8 a.m.
Coffee and Danishes
9 – 10 a.m.
Inside Wireless Deals
Kevin DiLallo – Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby LLP
Ben Fox – TechCaliber Consulting LLC
Wireless deals – voice and data alike – have “moving parts” that you don’t see in the wireline world. Coverage ... wildly diverse rate plans ... an explosion of wireless devices ... poor (at best) baseline information. Kevin and Ben show you how to address these issues and fine tune your negotiation tactics to secure a winning wireless contract.
10 – 10:20 a.m.
Refreshment Break & Exhibits
10:20 – 11:20 a.m.
Hear from Your Peers: Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Ellen Block, Deb Boehling & Hank Levine – Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby LLP
Ben Fox – TechCaliber Consulting LLC
The communications pros who attend the Telecom Negotiation Conference represent a truly outstanding cross section of companies ... and they have a wealth of negotiating experiences (good and bad). In this can’t-miss session, you’ll hear firsthand how your peers deal with problems like shortfall penalties, bogus rate reviews, excessive commitments and pressure from management. Get ready for horror stories and shining moments, and rest assured you’ll learn and benefit from both!
11:20 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.
Refreshment Break & Exhibits
11:35 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.
Intrastate and Local Services: ILECs
Kevin DiLallo – Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby LLP
Most enterprise customers still buy intrastate services out of the incumbent carrier tariffs and wind up saddled with non-negotiated rates and lopsided terms and conditions. The bad news is that the market (and process) for intrastate deals lags behind the interstate market; the good news is you can do much better than the vendors would have you believe. Join Kevin for an inside look at the rates and terms you could be getting for regulated local services, and what you must do to ensure your negotiated deal isn’t voided by ILEC tariffs.
12:35 – 1:45 p.m.
Luncheon & Exhibits
1:45 – 5 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
Breakout sessions are organized into two tracks, and each has three sessions; conference participants are free to attend those they like.
1:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Track A: Economic Shakeout: How to Shield Your Deal in Tough Times
Hank Levine – Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby LLP
Larry York – TechCaliber Consulting LLC
The ripple effect of the economic turmoil will reshape IT and telecom decision making – and your deal – in a flash. But you can build – or renegotiate – safeguards into your deal that address unprecedented changes in your spend, your traffic and your network topology.
Discover how in this just-added, all-new breakout session.
Track B: Wireless Deals 201
Kevin DiLallo & Joaquin Gamboa – Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby LLP
Ben Fox – TechCaliber Consulting LLC
Build on the “Inside Wireless Deals” session with a deep dive into the thorny challenges that surround mobility. From commitment and early termination fees to coverage and devices – including a checklist of 7 critical contract considerations – this session is a must-attend for wireless-heavy enterprises!
2:50 - 3:50 p.m.
Track A: Duopoly & Technology: The One-Two Punch of Procurement Planning
David Rohde – TechCaliber Consulting LLC
The number, strategy and stability of the vendors in the market must be a prime consideration as you work your way through procurement planning. Are AT&T and Verizon really your only alternatives? Is Sprint a safe choice or a risky bet? Will Qwest ever really be a national player in the enterprise market? Will mergers of second-tier carriers help or hurt? Can cable, Ethernet and WiMAX offer relief for local access? Uncover the answers to these questions (and more!) to ensure your procurement incorporates and reflects marketplace realities.
Track B: Transport Service Levels
Andrew Brown – Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby LLP
David Lee – TechCaliber Consulting LLC
Don’t spend your time and money negotiating an SLA that serves neither party. Unless you know what’s really important, reasonable and workable, you run that risk! In this revealing breakout, you’ll find out how to negotiate service standards that are a win-win for you and your carrier.
3:50 - 4 p.m.
Refreshment Break & Exhibits
4 - 5 p.m.
Track A: Managed Services
Marc Lindsey – Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby LLP
David Lee – TechCaliber Consulting LLC
A tough economy brings layoffs ... downsizing ... emergency cost cuts and yes, managed services into play. But look before you leap, because the array and depth of managed services is confusing and complex. Navigate through your options and get a handle on the pros and cons of managed services in this enlightening session.
Track B: International Procurements
Deb Boehling – Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby LLP
Ben Fox – TechCaliber Consulting LLC
Global deals have evolved dramatically as more and more companies need them. These deals require major adjustments in strategy, tactics and expectations. Finding the sweet spot of each potential carrier’s regional or truly global capabilities is a particular challenge. This lively breakout shows you how to take your domestic skills overseas successfully.
5 p.m.
Conference Adjourns
