W2i Digital Cities Convention Next Stop: Tempe, Arizona The global conference and professional-development series explores win-win solutions for deploying broadband-wireless networks for cities and communities  Boston. 01/09/2007 — The global conference and professional-development series explores win-win solutions for deploying broadband-wireless networks for cities and communities Boston, Mass. (January 9, 2007) — To provide local-government technology stakeholders with a firsthand understanding of broadband-wireless infrastructure planning, applications, and services for their communities, the Wireless Internet Institute (W2i) and the City of Tempe, Arizona, co-host the Digital Cities Convention this February 13–14, 2007, at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel. Prepared by a Program Committee of local-government and national broadband-wireless stakeholders, the two-day agenda provides a forum for professional development through best-practice sharing on the broadband-wireless opportunity for cities, communities and regions. Local-government "fellow travelers" at various stages of planning and deployment hear from panels of experts and field practitioners, attend practical training and "nuts-and-bolts" seminars, and compare notes at roundtable sessions exploring the entire range of project drivers — from improving citizen satisfaction, increasing municipal workforce productivity, and reducing recurring telecommunication costs for local agencies; to spurring economic and social development and digital inclusion. "The City of Tempe welcomes W2i and the attendees of the Digital Cities Convention," said David Heck, Deputy CIO, City of Tempe, and conference co-chair. "For some time, Tempe has been observed and recognized for its efforts with border-to-border Wi-Fi, and this event is a great opportunity to compare notes and lessons learned with fellow broadband-wireless stakeholders." "W2i is excited about hosting the Digital Convention in Tempe in support of its early and ongoing leadership in metro-scale broadband wireless," said Daniel Aghion, Executive Director of the Wireless Internet Institute. "We look forward to many engaging discussions and reflections on the broadband-wireless opportunity for the cities and counties of Arizona, the Southwest and beyond." Conference Day 1 — Feb. 13 The conference kicks off with a welcome from the City of Tempe and a technology roadmap session exploring multiple and complementary broadband-wireless networking solutions. A panel of local-government chief information officers will relay their experiences with digital-city planning, requests for proposals, and public-private partnerships. The afternoon features four nuts-and-bolts seminars in the Technology Showcase area aimed especially at local-government IT professionals in the early stages of planning in their communities: Metro-Scale Broadband-Wireless for Beginners Key Questions Behind RFP Concept and Design Vertical Assets, Permitting, and Pole Attachments Funding Broadband-Wireless Networks The afternoon also features two invitation-only sessions for stakeholders: The Wireless-Networks User Experience Roundtable provides a forum for brainstorming on the relative value proposition of wireless networks. Users describe their expectations and experiences with wireless, and findings will form the beginning criteria of a Wireless Networks Value Index. Presented by Novarum and W2i. The 3rd Digital Inclusion Roundtable, building off the results of the 2nd Digital Inclusion Roundtable in Philadelphia in December, where participants developed a Digital Inclusion Metrics Framework. Participants will examine metrics from urban settings and compare them Arizona stakeholders' experience and feedback. Presented by IBM and W2i. Later in the afternoon, participants will convene for a keynote address, roundtable reports, and a final plenary session exploring regional interoperability. Groups of small and medium-size cities as well as paris of counties have begun coordinating on plans. From Silicon Valley to the Denver region, project leaders will gather to explore the issues and opportunities associated with multi-jurisdictional coordination. Day 1 concludes with a reception in the Technology Showcase area. Conference Day 2 — Feb. 14 Day 2 kicks off with a keynote address and a full morning of case-study presentations from leading field practioners using broadband-wireless in the following areas: Public Safety and Emergency Response Government Operations Reengineering Intelligent Transport Neighborhood Portals Campus and School District Environments The morning also features the 5th Service Provider Executives and Local-Government CIOs Roundtable, an invitation-only session exploring balance in public-private partnerships, with groups of broadband-wireless service-provider executives and local-government CIOs examining what each side can bring to an agreement. The conference concludes with a Mayors Panel examining the broadband-wireless opportunity for cities. Mayors gather together to explore plans and projects under way in their communities, with an emphasis on economic, social and educational development, improving citizen satisfaction, and increasing efficiency and productivity of local-government workers. Preconference Professional Development — Feb. 12 The Municipal Wireless Networks & Technology Training Seminar at the Digital Cities Convention is a day-long session exploring municipal wireless models, city strategies, technologies, system capabilities, and the applications these networks empower. NetLogix, the leading consulting, engineering and training services firm, provides attendees with hands-on community and solution exercises designed to jumpstart the planning and deployment of a broadband-wireless infrastructure. Please visit the conference Web site for complete details. Private-Sector Endorsements In addition to ongoing cooperation agreements with international-development organizations, such as the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and CIFAL Atlanta, the W2i Digital Cities Convention is endorsed by the WiMAX Forum and has secured the sponsorship of Motorola as well as Firetide, Packethop, SkyPilot Networks, and Strix Systems. About the W2i Digital Cities Series The Wireless Internet Institute (W2i) is an independent forum bringing together stakeholders around the world to accelerate the adoption of wireless Internet in support of social and economic development and better managed cities, communities and regions. Held annually in three to four regions of the world, the W2i Digital Cities Convention includes a thought-leadership conference exploring the planning and deployment of broadband-wireless infrastructure, applications and services; practical training for local authorities; roundtables for wireless service-provider executives and digital-inclusion stakeholders; the annual Wireless Communities Best-Practices Awards; and a Technology Showcase produced in partnership with the public sector, private sector, and international development institutions. Building on conventions in Philadelphia, Shanghai, San Francisco, Bilbão, Houston, Rio, and Los Angeles, and London, planning is in final stages for Tempe, Arizona (February 13-14, 2007) and Chicago (May 22-23, 2007). Contact: Daniel Aghion Executive Director Wireless Internet Institute (617) 439-5400 back Cover An Event! Sign up to receive W2i's latest announcements: Journalist's e-mail Powered by VerticalResponse