Schedule

14th Annual Golf Outing

Join us at NorthStone Country Club on Monday, May 21. NorthStone is rated “Number One” by Charlotte’s Business Journal & “Best Golf Course in Lake Norman” by the readers of Currents Magazine. Convenient to Charlotte and Lake Norman, NorthStone Country Club’s P.B. Dye signature course is situated on 237 artistically landscaped acres. It will impress the very best players with its strategically placed bunkers, Mini Verde Bermuda greens, and Meyers Zoysia fairways. Featuring an endless variety of strategic angles of play from multiple tee boxes, the NorthStone golf course will encourage good course management yet tease the more adventurous golfer. Player registration and cart assignment will begin at 9:30am on Monday, May 21, followed by an 11:00am shotgun start. The tournament will feature a Million Dollar Hole-in-One contest (participants to be chosen by random drawing from the registrant pool). Enjoy a congenial environment for networking and prizes at the awards reception following the tournament. Prizes to be awarded include the winning team and runner-up, longest drive, and closest to the pin. Register Today!

Location

Northstone Country Club

Introduction to CBRS

This is a short history of the development of the unique spectrum sharing framework. Why was it developed? What problems does it solve? How did the FCC approved the framework and where the rules and policy considerations stand today?

Speaker:

Lee Pucker Chief Executive Officer The Wireless Innovation Forum

Location

Room 217A

The 3.5 GHz Band: Rules, Band Plan, Spectrum Considerations

Before any of that spectrum can be shared, a complex framework needs to be put into place that includes three-tiers: one for incumbents, a Priority Access License tier and a General Authorized Access tier. The three tiers are coordinated through dynamic Spectrum Access System (SAS). Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC) equipment and operators help SASs protect Federal incumbents; and future auctions will also be put into the mix. This session provides details on the band plan and three-tiered spectrum authorization framework and status.

Speaker:

Richard Bernhardt National Spectrum Advisor WinnForum

Location

Room 217A

Infrastructure Developers Forum Meeting

Location

Providence Ballroom II, Westin Charlotte

Market Drivers for CBRS

This session provides a summary of the opportunities and business drivers for enterprises to leverage CBRS technology in their wireless network and communications solutions. Included are case studies about how venues and enterprises can deploy a private networks to enhance their customer experience. Low-power small cells can be deployed indoors in enterprises, hotels, airports, convention centers and the like, while high-power network radios called CBSDs are suitable for outdoor applications like large campuses, metro areas, fixed wireless deployments, and deployments in urban, suburban and rural environments.

Speaker:

Preston Marshall Head of Access Google

Location

Room 217A

Technology Standards: Updates and Milestones

This session provides an update from the Wireless Innovation Forum on the completion of the CBRS Baseline Standards, which represents a key milestone in unleashing the band for innovation as was intended in the FCC rules. Also understand the process for certification of the SASs, radio equipment and ESCs and how these activities move the industry closer to the commercial operation of various technologies in nationwide in the 3.5 GHz shared spectrum band. Learn about Certified Professional Installers may be required to install radios; and how equipment is qualified for use on the Band and how it can be deployed.

Speakers:

Lee Pucker Chief Executive Officer The Wireless Innovation Forum
Kurt Schaubach Chief Technical Officer Federated Wireless

Location

Room 217A

A Killer App for CBRS: The Neutral Host Network

This session provides more detail on the neutral host concept as the killer application for CBRS and private networks. It will explore how, multiple private networks can be managed by neutral hosts that will aggregate the traffic and relay it to networks. This provides a robust in-building or facility service to users via a common backhaul and management not tied to a single network provider.

Speaker:

Piyush Raj Director, Technology Innovation American Tower

Location

Room 217A

Networks and Devices

This session answers the questions about device availability compliant with CBRS technology. Reports indicate that that CBRS capability will be included in at least some smartphones introduced in 2018 as well as small and macro cells, fixed wireless devices and other system components.

Speaker:

Chris Stark Head Business development Nokia North America

Location

Room 217A

WWLF Reception

Each year, WWLF hosts a Networking Event at the Connectivity Expo. This year's WWLF Reception will be held on May 21, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Register today!

Location

NASCAR Hall of Fame

Karaoke Live Featuring Papa Bear and the Love Den

Show off your singing voice at Tin Roof on Monday, May 21 at 9:30pm, immediately following the WWLF Reception at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. You won’t want to miss this live music event. This event is FREE and open to all Connect (X) attendees. *all tips will be donated to Warriors 4 Wireless

Sponsors:

Location

Tin Roof

HetNet Forum Breakfast and Annual Meeting of Members

Sponsor:

Davis Wright Tremaine

Location

Room 201/202

New Edge Computing Architectures and Implementations for IoT

Widespread fragmentation and the complexity of the current IoT landscape is stalling the growth of the industrial IoT market and making it difficult for partners to work together. The overwhelming number of software platforms, applications, hardware and connectivity standards has created a paralysis among businesses that are afraid of making the wrong choice and being locked into a solution. EdgeX Foundry, an open source project hosted by The Linux Foundation, reduces this uncertainty by unifying the growing community of IoT Solutions providers around a common IoT edge framework and an ecosystem of interoperable components. This session discusses the best practices for bringing traditional competitors together to participate in open source projects.

Speaker:

Galeal Zino Chief Executive Officer NetFoundry

Sponsor:

DartPoints

Location

Room 213AB

Connected Cities: How Municipalities Play a Key Role in the 5G Revolution

There is a need for millions of small cells to be sited to meet the demand for mobile capacity, according to most estimates. Municipalities of all sizes are fielding more and more requests to install small cells, fiber, and a denser array of wireless antennas. This session will discuss the small cell challenge, and how with the right tools and strategies, this new wave of technology spending means opportunities for municipalities.

Speakers:

Peter Murray Executive Director of the Social Think Tank Dense Networks
Bernard Borghei Executive Vice President, Operations & Co-Founder Vertical Bridge
Sam Rodriguez Vice President of Smart Communities Aero Wireless Group
Kirk Wampler Vice President, Network Real Estate Crown Castle
Jason Caliento Senior Vice President, Network Strategy Mobilitie

Sponsor:

CBNL

Location

Room 217D

Private LTE: A Reality for Industrial IoT Enterprises

Speakers:

Gary Monetti President Monetti & Associates
Andrew Scott Technology Consultant to Ports Port of LA/FUSE Corps
Clay Perrault Chief Executive Officer Penteon
George Doyle CFO Landmark Dividend

Sponsor:

CBRS Alliance

Location

Room 217BC

Neutral Host: Infrastructure Ownership and Service Models

Who owns the in-building wireless infrastructure in the enterprise, property, venue or campus? Learn more about the growing role for third-party integrators and neutral hosts to empower the wireless commercial property and enterprise.

Speakers:

Len Forkas President Milestone Communications
Piyush Raj Director, Technology Innovation American Tower
Bill DelGrego VP Sales & Business Development ExteNet Systems
Mark Parr CEO Bandwidth Logic
Ray La Chance President & Chief Executive Officer ZenFi Networks

Sponsor:

Zinwave, LLC

Location

Room 211/212

The Next Wave in Infrastructure: V2X, V2I, V2V

V2X communications consists of four types of communications: vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-network, (V2N) and vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P). vehicle-to-vulnerable (bicycles and pedestrians). Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communications and solutions enable the exchange of information between vehicles and much more -- people (V2P), such as bicyclists and pedestrians for alerts, vehicles (V2V) for collision avoidance, infrastructure (V2I) such as roadside devices for timing and prioritization, and the network (V2N) for real time traffic routing and other cloud travel services. The goal of V2X is to improve road safety, increase the efficient flow of traffic, reduce environmental impacts and provide additional traveler information services.

