Tech Conference Precautions Reassure Some, Annoy Others

ASPEN, Colorado -- Even before the Technology Policy Institute conference began, this week's event stood apart on coronavirus safety precautions from others we surveyed in the communications sector. A few weeks before the annual gathering, organizers emailed attendees a list of safety mandates, including wearing masks regardless of vaccination status, social distancing and some speeches held outdoors, exceeding government mandates. Also unlike other conferences, this one had all meals but one outside.

The precautions roughly divided attendees. Some we spoke with, including those who work at TPI, were reassured. Others found some precautions duplicative. A public health expert said he couldn’t think of any additional safety requirements beyond TPI's.

Meanwhile, NAB announced Wednesday that it would require proof of vaccination for all attendees and participants at the NAB Show, set to start Oct. 9 in Las Vegas (see 2108180061). And Tuesday, CTA disclosed a vaccine requirement for CES 2022 that's Jan. 5-8 and also at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) said this week that large gatherings that screen attendees for proof of vaccinations can forego mask requirements.

Those in TPI's reassured camp said its masking, vaccination and other requirements left them feeling as safe as possible while the COVID-19 delta variant spreads. Those who were annoyed maintained it's unnecessary to wear masks while also being tested and around only others who were likewise vaccinated and tested. Showing the difference one month makes in an evolving public health crisis, a state telecom regulators' conference in Denver had far fewer mandates.

Amid changing government requirements, there were some vagaries in Aspen. Although TPI attendees were asked to get tested at the conference or just beforehand, there wasn't a consistent mechanism to report results. Guidance on what to do at the host hotel wasn’t consistent. Some signs said all guests regardless of vaccination status must wear masks in public indoors. Other materials suggested it's recommended, not required.

One thing all agreed on was that this conference didn't leave much to chance. And attendees mostly followed the rules. On Monday, the think tank's President Scott Wallsten reminded audience members that though "it’s tempting" to take masks off, "please leave them on,” saying "it’s not for you, it’s for everyone around you.” About a week earlier, attendees learned they could get on-site COVID-19 tests. They were asked to either take one as the gathering opened or to get one before traveling. That caused some grumbling.

Late Details?

Some at TPI wanted more information sooner so they could have been better prepared.

Facebook oversight board member Julie Owono "was very reassured that there was an awareness of making sure people were vaccinated." Still, she and others didn't come ready to take a virus test on-site. "I wish there was more information" sooner from TPI, said Owono, also executive director of Internet Without Borders. "It's important for organizations in this time to be upfront about what they do," she added.

Some deemed it duplicative to wear masks after having the required shots. Facebook oversight board co-Chair Michael McConnell was generally OK with the health requirements but said "masks on top of the other things seems redundant."

While some say these rules "are too strict," people "have different risk preferences," responded Wallsten to word that we got our test. "I think we're reducing infection risk at low cost to attendees." He said participants were generally understanding of the restrictions. "A few people think they're excessive," Wallsten emailed us. "Two people refused testing and are not coming as a result."

Some others dropped out because of concerns over the increased contagiousness of the delta variant, prompting employers to curb travel, attendees said. Some sessions were hybrid, with some speakers there and others via video. For Owono, McConnell and others associated with the Facebook oversight board, Aspen was their first time meeting each other in-person (see 2108160031).

"Selfishly, I need to be safe for my super at-risk husband plus my two granddaughters who aren't able to get vaccinated," tweeted TPI Vice President-Finance and Operations Jane Creel. "We just want everyone to be safe & well."

Safety Steps

The hotel that hosts the annual conclave wasn’t taking many risks. It, too, wanted guests and staff to wear face coverings. All public areas of the location, the St. Regis Aspen Resort, had HEPA air filters. At night, hotel staff use electrostatic antimicrobial sprayers. This is all according to Heather Steenge-Hart, Marriott International Luxury Brands area general manager-luxury mountain properties.

These steps appear to make "people feel a little more confident that we’re taking care of them," said Steenge-Hart. "There’s a very large debate going on around the country, so people have their opinions" whether the steps are worthwhile, she said. "Most people are compliant, but not all" wear masks there, Steenge-Hart noted.

“It seems awfully comprehensive,” said pulmonologist-epidemiologist Jonathan Samet of TPI requirements. "I don’t think you could do much more to minimize risk, except for not having the meeting." The American Public Health Association hybrid annual meeting Oct. 24-27 in Denver requires masks and requests vaccinations but not testing yet, Samet said by phone Monday. “This conference in Aspen has taken many measures to try to minimize risk," added Samet, dean of the Colorado School of Public Health. APHA didn't comment Wednesday.

TPI and other "conference attendees should also consider opting in for CO Exposure Notifications," in addition to getting inoculated, emailed a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment spokesperson. "Your Android or iPhone device will share anonymous tokens with other CO Exposure Notifications users using your phone’s Bluetooth. If another CO Exposure Notifications user you’ve been near tests positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period, the service will notify you. CO Exposure Notifications can alert individuals who would otherwise be unaware that they have been exposed to the virus, which is especially important for people who are asymptomatic and may be unknowingly spreading the virus." The department declined an interview request.

Pitkin County, home of Aspen, didn't appear to have coronavirus outbreaks recently, per state data. Some 89% of those who can get the shots there have had at least one dose, placing it No. 3 among Colorado counties. Pitkin County health officials didn't comment.

TPI, NARUC

TPI safety measures and delta concerns didn’t much dent attendance compared with years past, said Wallsten last week. Some 130 people had registered to go in person, he said. Approximately another 50 signed up to participate in the virtual event, the first time TPI Aspen has been hybrid, Creel emailed us. "Being there in person has benefits that you can’t replicate virtually," Wallsten said, something others going to physical events note. "Everybody should be vaccinated. If they don’t want to be vaccinated, they shouldn’t be traveling or coming to a conference, particularly ours."

Bigger events like some in media, tech and telecom that draw many thousands of people have "a much bigger challenge" keeping participants safe, Wallsten said. “We’re as nervous about the delta variant as anyone else. But we want the conference to happen, and we want everyone to be safe.” The rise of delta prompted TPI to move more activities outside and have testing, Wallsten said.

Just under a month earlier in Denver, when the public was less concerned about delta, strictures were considerably looser at an annual summer meeting of state regulators. We observed a single NARUC attendee wearing a mask, and many others said they weren't concerned about getting sick because they were fully vaccinated. (See our report from that event.)

NARUC isn't aware of any of the 605 attendees becoming infected with COVID-19, a spokesperson said Monday. She said another 311 took part virtually, with total participation nearly that of the 943 who went to the last such event, in 2019. The organization's next gathering, Nov. 7-10 in Louisville, for now will be "in person, without a virtual component," the representative said.

As far as attending future conferences in general, FTC Commissioner Noah Phillips said he will continue to monitor the pandemic and what "we’re seeing on the ground.” And “thank God, we’re not where we were a year ago," he told us in Aspen. "But we’re definitely not out of the woods yet. I think that means everybody needs to be careful.”

Editor's note: This is part of our ongoing coverage of the pandemic and its effects on telecom and associated sectors. Our July 20 article on courts returning to regular operations is here and another on virtual oral arguments is here. Previous surveys of convention plans are here and here. An update on the FCC's eventual physical reopening is here. For upcoming events, see https://communicationsdaily.com/calendar.