Net Neutrality in the UK | Final programme

Net Neutrality in the UK

Guests of Honour: Claire Hobson, Head of UK Telecoms Policy, DTI; and Dougal Scott, Director of Policy Development, Ofcom

Timing: Morning, 20th March 2007 |Venue: Lewis Media Centre Millbank Tower London SW1P 4RS

Sponsor: AT&T

As the debate around net neutrality in the US continues, this meeting will bring together key stakeholders to discuss the possible implications for the UK, and the future of the Internet.

Its purpose is to provide a timely opportunity to consider some of the major issues that affect UK business and consumers, including unhindered access to the Internet as a civil right, what the Internet of the future may look like, and the international scope of the net neutrality debate.

We are delighted that Claire Hobson, Head of UK Telecoms Policy, DTI, and Dougal Scott, Director of Policy Development, Ofcom, will be giving keynote addresses at this event.

Other confirmed speakers so far include: Richard Allan, Head of Government Affairs, Cisco Systems UK and Ireland; Dorothy Attwood, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Planning and Policy, AT&T; Professor William Dutton, Director, and Professor of Internet Studies, Oxford Internet Institute; David Harrington, Leader, Regulatory Affairs, Communications Management Association; Andy May, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Cable & Wireless; Graeme Maguire, Partner, Bird & Bird; Andrew Murray, Senior Lecturer in Law, London School of Economics; Stefano Nicoletti, Principal Analyst, Ovum; Andrew Orlowski, Editor at Large, The Register; Chip Shooshan, Principal Consultant, Analysys Consulting; John Wilson, Internet advocate; and Christopher Wolf, Partner, Proskauer Rose.

Charles Hendry MP, Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry, and Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, former Minister for Trade and Industry, will be chairing this seminar.

Supported by AT&T, this important meeting is organised on the basis of strict impartiality by the Westminster eForum.

To view a full Live Agenda for this event click here.

http://westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/eforum/nn.pdf

Westminster eForum Keynote Seminar: Net Neutrality in the UK
Venue: Lewis Media Centre, Millbank Tower, Millbank, SW1P 4RS
Timing: morning, Tuesday 20th March 2007
Draft agenda subject to change

8.45 – 9.00 Registration
9.00 – 9.05 Chairman’s opening remarks
Charles Hendry MP, Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry

9.05 – 9.35 Net Neutrality in the UK: the view from DTI
Theme: An overview of the UK position on net neutrality. Where do we stand, and what is the likely future response to these emerging issues?
Claire Hobson, Head of UK Telecoms Policy, DTI
Questions and comments from the floor

9.35 – 10.20 Net neutrality: an overview
Theme: What does the term “net neutrality” actually mean? In whose interests is net neutrality, and in whose interests is a tiered internet system? Is
unhindered access to content on the internet a basic civil right, or is the prioritisation of content the only way to administer a limited resource?
Dorothy Attwood, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Planning and Policy, AT&T
Rhys Williams, Partner, Bird &Bird
Chip Shooshan, Principal Consultant, Analysys Consulting
John Wilson, Internet advocate
Andrew Orlowski, Editor at Large, The Register
Questions and comments from the floor

10.20 – 11.05 The future of the Internet: what does a net-neutral (or not) future look like?
Theme: How would net neutrality or lack thereof, affect business and consumers in the UK? How might the Internet evolve, and what does a net
neutral (or not) future look like?
Richard Allan, Head of Government Affairs, Cisco Systems UK and Ireland
Christopher Wolf, Partner, Proskauer Rose, and Co-Chair, Hands Off The Internet
Paul Myers, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Wippit
Philip Virgo, Secretary General, EURIM
Professor William Dutton, Director, and Professor of Internet Studies, Oxford Internet Institute
Questions and comments from the floor

11.05 – 11.10 Chairman’s closing remarks
Charles Hendry MP, Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry
11.10 – 11.30 Coffee

11.30 – 11.35 Chairman’s opening remarks
Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, former Minister for Trade and Industry

11.35 – 12.00 Regulating the Internet
Theme: Ofcom’s view on net neutrality.
Dougal Scott, Director of Policy Development, Ofcom
Questions and comments from the floor

12.00 – 12.45 Regulating the Internet: Are current regulatory systems appropriate to deal with net neutrality?
Theme: Is the current regulatory system adequate and appropriate to tackle net neutrality issues? If not, what should be done to fix it?
Andy May, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Cable & Wireless
David Harrington, Leader, Regulatory Affairs, Communications Management Association
Andrew Murray, Senior Lecturer, Department of Law, London School of Economics
Stefano Nicoletti, Principal Analyst, Ovum
Questions and comments from the floor

12.45 – 12.55 Closing thoughts from DTI
Theme: A response to the morning from DTI.
Claire Hobson, Head of UK Telecoms Policy, DTI

12.55 – 13.00 Chairman’s and WeF closing remarks
Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, former Minister for Trade and Industry
Peter van Gelder, Director, Westminster eForum