North American Fiber to the Home Industry to Gather Next Month for Annual Conference
National Broadband Plan architect and Google policy executive
to discuss latest fiber initiatives at
FTTH Conference & Expo September 26-30 in Orlando
(WASHINGTON, DC) – The architect of the U.S. National Broadband Plan and a senior executive at Google will discuss their organizations’ latest fiber initiatives as broadband leaders from around the world gather in Orlando next month for the 2011 FTTH Conference & Expo, to take place at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort September 26-30.
Recently added to the closing panel discussion on broadband policy and regulation is Blair Levin, who was executive director of the NBP at the Federal Communications Commission and now leads Gig.U, an initiative to bring super-fast Internet connections to communities where America’s leading research universities are located. Also joining that panel is Richard Whitt, Washington Telecom and Media Counsel for Google Inc., who will discuss his company’s efforts to promote the development of all-fiber networks, including the gigabit-enabled service that Google is building in the Kansas City area.
The event is expected to draw more than 2,000 people from across the FTTH industry – including optical access equipment manufacturers, network designers and builders, and telecom service providers of all sizes – who will gather under the banner of “Lighting the Economy” to review the latest techniques for deploying, operating and promoting next-generation, all-fiber networks. The conference program, which includes 130 exhibitors and the most extensive fiber to the home learning program anywhere, will focus attention on the role of FTTH in driving a new generation of broadband services and applications, and particularly in supporting the economic competitiveness of communities throughout North America.
“As North America continues to battle its way out of recession, and as consumers, businesses and their communities look to building their economic future, it is clear that fast networks fueled by FTTH will be an essential ingredient in propelling a new era of growth and development,” said Daniel O’Connell, President of the FTTH Council North America, which hosts the event and which will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary in Orlando. “Those who attend the 2011 FTTH Conference & Expo will gain a better understanding of our fiber future, how we are going to get there, and how important FTTH networks are to economic recovery and growth.”
The event will include dozens of presentations and panel discussions on a wide variety of topics related to the deployment, operation and marketing of all-fiber networks, which are now available to more than one-fifth of North American households. An updated conference program, a list of exhibiting companies and the opportunity to register online are available at www.ftthconference.com.
A key highlight in the Expo Hall will be the Fiber Zone, where conference-goers can experience the live services, hands-on activities and interactive product demonstrations that showcase services best facilitated by FTTH. Included will be high Definition IPTV and 3D-TV, home networking technologies, high-def videoconferencing, tele-medicine, smart-meters and other green technologies in home energy management, multiplayer online gaming, and FTTH delivery systems – GPON, GE-PON, Point-to-Point, WDM-PON and Active Ethernet systems with indoor and outdoor ONT’s.
In addition, leaders from across the FTTH industry will share their knowledge about FTTH technologies, deployment techniques, operations and business practices in a series of panel discussions that include Large Carrier Perspectives, MDU Considerations, Marketing in a Broadband Applications Driven World, and Lighting the Economy.
The opening keynote presentation will be delivered by Virginia P. Ruesterholz, executive vice president of Verizon and president of Verizon Services Operations (VSO), a global, shared-services business group that operates Verizon’s wireline network. Ruesterholz had previously served as president of Verizon Telecom, where she led the company’s rollout of its FiOS fiber to the home service. Verizon is now the largest North American FTTH network operator, providing advanced and innovative broadband experiences to more than four million U.S. households and ranking as the seventh largest provider of subscription video services in the country.
“This is the one event of the year when the entire FTTH industry gets together under one roof to share knowledge and make important business connections aimed at boosting efforts to bring ultra high bandwidth networks to more households and businesses,” said Kyle Hollifield of BVU Authority, the Chair of the 2011 Conference & Expo.
For the third year, the FTTH Conference & Expo will offer learning sessions, conducted in Spanish, aimed at fiber to the home opportunities in Latin America. These will coincide with a meeting of the FTTH Council’s Latin American Chapter in Orlando during the week of the conference.
Corning and Viamedia are the Platinum Sponsors for the 2011 FTTH Conference & Expo.
About the Fiber-to-the-Home Council
Now in its tenth year, the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council is a non-profit association consisting of companies and organizations that deliver video, Internet and/or voice services over high-bandwidth, next-generation, direct fiber optic connections – as well as those involved in planning and building FTTH networks. The Council works to create a cohesive group to share knowledge and build industry consensus on key issues surrounding fiber to the home. Its mission is to educate the public and government officials about FTTH solutions and to promote and accelerate deployment of fiber to the home and the resulting quality of life enhancements such networks make possible. The Council organizes North America’s largest annual FTTH event, the FTTH Conference & Expo, which will be held September 26 – 30, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. More information about the Council can be found at www.ftthcouncil.org.