Speaker:

Joseph Averkamp Vice President Parsons

Location

Room 218/219

Ramping up for 5G and Hyper-Densification with DAS, Small Cells and Wi-Fi

5G will be a paradigm shift, connecting billions of people and billions of things with unprecedented processing power, storage capacity and speed. In this panel session, explore how the wireless industry is ramping up for the 5G revolution with sophisticated innovation that places DAS, small cell and WiFi networks at the forefront. Key areas to discuss include 5G NR, Hyper-densification and convergence solutions in shared spectrum.

Speakers:

Pat Tant CEO Vogue Towers
Kevin Travelstead Consultant BHC Rhodes
Michael Whitley Vice President, Business Development PT Access Networks
Bill Cune Vice President Of Network Architecture Corning
Ken Hosac VP IoT Strategy & Business Development Cradlepoint

Sponsor:

Vogue Towers

Location

Room 217A

Rapidly Deployable Multi-Platform LTE Networks

Discuss the business case and solutions that form the Next Generation Deployable LTE Network, comprised of small form factor, self-contained, LTE networks and application services which are designed to be independently capable yet interconnect with the nationwide PSBN and other deployable networks to create a dynamic network which adapts to the incident.

Speakers:

Keith Kaczmarek President inPhase Wireless
Kamesh Namuduri Professor University of North Texas
Maxwell Maurice Electronics Engineer NIST
Ben Posthuma Solutions Manager Kymeta Networks

Sponsor:

CityPole by Comptek

Location

Room 213CD

FirstNet 101: The Basics of the PBSN

FirstNet 101 is a non-technical presentation describing the origin and progression of the This non-technical presentation describes the origin and progression of the National Broadband Public Safety Network (NPSBN) commonly known at FirstNet. This presentation will define the consultation process between the Federal program and the State of North Carolina and the mandatory obligations set by NPSBN to endure interoperability in this advanced public safety LTE network.

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

Risk Assessment: Ensure a Competitive Advantage Through Effective Workforce Planning

In the performance of workforce planning, an organization evaluates its gaps and determines what actions it can take to bridge those gaps. For the wireless industry, that means increasing the labor force of trained technology professionals, engineers and field technicians. This session opens the discussion about the workforce planning process and provides guidance on conducting a skills inventory, evaluating the gaps, and how to convert the results into a successful talent acquisition strategy.

Speakers:

Maurita Coley Acting President and CEO MMTC
Shelby Scales NCDOT Office of Civil Rights Director NC Department of Transportation
Eric Lewis Director of Business Services Charlotte Works
Dr. Rikin Thakker VP of Telecommunications & Spectrum Policy MMTC
Nicholas Wharton President Wharton and Wharton Associates

Sponsor:

Enertech Resources

Location

Ballroom B

Budgeting, Capital Expense and Cost of Ownership in an LTE World

This session covers the practical consideration agency leads must understand in the purchase, budgeting, capital expense and cost forecasting with an Advanced LTE Network. Just as importantly are the cost considerations that may include supporting both an LMR and an LTE network as agencies make the multi-year migration to the advanced public safety broadband network.

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

FirstNet’s Network Functionality, Applications and Security

Learn what’s available during the early days of FirstNet, and how public-safety agencies can acquire these capabilities. Discuss some of the initial plans for deployable networks, applications, resiliency and cybersecurity, as well as how these new functionalities may impact public-safety operations.

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

Break

Enabling Technologies at the Edge: SDN, NFV, Cloud, Fog and Cloudlets

Network Infrastructures around the world are going through a massive transformation to keep up with the anticipated proliferation of Internet of Things and to enable 5G wireless network-based services in future not so far. In this session, we’ll analyse the differences between the technologies and associations working in edge computing including fog computing, cloudlets and micro data centers, what they are and how they work in order to better understand their role in enabling next generation network infrastructures.

Speakers:

Iain Gillott President iGR
Hazim Dahir Distinguished Engineer Cisco
Bernard Borghei Executive Vice President, Operations & Co-Founder Vertical Bridge
Greg Pettine CTO and Co-Founder Edge Micro

Sponsor:

DartPoints

Location

Room 213AB

A Holistic Strategy: Putting the Pieces in Place for a Smarter City Network

Building an adaptable communications network to support today’s needs as well as tomorrow’s expectations is the first step to becoming a smarter, more connected community. A scalable and resilient network provides much more than just high-speed internet. In this session, you’ll learn more about the necessary network components and how an implementation roadmap designed to maximize your investment and maintain flexibility for future applications will serve you well.

Speakers:

Dr. Gerard Hayes President & Chief Executive Officer Wireless Research Center
Dr. John Naylon CTO and Founder CBNL
Brett Chester VP Marketing Sitetracker
Laura Phillips Partner Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Geoff Arnold CTO Verizon Smart Communities Verizon

Sponsor:

CBNL

Location

Room 217D

Architecture for the Private Enterprise LTE Network

This session explains how an enterprise can build a private LTE network, provision client devices, and create new services. Learn more about the business demands, vertical markets, and solution architecture of LTE to enterprises. Leaders in this field will explore examples of how it can be used in several large industries, from healthcare to manufacturing and transportation hubs.

Speakers:

Ted Abrams Business Consultant
Andy Germano Vice President of Business Development & Co-Founder BEC Technologies
Andreas Bitzarakis Director of Broadband Spectrum Select Spectrum
Dave Wright President CBRS Alliance

Sponsor:

CBRS Alliance

Location

Room 217BC

On-Premise Services: Applications that Maximize IBW Infrastructure

Both IoT and Mobile Edge Computing – often referred to as on-premise services – will contribute to the return on investment of in-building wireless infrastructure. Understand how IoT and low-latency applications and services are bringing new infrastructure opportunities to property owners and enterprises.

Speakers:

Scott Willis CEO Zinwave
Steve Schmerber NAR Director- Field Application Engineering CommScope
Dan Lowe Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer Voltserver
David Eckell Emerging Technology Strategist Graybar

Sponsor:

Zinwave, LLC

Location

Room 211/212

5G & Intelligent Edge: Opportunities for the Network Ecosystem to Drive Value in Connected Vehicles

Radio architectures need to significantly evolve and utilize macro to small cell base stations that operate in frequency bands from a few hundred megahertz to tens of gigahertz. 5G technology connecting a multitude of devices and allowing real-time communications between people and vehicles would improve due to bandwidth, linearity, power efficiency, and small form factor solutions. This panel focuses on the approaches, infrastructure considerations and applications for that are emerging from the wireless industry to meet demand from the automobile sector. Attend this session to understand the transformation happening and opportunities for the network builder ecosystem to innovate and drive customer value.

Speaker:

Cory Hohs CEO HAAS Alert

Location

Room 218/219

Automation Everywhere: New Tools to Simplify Operations and Workflows in Dense Networks

Managing the complexity of the site is challenging when cells are smaller, sites are located closer, devices require different topologies, and more networks come on line. Information from location management, location intelligence, interconnection, asset management, process management, workflow management – all require more automation and new tools so that all stakeholders in the site can manage large portfolios of complex and dynamic projects and assets. Learn more about the impact these tools have on your business.

