, United Kingdom
• Adam Tow, General Counsel & Company Secretary, Video Networks Ltd, United Kingdom
• Mark Friend, Controller of Strategy, BBC, United Kingdom
• Joost van der Vleuten, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Netherlands
• Irene Wu, Director of Research, International, U.S. Federal Communications Commission

CLOSING REMARKS  by Dietmar Plesse, Chair, OECD Working Party on Telecommunications and Information Services Policies