Rural & Underserved America: Telecom's Last Frontier
Featuring U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith & Futurist George Gilder
April 11, 2006


U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) [VIDEO]

Panel: Is the Universal Service Fund Good for Competition and Consumers?

Bob Rowe, Senior Partner, Balhoff & Rowe [VIEW SLIDES]

Frank Dillow, Vice President Federal Government Relations, Verizon Communications

John Dillard, President, Monroe Telephone Co.

Judy Peppler, Oregon State President, Qwest Communications

Panel: What Can New Technologies Offer Rural Areas?

Mike Dewey, Executive Director, Oregon Cable & Telecommunications Association

Onno Husing, Director, Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association

Frank Casazza

Patrick Turnidge, President & CEO, CTURN Corporation

George Gilder, Senior Fellow, Discovery Institute [VIDEO]

Moderator: Hance Haney, Senior Fellow & Director, Technology & Democracy Project, Discovery Institute

Although the U.S. leads the world in innovation, it ranked only 16th in broadband deployment on a per capita basis in 2004 (the last year from which statistics are available). Meanwhile, the size of the Universal Service Fund has nearly doubled in 5 years. Is the Fund, as well as various other Universal Service mechanisms, effectively achieving its purpose? And what steps can the U.S. take to ensure the availability of advanced telecommunications for all Americans at affordable prices?

Discovery Institute is pleased to sponsor a half-day forum in Portland, Oregon exploring technologies and regulatory subsidies for connecting all Americans, including those in rural and high-cost areas.

[SPEAKER BIOS]