Speakers:

Rod Dir President Talon Aerolytics
John Patton CEO OneVizion
Chad Tuttle Chief Executive Officer B+T Group
Art Kahn President Aveopt

Sponsor:

Vogue Towers

Location

Room 217A

Innovations in Small Cell Design, Deployment and Products

By 2019 global demand for outdoor small cell solutions is expected to grow by a factor of six, opening big opportunities for small cell technology. The problem is small cells also bring additional complexity to the design of the network, and to the operational processes. To solve for complexity in the technology, manufacturers have built automated optimization and configuration tools into devices. In addition, vendors are integrating multiple networking protocols and frequencies into a single package. Operationally, innovation is needed as well. Deployment practices require new thinking and new tools to meet the cost considerations and speed to market that carriers require. This panel explores the Critical Success Factors of Small Cell including the Future 5G Network Deployment Architecture focusing on Small Cell, Macro, and Inbuilding connected with Fiber.

Speakers:

Jeff Lewis President & Founder Verticom
Bo Piekarski VP of Development for Small Cell Solutions Crown Castle
Mike Taylor VP of Critical Infrastructure Procurement & Cost Management T-Mobile
Kishore Raja Vice President, Engineering, Strategic Programs Boingo
Greg Spraetz Sr. VP & GM for Enterprise ExteNet Systems

Location

Room 213CD

Break

Welcome Remarks, Jonathan Adelstein, President & CEO, Wireless Infrastructure Association and Daniel C. Agresta, President, Carolinas Wireless Association

Location

Ballroom AD

Keynote Speech: Satyen Yadav, General Manager IoT and Edge Services, Amazon Web Services

Location

Ballroom AD

Keynote Speech: Michael O’Rielly, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission, Interviewed by Kathleen Quinn Abernathy, Special Counsel, Wilkinson, Barker Knauer, LLP

Speakers:

Michael O’Rielly Commissioner Federal Communications Commission
Kathleen Q. Abernathy Special Counsel Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer, LLP

Sponsor:

Advantage Engineers

Location

Ballroom AD

Keynote Speech: Ed Davis, Former Police Commissioner, City of Boston, Interviewed by Chad Tucker, FirstNet Solutions Consultant Manager, AT&T, Inc.

FirstNet Beyond the Headlines: A Personal View of a Truly Interoperable Mobile Communications Network for First Responders Since 2012 when Congress first authorized it, the mission of FirstNet has been to develop, build and operate a nationwide broadband network that equips first responders to save lives and protect U.S. communities. Through the experience of former Boston Police Dept. Commissioner Ed Davis, who successfully navigated the tragic incident of the Boston Marathon bombing, every stakeholder in the wireless industry will understand what is at stake for every community and every first responder to have the state-of-the art communications tools they need to do their job.

Speaker:

Ed Davis Former Police Commissioner, City of Boston City of Boston

Location

Ballroom AD

General Session: The Future of Connectivity: Innovation through Private LTE Network Services

This novel format, a one-on-one discussion between a software solutions supplier and a network services operator on the potential of private LTE networks. Understand a new connectivity services model that leverage shared spectrum to serve customers with high-performance wireless services indoors.

Speakers:

Iyad Tarazi Chief Executive Officer Federated Wireless
Mike Hart CTO, Vivint Internet & SVP Engineering, Vivint Smart Home Vivint

Location

Ballroom AD

Keynote Speech: Steve Worling, Managing Director, Information Technology, NASCAR

Speakers:

Steve Worling Managing Director, Information Technology NASCAR
Iyad Tarazi Chief Executive Officer Federated Wireless

Location

Ballroom AD

General Session: The Next Wave in Digital Co-Location: The Convergence of Datacenters, Towers and the Cloud at the Edge of the Network

High-reliability, high-bandwidth and low-latency connectivity; the wireless network of the future offers a vision of entirely new possibilities. With virtually no lag and throughput comparable to fiber, new applications such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, connected autonomous driving will radically changing the way we generate, gather, process and interpret all kinds of new data. The ‘move to the edge’ requires more than software. This session presents three new voices in the digital infrastructure space, each of whom provide insight into the dynamics around distributed computing, and the opportunities for infrastructure owners and network operators as the towers begin to converge with the data centers.

Speakers:

Sami Badri Senior Analyst Credit Suisse
Zachary Smith Chief Executive Officer Packet
Cole Crawford Chief Executive Officer Vapor.IO
Josh Wolff Senior Vice President Lumos Networks
Josh Snowhorn Founder and Chief Strategy Officer EdgeMicro

Sponsor:

MVP Capital

Location

Ballroom AD

Exhibit Hall

Location

Hall C

Responder Innovations & Applications

Responder Innovations & Applications: Brian Hobson, Director of Products and Solutions, FirstNet • Vehicle to Infrastructure Connectivity Cory Hohs, CEO, Haas Alert • LTE in a Backpack for Network Capacity Mohan Tammaseti, CEO, VNC • Mobile Satellite Convergence Ben Posthuma, Kymeta Corp.

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

NG911 and FirstNet

Will FirstNet mean to public safety’s existing LMR and 911 communications systems? We will explore the technical, operational, security and financial impacts associated with FirstNet’s introduction into the public-safety-communications arena in the near term. In addition, we will examine how all these systems could change as FirstNet evolves and 911 migrates to next-generation 911.

Speaker:

Richard Mirgon co-owner Next Paradigm Consulting, LLC and Richard Mirgon Consulting LLC

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

Winners in the Race to the Edge: Positioning Infrastructure Investors and Companies for Growth in Distribute Computing

This session examines the role tower owners, aggregators and other property owners play in the move to the edge. Several consortiums are at work in the space, including Crown Castle, Landmark Infrastructure Partners and others that want to offer device connectivity at more sites including telecom towers and billboards.

Speakers:

Sami Badri Senior Analyst Credit Suisse
Alexander L. Gellman Chief Executive Officer Vertical Bridge

Sponsor:

DartPoints

Location

Room 213 AB

Case Studies: Smart + Connected Communities

Every city, region and community has a unique story to tell and a unique pathway to achieve ‘smart city’ status. This session profiles several real-world case studies of cities who successfully navigated the relationship between technology deployment, economic development and improved civic services.

Speakers:

Mike Dano Editor in Chief FierceWireless
Terry Yates Infrastructure and Network Manager City of Cary North Carolina
Dr. John Naylon CTO and Founder CBNL
George Karayannis Project Director, CityNow Panasonic
Will Aycock General Manager Wilson Greenlight

Sponsor:

CBNL

Location

Room 217D

Private LTE Network Business Case for Rural Carriers and WiSPs

With access to licensed spectrum and next generation LTE technology, Wireless ISPs, rural broadband carriers, and competitive service providers have new opportunities that previously did not exist. These opportunities include increased mobility, access to neutral host networks for enterprises, improved security and quality of service, and more. This session focuses on the business model and ROI for competitive communications carriers to offer fast and reliable licensed services to replace or augment their DSL and fixed wireless access networks.

Speakers:

Monica Paolini Founder of Senza Fili
Jeffrey Deal Senior Manager, Vertical Markets American Tower
Alan Fitzpatrick Chief Executive Officer Open Broadband, LLC
Steve Fortmann President Paladin Wireless

Sponsor:

CBRS Alliance

Location

Room 217BC

Connectivity in the Enterprise: What is the Right Strategy and the Right Tools to Meet Enterprise Demand for Coverage?

