In the near future, consumers are expected to benefit from a "one-stop shopping" concept created by competition among telecommunications companies working to meet requirements of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
This change will be one of the main topics discussed at the University of Colorado School of Law forum titled "Telecommunications After Bell Entry: Towards a New Regulatory Regime and One Stop Shopping," to be held April 13 starting at 3:15 p.m. in the Fleming Law Building on the Boulder campus.
Hosted by the school聮s Silicon Flatirons Telecommunications Law Program, the forum will consider the impact of the Bell Companies entry into long distance markets. So far, only one Bell Company, Bell Atlantic, has met the act's requirements for entry and is now providing long distance service in New York state. Over the next couple of years, as more Bell Companies meet the act's local market opening requirements and enter the long distance market, customers will be offered packages of local and long distance, Internet access, wireless and other services.
The keynote speaker, Jim Ellis, SBC聮s senior executive vice president and general counsel, will officially kick off the School of Law聮s Silicon Flatirons Program. This is the second conference hosted by CU this year involving telecommunication issues. In February the law school held a two-day conference called "Telecommunications Law for the 21st Century."
Law school administrators and professors look forward to taking a leadership role in the telecommunications and law arena.
"Establishing the Silicon Flatirons Telecommunications Law Program marks an important effort by the law school to reach out to local industry and the bar working on cutting-edge, high-technology issues," said Harold Bruff, dean of the CU School of Law. "Given Colorado聮s status as a telecommunications hub, it is only natural that our law school would be a leader in addressing the challenges posed by the new telecommunications landscape."
Silicon Flatirons Program officials predict the forum will be the first of many events providing opportunities for students, faculty, policymakers, practicing lawyers and members of the local telecommunications industry to discuss cutting-edge issues.
"There are a large number of fascinating and important topics facing businesses, lawyers and policymakers in the telecommunications industry in the wake of the technological convergence and increased competition aided by the Telecommunications Act of 1996," said Phil Weiser, executive director of the program and an associate professor at the CU School of Law and the Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program. "It聮s a very exciting time to be a telecommunications or technology lawyer. As a result, local industry and the bar have really responded to support our efforts and have encouraged us to move forward," he said.
Co-sponsored by the Federal Communications Bar Association, the communications section of the Colorado Bar, and the High Tech Students Association, the forum is free for CU-Boulder students, faculty and Silicon Flatirons Telecommunication members. The cost is $50 for others and $25 for CU law alumni. Continuing legal education credits have been applied for and a reception will be held following the forum.