Consensus FCC Reforms and the Communications Agenda

for the Next Administration

A mini-conference • 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.

8:30 a.m.         Welcome by Thomas W. Hazlett, Professor of Law and Economics, GMU

Panel I:           Improving Procedures at the Federal Communications Commission
8:40 a.m.        
                        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

Panel II:          A Cross-Partisan Agenda for Telecommunications Policy Reforms
9:45 a.m.
                        William Kennard, Chairman, FCC, 1997-2001
                        Michael Powell, Chairman, FCC, 2001-2005

                        Moderator: Amy Schatz, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

When: Tuesday, September 16, 2008, 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Where: National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC

UPDATE: Articles appearing as a result of the event include:
>> Ex-chiefs have earful for candidates, sharp words for FCC, by Julian Sanchez, Ars Technica, September 18, 2008
>> Where are today’s best job opportunities?, by Andrew Kreig, RCR Wireless, October 7, 2008

About the Information Economy Project:
The Information Economy Project at George Mason University sits at the intersection of academic research and public policy, producing peer-reviewed scholarly research, as well as hosting conferences and lectures with prominent thinkers in the Information Economy. The project brings the discipline of law and economics to telecommunications  policy. More information about the project is available at http://iep.gmu.edu.