The in-building cellular space is currently marked by a shift in capital investment away from operators and toward venue owners. In many cases, operators aren’t going to supply an in-building system. This leaves the investment up to the venue owner who needs to supply coverage to attract and retain tenants. One of the challenges for the industry is to meet the needs of enterprise decision-makers with the best tool for their unique case. When do you spec CBRS or a private enterprise network solution? WiFi versus LTE? DAS versus Small Cell? This cross-industry panel discusses the changes in the enterprise market, especially the ‘middleprise, and the best methods to win customers in a highly-fractured marketplace.

Speakers:

Rich Berliner Publisher Connected Real Estate Magazine
Frankie Smith Vice President SureCall
Paul Fettuccia President & General Manager Advanced Network Services, LLC
Nicholas Stello Vice President Vornado
Patrick Lau VP of Strategic Development Comba Telecom, Inc.

Sponsor:

Zinwave, LLC

Location

Room 211/212

Opportunities & Challenges: Connected Vehicle Infrastructure in North Carolina’s Transportation Network

This session brings North Carolina public and private sector leaders to discuss the region’s plans, involvement and roadmap on transitioning to an autonomous and connected vehicle testbed and, ultimately, a national leader. Understand the impacts Autonomous and Connected Vehicles will have on the region, including policy, capital, transportation planning, public transportation and more.

Speakers:

Joseph Averkamp Vice President Parsons
Kevin Lacy State Traffic Engineer North Carolina Department of Transportation
Joe Milazzo Executive Director North Carolina Regional Transportation Alliance
Jessica Hill Assistant Planning Director Centraline Council of Government

Location

Room 218/219

Technologies that Improve on 4G to Enable 5G Speeds

The road to 5G runs through 4G wireless infrastructure, and improvements to 4G technologies like carrier aggregation, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) and beamforming will satisfy the requirements for 5G. This session examines new solutions to enhance network capacity and performance to address the growing demands on connectivity.

Speakers:

Shruthi Soora Senior Staff Engineer Wireless Research Center North Carolina
Jim Nevelle President & CEO Kathrein
Ray Butler Vice President, Wireless Network Engineering CommScope
David Zylka Chief Technical Officer

Sponsor:

Vogue Towers

Location

Room 217A

Next Generation Smart Poles: More than Small Cells

Intelligent, multifunctional or “smart” light poles can help solve many urban problems because of their ability to incorporate software controls, electronics and sensors that can receive and transmit data. They can also improve parking and traffic management through real-time data, leading to a reduction in congestion and emissions. Experts on this panel will explore advancements in “intelligent” poles, which can also monitor air quality, detect and notify officials about street flooding or be turned into charging stations for electric vehicles.

Speakers:

Mike Hoganson Chief Operating Officer Aero Wireless
Leticia Latino CEO Neptuno
Steve Baker Director of Vertical Markets American Tower
Mike Constance Director of Operations Comptek Technologies

Sponsor:

CityPole by Comptek

Location

Room 213CD

North Carolina State Leadership

As states begin to plan for FirstNet, they are developing divergent approaches to planning and varied strategies for engaging with local and federal partners. This roundtable features a diverse panel of state leaders from outside North Carolina as they discuss their approaches being state planning, ongoing outreach, and governance strategies.

Speakers:

Eric Boyette Secretary and State Chief Information Officer State of North Carolina
Lieutenant Colonel Alan Melvin Support Operations / State Highway Patrol North Carolina State Highway Patrol
Gregory Hauser Fire Alarm Superintendent/Manager Charlotte Fire Deptartment

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

KEYNOTE: FirstNet Innovators: How Early Subscribers Have Harnessed FirstNet to Transform Public Safety Operations

This panel of FirstNet Early Subscribers will interactively discuss the transformative public safety innovation occurring within the FirstNet Ecosystem. Panelists will share case studies of their own innovation projects and answer questions from the audience. Attendees will: • Gain an understanding of how the FirstNet Ecosystem supports transformative innovation in public safety • Gain practical knowledge from panelists' case study presentations. • Explore innovations through an interactive Q&A session.

Speaker:

Michael Bostic Director of Strategy and Policy FirstNet Built with AT&T

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

Building Alliances to Jumpstart Talent Acquisition, Diversity & Retention

So, you’ve got a skills gap – now what? Ensuring a highly skilled workforce takes a commitment from many stakeholders in the public and private sectors, the education community, the workforce development system, as well as workplace learning professionals. As employers also are making more sophisticated “make and buy” decisions for talent management, they are establishing networks and alliances to source core capabilities. To build their core capabilities, leading employers are focusing on talent pipeline management strategies that combine 1) career advancement from their existing workforce, 2) job-ready workers accessible through networked recruitment and staffing partners, 3) new entrants to the workforce with recent customized education and training, and 4) from alliances with workforce development partners. Part 2 of the workshop focuses on internal steps and external resources you can use as you source, recruit, and bridge the gap.

Speakers:

Carrie Charles President BroadStaff
General Kevin J. Kennedy President & Chief Executive Officer Warriors4Wireless
Rocio Gonzalez Executive Director Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte - LACCC
Amelia DeJesus President Women's Wireless Leadership Forum
Lauren Sugerman National Policy Director Chicago Women in Trades
Nicholas Wharton President Wharton and Wharton Associates

Sponsor:

Enertech Resources

Location

Ballroom B

Break

Applications at the Edge: What is Driving Investment in New Edge Infrastructure?

Edge computing will be a key enabler of the applications everyone is talking about, including autonomous driving, IoT, augmented and virtual reality, and 5G. This session will be a discussion of the business of opportunity for service providers to use edge infrastructure to add value to OTT providers, application providers, auto manufacturers and vertical applications that must work closer and closer together to get the model right ensure that these applications being built work and deliver value.

Speakers:

Iain Gillott President iGR
Sandro Tavares Head of Cloud Marketing Nokia

Sponsor:

DartPoints

Location

Room 213AB

Connected Urban Components: Street Lights, Kiosks, Traffic Sensors and Smarter Streets

Connected components such as street lights, interactive kiosks, traffic sensors and other smart features can be leveraged to serve multiple purposes. New infrastructure fitted with wireless connectivity will provide a constant flow of information about its surroundings. Light poles and street corners take on new life as networked hot spots. Connected kiosks and beacon technologies convey vital information and do so through open data platforms that allow systems to talk freely with each other without the inhibitions of proprietary software. Find out which technology solutions make the most sense for cities from both a cost and practical perspective.

Speakers:

Tom Snyder Executive Director NCRIoT
Per Nygren Director, Product Innovation American Tower
Jim Lockwood CEO/Founder Aero Solutions
Ian Aaron President Ubicquia
Tom Touchet CEO Smart City Media

Sponsor:

CBNL

Location

Room 217D

CV Infrastructure: Case Study of Pilot Programs

Hear from a panel of leaders representing some of the first cities and programs that have deployed connected vehicle technology on real city streets. Understand how new AV/CV systems improve safety, mobility and the environment by enabling cars, buses, streetcars, handheld devices and elements of the downtown roadway infrastructure to communicate to each other and the infrastructure surrounding them.

