CES FOCUS WIDENING TO TELECOM, INTERNET, GOVT.
Although it’s still focused heavily on consumer electronics gadgets, the annual Consumer Electronics Show is expanding rapidly to include govt. officials, the telecom and satellite industries and the Internet. The convention is Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas (www.cesweb.org).
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At least 4 members of Congress are scheduled to speak at the convention. A congressional panel 3 p.m. Jan. 9 features Reps. Davis (R-Va.), Coleman (R-Minn.) and Barton (R-Tex.), and there’s an HDTV panel 3 p.m. Jan. 9 with Rep. Terry (R- Neb.).
Other govt. officials scheduled are: FCC Chmn. Powell 7:30 a.m. Jan. 9 (CD Dec 31 p5); Acting NTIA Dir. Michael Gallagher on a Wi-Fi panel, noon Jan. 9; FTC Comr. Mozelle Thompson on a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) panel; an international technology policy panel, 10 a.m. Jan. 10 featuring Phillip Bond, U.S. Undersecy. of Commerce; Matthias Kurth, head of the German telecom regulatory authority; Masahiro Tabata, senior vice minister of the Japanese Posts & Telecom Ministry; and Daeje Chin, Korean Minister of Information & Communication; Rick Chessen, chmn. of the FCC DTV Task Force, on an HDTV panel; FCC Office of Plans & Policy Chief Robert Pepper on a wireless panel at noon Jan. 8.
Among the telecom speakers are Sprint Chmn. Gary Forsee keynoting 9 a.m. Jan. 9, and Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg in an industry insider presentation 2:30 Jan. 8. There also will be a broadband panel 10:30 Jan. 10. A wireless supersession at 11:30 Jan. 9 includes Virgin Mobile CEO Dan Schulman, Sprint PCS Pres. Len Lauer, XtremeSpectrum CEO Martin Rofheart, and Disney Internet Group Pres. Steve Wadsworth. Sprint PCS Vp Chip Novick speaks on a digital imaging at a supersession 1:30 Jan. 9.
Cable and satellite officials probably will have their largest presence ever at the convention. For example, a content and delivery roundtable at 1 p.m. Jan. 9 includes ESPN Pres. George Bodenheimer, HDNet Chmn. Mark Cuban, Cablevision Chmn. Charles Dolan, Discovery Chmn. John Hendricks, Time Warner Cable Chmn. Glenn Britt, EchoStar Chmn. Charles Ergen and DirecTV Chmn. Eddy Hartenstein. The Satellite Bcstg. & Communications Assn. sponsors a series of sessions Jan. 8-10.
Internet and PC speakers often have had significant roles at CES. This year’s speakers include Microsoft Chmn. Bill Gates (6:30 Jan. 7), RealNetworks Chmn. Rob Glaser (10:30 Fri.), Dell CEO Michael Dell (12:30 Jan. 8), Hewlett- Packard Chmn. Carly Fiorina (4:30 Jan. 8), Intel COO Paul Otellini (10:30 Jan. 8). Other speakers at the DMCA panel Jan. 8 include RIAA Senior Vp Matt Oppenheim, Universal Music Group Senior Vp Amanda Marks, Consumers Union’s Chris Murray, CEA Vp-Govt. Affairs Michael Petricone, News Corp. Vp-Govt. Affairs Rick Lane and Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn partner Anthony Lupo.
Other panels include: a digital cable and satellite TV strategies session 1:30 Jan. 8; a TV-on-demand session, noon Jan. 8; an online massive multiplayer panel, 5:40 Jan. 7; a series of sessions sponsored by the IPv6 Forum on the next- generation Internet protocol.