Speakers:

Tim Downs Executive Producer Connectivity Expo
Dan Langford Industry Commercialization Manager Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development
Robert Frey Project Director Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority
George Karayannis Project Director, CityNow Panasonic

Location

Room 218/219

Investment Outlook for Towers and Infrastructure: 2018 and Beyond

Wireless infrastructure spending and the implications for tower owners and wireless infrastructure stakeholders is up for discussion. Included in this panel are driving forces on carrier spending, including FirstNet, the increasing network traffic from unlimited data plans, the shift to mobile video, 5G fixed wireless and more.

Speakers:

Clayton Funk Managing Director MVP Capital
Jennifer Fritzsche Managing Director Wells Fargo Securities
Nick Del Deo Analyst MoffettNathanson
Ric Prentiss Managing Director Raymond James
Doug Barnett Senior Partner ATLANTIC-ACM

Sponsor:

Vogue Towers

Location

Room 217A

Innovation in Workflow Orchestration: Enabling IoT with Better Access to and Utilization of Data

When the process of building, deploying and managing network assets, everyone in the supply chain loses if the process is inefficient. No where is this more apparent than in small cells and LoRAN network deployments, and especially applies to connected vehicles and connected UAVs. This session explores methods that are available to infrastructure partners, carriers and enterprises to work smarter and faster to solve infrastructure issues; reduce costs, minimize re-work and deliver visibility into the work our industry contributes to the mobile revolution.

Speakers:

Amit Ganjoo CEO ANRAT Technologies
Eric Rozencwaig Co-Founder ABIS
Andre de Grasse Founder & CEO AIMM Global Inc.

Sponsor:

CityPole by Comptek

Location

Room 213CD

Standards, Interoperability, and Innovation: Building a Public Safety Application Ecosystem

With the advent of a dedicated LTE network, public safety professionals require a common, standards compliant, and interoperable framework for their mission critical applications. It is imperative that public safety agencies to be able to select the technology platform that fit their individual needs, while knowing that regardless of the solution used, they will be able to seamlessly communicate and collaborate between various public safety departments. This roundtable features leading technology companies discuss how they approach this challenging problem, while still continuing to drive innovation with their solutions.

Speakers:

Jason Winslow Vice President of Business Development Intrepid Networks
Jason Jerald Co-Founder & Principal Consultant Next Gen Interactions

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

The Value of Data in Developing Solutions for FirstNet

Data is perhaps the most important building block in the modernization of public safety’s tools and capabilities. The promise of FirstNet means giving responders access to mission critical information as they respond to and manage incidents, accessed via integration to computer aided dispatch, records management systems and other key sources of incident data. This session examines platforms and solutions to make rich data through IoT devices available to public safety – improving response times and situational awareness.

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

Saving Lives with Next Gen TV Alerting

Speaker:

Fred Engel Sr. Dir. of Technology UNC-TV

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

Opening Reception

Sponsors:

Location

Richardson Ballroom Patio

3rd Annual Music Movement Charity Concert Featuring Lee Brice

Join us for a night of food, drinks, fundraising and country music. Country Music Superstar Lee Brice takes the stage in Charlotte, NC for a charity concert supporting Music Movement! Billy Dawson, country music artist and longtime friend of the charity, will get the show rocking before Lee Brice takes the stage. Lee Brice is a multiple ACM and CMA award winner with a GRAMMY nomination, six RIAA platinum singles – and more than 10 Million singles sold. Music Movement Inc., a nonprofit organization that develops and funds music centric programs for children and young adults living with autism and special needs, is hosting its 3rd Annual Charity Concert. Get your tickets today!

Location

Rooftop 210

WIA Member Breakfast

Sponsor:

BB&T Atlantic Risk Management

Location

Ballroom AD

Accelerate Potential: Get More People on the Job Faster

Organizations that value learning and development are in a better position to address skill gaps as the behaviors and practices are a part of their organizational DNA. In a world where technology becomes obsolete in the blink of an eye, it’s essential to get teams up to speed quickly on the latest technologies, standards, and procedures. In this session, we explore options for providing training and knowledge transfer that include mentoring, traditional training and registered apprenticeship programs.

Speakers:

Maya Norvel Director of Marketing and Communications Urban League of Central Carolinas Inc.
General Kevin J. Kennedy President & Chief Executive Officer Warriors4Wireless
Gerry Ghazi Subject Matter Expert, Manufacturing Apprenticeships Jobs for the Future
Eric M. Goodie Director of Asset Acquisition and Management
Curtis Hill Regional Director Onepath
James Burns ULCC Instructor ULCC Fiber Optic/Broadband (FOA) & Premise Cabling Certification Program
Tomeka Carr Program Graduate / Success Story Program Graduate / Success Story
Jeff Duff President & CFO Airstreams Renewables Inc.

Sponsor:

Enertech Resources

Location

Ballroom B

Edge Architecture in a 5G Environment

5G sets some lofty goals for bandwidth and low latency. To achieve this, new architectures are needed; processing power needs to get closer to the edge of the network; and new investment is necessary. Not all 5G apps and services will need Edge Computing but many of the high performance solutions will. This session examines edge architecture as part of the standard 5G architecture requirements, and how it integrates with network functions virtualization and massive multiple-input/multiple-output for small cells.

Speakers:

Iain Gillott President iGR
Ben Posthuma Solutions Manager Kymeta Networks
Pat Henkle Director of Product Management JMA Wireless

Sponsor:

DartPoints

Location

Room 213AB

CAPITAL: HOW TO FUND AND SUSTAIN SMART CITY PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

A highly important factor when thinking about smart cities, that isn’t always discussed, is how to fund and finance them. As exciting as it is to discuss the potential, exciting developments that smart cities can bring, whether in terms of urban development, citizen engagement or sustainability, they won’t get off the ground without funding. This session focuses on attracting funding and finance for smart infrastructure projects, including best practice for attracting interest from institutional investors and investment banks; Sharing risk in PPPs, managing exit strategies and forecasting returns; and what are the different funding instruments available?

Speakers:

Madan Jagernauth President FutureMobile Services
Scott Jackson VP Business Development Graybar
Bob Paige Senior Vice President of M&A Vertical Bridge
Karl Berg Managing Partner DASBuild LLC
Bryan Darr President & CEO Mosaik

Sponsor:

CBNL

Location

Room 217D

Understanding the Spectrum Access System (SAS) – and the 3-Tiered Spectrum Sharing Framework

The Spectrum Access System is an advanced, highly automated radio spectrum coordinator within the CBRS 3.5 GHz band, and is tasked with protecting the higher-tier users from lower-tier users and optimizing efficient use of the available spectrum in the band for all users. The innovative three-tier sharing framework coordinates spectrum access among the incumbent military radars, satellite earth stations, and new commercial users. The three tiers of use are Incumbent, Priority Access License (PAL), and General Authorized Access (GAA). As a result, the 150 MHz of CBRS spectrum is dynamically shared. Discover the impacts of the SAS on your business.

Speakers:

Kurt Schaubach Chief Technical Officer Federated Wireless
Mark Gibson Director of Business Development ComSearch
Monica Paolini Founder of Senza Fili

Sponsor:

CBRS Alliance

Location

Room 217BC

Current State of DAS and Future Approaches to Funding

Customers and tenants in buildings and commercial venues demand greater and more reliable mobile capacity. At the same time, mobile network operators are re-evaluating the requirement to fund and risk the buildout of DAS and in-building digital infrastructure. This transition requires new thinking, new approaches and new solutions from all stakeholders in the in-building ecosystem – property owners, integrators, technology vendors and carriers.

Speakers:

Thomas Marciano CMO inRange Solutions
Dominic Villecco President V-Comm Telecommunications Engineering
Jeffrey Nodine CTO Longent
Jarrett Bluth CEO Cheytec Communications
Neil Boyer National Director Antenna Solutions Business Development and AT&T Towers

Sponsor:

Zinwave, LLC

Location

Room 211/212

Deep Fiber in LTE and 5G

Fiber is fuel for both LTE and future “5G” systems, and service providers are doing their best to increase their fiber footprints. Deloitte expects to see $130 billion-$150 billion in “deep fiber” investment in the U.S. over 5-7 years, due to a combination of broadband competition, ensuring 5G readiness, and expanding fiber into new areas. This session gets into the details of fiber projections and the opportunities it poses to tower owners and infrastructure stakeholders.

Speakers:

Pat Tant CEO Vogue Towers
Ron Fangio Business Development Director Black & Veatch
Ray La Chance President & Chief Executive Officer ZenFi Networks
José Niño Co-founder, CEO and President Allied Wireless
Brian Proffit VP of Business Development WANRack

Sponsor:

Vogue Towers

Location

Room 217A

The National Infrastructure Plan: Implications and Opportunities for Wireless, Broadband and Mobile

In the first quarter of 2018, the Trump Administration plans to release details of a new infrastructure proposal that aims to rehabilitate the nation's roads, bridges, tunnels, and more. This session dives into the details of several Infrastructure plans in development on The Hill, including Congressional and Trump Administration Plans. The panel will discuss the opportunities in digital infrastructure development, but also the push for more efficient permitting and processes, as well as a larger role for private sector funding sources.

Speakers:

Paul Kirby Senior Editor TR Daily
Josh Turner Attorney Wiley Rein LLP
Jennifer Duane NTIA

Sponsors:

Location

Room 213CD

Connected and Autonomous Technology: Making it Work at the Infrastructure Level

Autonomous vehicles represent the most dramatic change in transportation since the Interstate Highway System. Investments made by the private sector shows that there is a clear business case for the systems, devices and platforms to enable a connected vehicle to everything infrastructure. What are the technical, policy and financial implications for the public sector to enable roadside units to communicate with connected and automated vehicles? What information is needed, what communication attributes, operational issues and deployment challenges must be addressed? What can the infrastructure, automotive, LTE and technology communities learn to advance deployment of connected and automated vehicles?

Speakers:

Chris Bluemle Manager, Corporate Development Crown Castle
Amit Ganjoo CEO ANRAT Technologies
Marshall Brain Director of the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program NC State University

Location

Room 218/219

FirstNet and LMR Coexistence: Planning for Interoperability and Migration

Public Safety LMR systems will continue to operate for many years as work advances to create Public Safety Broadband Networks capable of supporting mission critical voice and meeting coverage and other requirements. As a result, there will be a mix of LMR and LTE technologies in use by local public safety agencies in overlapping areas for the foreseeable future. It is therefore important to fully explore the coexistence of, and simultaneous use of, LMR and LTE technologies to determine necessary operational requirements to ensure continued interoperability. Here attendees will discuss the planning and technology required to establish interfaces between FirstNet’s network and LMR networks, which will enable unit and group communications to take place between users on the LTE network and connected LMR networks.

Speaker:

Neil Horden Chief Consultant Federal Engineering

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

Break

Keynote Speech: Ajit Pai, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission

Speaker:

Ajit Pai Chairman Federal Communications Commission

Location

Ballroom AD

Keynote Speech: Charlie Ergen, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, DISH, Interviewed by Rob McDowell, Partner, Cooley, LLP

Speakers:

Charlie Ergen Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors DISH
Rob McDowell Partner Cooley LLP

Location

Ballroom AD

General Session: The View from the Top: A Tower Executive Roundtable

Join Jonathan Adelstein, President & CEO of The Wireless Infrastructure Association, and the leaders from major infrastructure providers for a candid discussion of the issues impacting the wireless infrastructure industry.

Speakers:

Jonathan Adelstein President & Chief Executive Officer Wireless Infrastructure Association
Jay Brown President and Chief Executive Officer Crown Castle
Jeffrey Stoops President & Chief Executive Officer SBA Communications
Alexander L. Gellman Chief Executive Officer Vertical Bridge
David E. Weisman President & Chief Executive Officer InSite Wireless
Rich Rossi Vice President, Legal American Tower

Sponsor:

NB+C

Location

Ballroom AD

General Session: Finding Opportunity in the Increased Complexity of Multi-Use Networks

In the wake of miniaturization and densification, the telecommunications industry needs a holistic approach to carriers’ wireless infrastructure needs. We need modernized tools, thinking, and products to manage infrastructure across five points of presence: macro sites, small cells, distributed network systems, fiber, and edge network architecture. Digital Bridge is at the forefront of the shift to a more expansive definition of a site profile. Sitetracker is telecom's #1 project and asset management platform, enabling managers of site-based projects to work more effectively and reduce time to ROI through location management and intelligence, cross-team collaboration, and proven process and workflow improvements. Giuseppe Incitti, Sitetracker CEO, and Marc Ganzi, Digital Bridge CEO, will discuss the changing needs of carriers and the inherent challenges that come with them, including infrastructure requirements and increased complexity of multi-use networks.

Speakers:

Martha DeGrasse Publisher Network Builder Reports
Marc Ganzi Managing Partner of Digital Colony and Chief Executive Officer of Digital Bridge Digital Colony and Digital Bridge
Giuseppe Incitti Chief Executive Officer Sitetracker

Location

Ballroom AD

General Session: The Future of Connectivity: Ubiquitous Networks of Flying, Driving, and Intelligent Things

The automated age is nearly upon us and it’s set to completely change the way we communicate; the way we drive; the way we see mobility; the way we receive goods and services and more. Next generation mobile networks capable of handling unprecedented amounts of data across a wide array of devices, including cars, busses, trucks, drones for delivery, drones for people and more, will have a huge impact on society, mobility and future city infrastructure. It will also lead to the development of new and disruptive business models. And while the fully virtualized autonomous future is still a number of years away, now is the time to plan ahead. Here to discuss a brave new world of connectivity are thought-leaders representing the entire connectivity ecosystem.

Speakers:

Patrick Henkle Director of Product Management JMA Wireless
Travis Mason Vice President of Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs A3 by Airbus
Geoff Arnold CTO Verizon Smart Communities Verizon

Location

Ballroom AD

Exhibit Hall

Location

Hall C

DHS Best Practices and SOPs in Large Emergency Events: Provisioning Emergency Support Across Multiple Agencies and Sectors

Commercial technology is advancing at a remarkable pace, and it’s time for public safety to leverage those advancements – but to do that, integration is essential. This session examines DHS-developed technologies, commercial technologies and legacy public safety systems that are integrated using open standards, and how those integrated capabilities increase responder safety and efficiency. User experience of priority and preemption capabilities of participating partners are critical to understand.

Speaker:

Pam Montanari OEC Coordinator Department of Homeland Security

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

The Edge Business Opportunity for IoT and Enterprise Applications

Digital Transformation happens, primarily, at the Edge. It’s what enables, accelerates, supports, and secures IoT (including the Industrial IoT) programs and initiatives. From digital devices to autonomous vehicles and drones, cloud and network Edge compute technologies are increasingly bandwidth intensive, and latency and security sensitive. Finding the right partner to assure and support your Digital Transformation business success at the Edge is truly mission critical. Attend this session to consider how you can assess, design and take control of your distributed Digital Transformation Edge infrastructure operations.

Speakers:

Martin Olsen Vice President, Global Edge and Integrated Solutions Vertiv
Hugh Carspecken Founder and CEO Dartpoints
Hunter Newby President Newby Ventures

Sponsor:

DartPoints

Location

Room 213AB

City as Platform: How Connectivity is Changing Urban Life and Governance

In the age of ubiquitous connectivity, smartphones and big data, the vitality of cities is increasingly based on their ability to use digital networks in intelligent, strategic ways. The far-reaching implications of the “smart plus connected city” for economic development, urban planning, social life, and democracy, is less understood. This session provides a deeper look at technology's role in the advancement and inter-linking of multiple city systems. Panelists will discuss the key elements that are making it possible for cities (and not just city governments) to use their existing assets and leverage new tech to become smarter, greener, connected, and more successful.

Speakers:

Madan Jagernauth President FutureMobile Services
Rob Phocas Sustainability Director City Manager’s Office, City of Charlotte
Scott Clark CIO Town of Chapel Hill
Fatma Mili Dean of the College of Computing and Informatics UNC Charlotte
Jane Nickles CIO, Information Technology Department City of Greensboro

Sponsor:

CBNL

Location

Room 217D

Exploring the FCC’s 3.5 GHz CBRS Rules and the Impact on Private LTE Networks

The novel three-tier sharing framework coordinates spectrum access among the incumbent military radars, satellite earth stations, and new commercial users. The three tiers of use are Incumbent, Priority Access License (PAL), and General Authorized Access (GAA). The SAS is an advanced, highly automated radio spectrum coordinator within the CBRS 3.5 GHz band, and is tasked with protecting the higher-tier users from lower-tier users and optimizing efficient use of the available spectrum in the band for all users. As a result, the 150 MHz of CBRS spectrum is dynamically shared. Discover the impacts of the SAS on your business.

Speakers:

Monica Paolini Founder of Senza Fili
K.C. Halm Partner Davis Wright Tremaine
Arpan Sura Senior Associate Hogan Lovells
Jason Davila Partner Wave Wireless

Sponsor:

CBRS Alliance

Location

Room 217BC

Multi-Carrier Small Cell Solutions for In-Building Wireless

Carriers understand the need to improve in-building coverage as one of the highest priorities in improving their networks. But it is a cost and resource challenge for each carrier to expand their coverage to every building that they would like to cover. Multi-carrier small cell solutions present an answer for neutral host networks, building owners and carriers. This session examines emerging virtualized small cell solutions that have become available that can face the challenge of addressing the economic and multi-carrier requirements of the small and medium size venues.

Speakers:

Carmine Battafarano President HMI Technical Solutions, LLC
Matt Fallon VP Business Development Bandwidth Logic
Slavko Djukic CTO Zinwave

Sponsor:

Zinwave, LLC

Location

Room 211/212

5G Ultra Dense Networks

Next-generation connectivity will be realized through a convergence of wired and wireless sites, and ultra-dense networks comprising macro towers and small cells that support more frequencies including licensed, unlicensed and millimeter wave bands. As small cells become important for capacity and high data rate coverage, operators must decide how to integrate them into their wide area network. New challenges are also brought with the densely deployed mobile heterogeneous networks, such as the evolved network architecture, energy efficiency, interference mitigation, and effective resource management.

Speakers:

Andre de Grasse Founder & CEO AIMM Global Inc.
Greg Najjar Director, Business Development Advanced RF Technologies, Inc.
Michael Whitley Vice President, Business Development PT Access Networks

Sponsor:

Vogue Towers

Location

Room 217A

State Capitals: Building a 5G Future

Hundreds of thousands of small cells and sensors, connected by fiber and fixed wireless, are what is required to meet the near future demands of 5G. Municipalities of all sizes are fielding more and more requests to install small cells, fiber, and a denser array of wireless antennas. This session will discuss the policy considerations for all stakeholders in a 5G environment, including harmonizing the views of Federal policymakers with State and Local Government leaders, in order to find a common framework to fulfill on the promise of 5G.

Speakers:

Adam Bender Associate Editor Communications Daily
Monica Gambino Vice President, Legal Crown Castle
Danielle Dean Director of Telecommunications and Technology, National Conference of State Legislatures NCSL
Christy Ellerbee Consultant & State Lobbyist Christie Ellerbee Consulting

Sponsors:

Location

Room 213CD

TEC – 5G Outlook

5G mobile networks remain a couple of years away from standardization, but the lack of final standards has not discouraged interest, investment and declarations of initial trials in various parts of the world. This course provides an overview of 5G capabilities and use cases based on the current field trials. 5G is reviewed from the perspective of cellular operators, regulators, and academia. The course evaluates driving forces behind 5G efforts, timeline, key requirements of 5G, and pre-5G activities in cellular infrastructure domain. Key topics includes future roadmaps for key operators, guidelines on spectrum and regulator initiatives, and academic research on millimeter waves, massive MIMO, and IoT. The course also debunks various myths of 5G and its deployment. Register today!

Location

Room 201

Indoor Coverage: Requirements, Funding and Solutions to Meet FirstNet Coverage Requirements

For public safety agencies, reliable coverage is essential indoor as well as outdoor. Some jurisdictions have enacted ordinances requiring minimum levels of coverage for public safety communications within new buildings. In addition, the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are currently pursuing the adoption of national-level model codes and standards to help ensure that improved in-building coverage is addressed on a nationwide basis. This session outlines what property owners and public safety officials need to know about the trending requirements for providing in-building coverage.

Speakers:

Brian Darracott Public Safety Account Manager, Longent
John Foley General Manager Safer Buildings Coalition
Travis Craft COO Longent

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

Break

Emerging Technologies for Search and Rescue: LTE and Emergency Services

LTE networks can support safe drone operation in real-world environments, with existing commercial cellular networks providing coverage to drones at low altitudes up to 400 feet above ground level. LTE also improves interference mitigation techniques and power control optimization. The seamless transition of connectivity between deployable solutions (such as UAVs) and the macro network is discussed in this session.

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

The Role of Public Safety Broadband Networks in the Smart City

FirstNet is working to build a national data communications network that would put "smart phone" technology in the hands of police, fire, and other public safety agencies. It would enable first responders to share text, pictures, real-time video and other mobile "apps" designed for public safety. As a separate network dedicated to public safety, it would be more secure and less prone to failure during a disaster than today's commercial networks. This session discusses how cities can leverage FirstNet and public safety networks for new services and applications.

Speakers:

Alan Tilles Counsel GWTCA
Anna Gomez Partner Wiley Rein
John McGrath CEO Advantage Engineers
Matt Walsh Director of Strategy, IoT and Smart Cities AT&T
John Foley General Manager Safer Buildings Coalition

Sponsor:

CBNL

Location

Room 217D

MulteFire in the Enterprise

The ability to deploy LTE in all unlicensed spectrum significantly lowers the barrier to entry for enterprises looking to take control of their connectivity needs. This session examines the use of the Multefire protocol to deploy a neutral host network, facilitating a seamless user experience while extending value across the ecosystem. A private and neutral host LTE with MulteFire can be seen as a mechanism by which carriers, operators and venue owners connect end users and enterprise applications more efficiently.

Speakers:

Daniel Intolubbe-Chmil Senior Analyst Harbor Research
Kishore Raja Vice President, Engineering, Strategic Programs Boingo

Sponsor:

CBRS Alliance

Location

Room 217BC

The Next-Generation Intersection: Integrated Traffic Technologies to Improve Safety for Everyone, Not Just Cars

For all its familiarity and organizational power, the intersection is also a source of great stress and frustration. Digital technology that wasn’t available even five years ago carries the promise of a more responsive intersection. Sensor arrays and computer vision can make detection of multiple street users readily achievable, potentially providing a more accurate count of all modes and informing decisions about traffic flow and priorities.

Speakers:

Kiel Ova Chief Marketing Officer Traffic Technology Services Inc. (TTS)
Tim Downs Executive Producer Connectivity Expo

Location

Room 218/219

Business Outlook: Private Tower & Infrastructure Owners

The tower industry is expecting carrier activity to increase significantly in 2018 and beyond. Among the near-term catalysts are the FirstNet build out, the TV Repack, 4G build outs and 5G fixed wireless. What does this mean for the infrastructure owners outside of the nationwide tower aggregators? What other day-to-day issues are facing today’s tower, small cell and development services companies? On this panel, tower owners, small cell players, services companies and the brokerage community address the key issues affecting the business.

Speakers:

Ron Bizick CEO Tarpon Towers
Danny Agresta President & CEO APC Towers
Bob Paige Senior Vice President of M&A Vertical Bridge
Tony Peduto CEO CTI Towers

Sponsor:

Vogue Towers

Location

Room 217A

Wireless Infrastructure: The View from Washington

Policy leaders, both inside and outside WIA, provide a summary of policy issues and considerations at the forefront of the wireless infrastructure community. Notable will be the latest information and insight regarding Federal issues including 5G, colocation regulations, rural broadband and overcoming the digital divide, innovative spectrum use and more. This is the opportunity to hear how voices in Washington are working to reduce the barrier to wireless infrastructure deployment while advocating for innovation and investment.

Speakers:

Scott Thompson Attorney Davis Wright Tremaine
Christine Crowe Administrative Partner Wilkinson Barker Knauer
Erin McGrath Wireless Advisor Commissioner O'Rielly
Aimee Meacham NTIA

Sponsors:

Location

Room 213CD

Supplier Diversity Summit Meetings

Sponsors:

Location

Ballroom A

Your Top 5 Considerations when Planning Your First FirstNet Deployment in North Carolina

In North Carolina, what are the current options to access FirstNet? What user devices are available now, and what’s planned? What other tools are available? How will it work with my legacy public safety radio network? Understand how to prepare your organization to take advantage of FirstNet’s mission critical data capabilities, how to seamlessly bridge communications between LMR and LTE, and the next steps your organization needs to take to enhance your voice and data communication networks. What changes are needed to your equipment and your processes to get ready for FirstNet?

Speaker:

Beverly McRae President & Director of Sales USAT Corp.

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

Optimize Your Workforce Through Apprenticeship

A registered apprenticeship is a proven work-and-learn model for preparing the workforce for key occupations within the wireless industry. This session is designed to help employers seeking to initiate or expand apprenticeship programs by introducing the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship model and WIA’s role as National Sponsor. This session provides an opportunity for companies to engage directly with subject matter experts to assist you in determining how an apprenticeship program might become an integral part of your workforce development strategy. In addition, we’ll identify resources and partners that can assist in the development of a new program or sustainability of your existing program. Enhance this session by scheduling a private 1:1 session with the National Sponsor by contacting Deb Bennett at Deb.Bennett @wia.org.

Speakers:

Deb Bennett Director of Apprenticeship Wireless Infrastructure Association
Gerry Ghazi Subject Matter Expert, Manufacturing Apprenticeships Jobs for the Future
Scott Kisting TIRAP Chair PTS Advisors
Charles F. Vaughan SC State Director USDOL Office of Apprenticeship

Sponsor:

Enertech Resources

Location

Ballroom B

Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk Roundtable

LTE is a very different technology than the LMR systems that are used today for mission-critical voice—for instance, LTE has many more sites, uses different codecs and operates at much lower power levels than LMR. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? What technical hurdles has mission-critical push-to-talk solved for it to be a viable option? What devices will be retrofitted, created or replaced? What challenges remain? Discuss migration timing, functionality and ongoing testing for both on-network and off-network communications.

Sponsor:

FirstNet Built with AT&T

Location

Ballroom C

Innovation and Technology Council

Location

Providence Ballroom II, Westin Charlotte

RIoT XXV Reception

On May 23rd, 5-7:30pm, RIoT will hold their 25th event focused on Smart Cities of the South. Cities are increasingly prioritizing smart city initiatives for the communities they serve. This not only serves as a driver of economic development and IoT, it provides efficiencies that improve quality of life for its residents. Join us in learning about the collaboration between the Charlotte Area Transit Authority and a local entrepreneur success story, Passport, that creates accessibility improvements to the Blue Line light rail system. Networking reception, including food and drink, to immediately follow.

Agenda:
5:00 - 5:30pm - Welcome & Introductions
5:30 - 5:45pm - Olaf Kinard, Assistant Director of Public Transit, CATS
5:45 - 6:00pm - Tom Wiese, Transit Sales Lead, Passport
6:00 - 7:30pm – Networking Reception
Register Now!

Sponsor:

Riot

Location

Richardson Ballroom Foyer

President’s Reception

By invitation only.

Sponsor:

The Lyle Company

Location

Gantt Center

Wireless Industry Gala

By invitation only.

Sponsors:

Location

Mint Museum

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14th Annual Golf Outing

Location

Introduction to CBRS

Speaker:

Location

The 3.5 GHz Band: Rules, Band Plan, Spectrum Considerations

Speaker:

Location

Infrastructure Developers Forum Meeting

Location

Market Drivers for CBRS

Speaker:

Location

Technology Standards: Updates and Milestones

Speakers:

Location

A Killer App for CBRS: The Neutral Host Network

Speaker:

Location

Networks and Devices

Speaker:

Location

WWLF Reception

Location

Karaoke Live Featuring Papa Bear and the Love Den

Sponsors:

Location

HetNet Forum Breakfast and Annual Meeting of Members

Sponsor:

Location

New Edge Computing Architectures and Implementations for IoT

Speaker:

Sponsor:

Location

Connected Cities: How Municipalities Play a Key Role in the 5G Revolution

Speakers:

Sponsor:

Location

Private LTE: A Reality for Industrial IoT Enterprises

Speakers:

Sponsor:

Location

Neutral Host: Infrastructure Ownership and Service Models

Speakers:

Sponsor:

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The Next Wave in Infrastructure: V2X, V2I, V2V

Speaker:

Location

Ramping up for 5G and Hyper-Densification with DAS, Small Cells and Wi-Fi

Speakers:

Sponsor:

Location

Rapidly Deployable Multi-Platform LTE Networks

Speakers:

Sponsor:

Location

FirstNet 101: The Basics of the PBSN

Sponsor:

Location

Risk Assessment: Ensure a Competitive Advantage Through Effective Workforce Planning

Speakers:

Sponsor:

Location

Budgeting, Capital Expense and Cost of Ownership in an LTE World

Sponsor:

Location

FirstNet’s Network Functionality, Applications and Security

Sponsor:

Location

Break

Enabling Technologies at the Edge: SDN, NFV, Cloud, Fog and Cloudlets