MSBA Communications Law Section
Archived Annual Reports
2003-04 | 2002-03 | 1999-2000 | 1996-97
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MSBA Communications Law Section
2003-04 Annual Report

The Communications Law Section invited its members to a planning meeting on September 5, 2003. Nine members of the section attended the meeting. The group decided that the Section would be best served by holding a number of noon hour CLEs during the fall, winter and spring and planning for an all day CLE during the summer. The group decided upon the fees to charge members ($10), non-members ($15) and students ($10).

Chair Jeff Oxley took responsibility for organizing the noon hour CLEs. The following meetings were held:

October 1, 2003: “The Challenges of Implementing the FCC’s Triennial Review Order.”

November 3, 2003: “The Vonage Case -- Are Voice Over IP Providers Subject to State Regulation as Telecommunications Companies? Should They Be?”

December 3, 2003: “Wireless to Wireless & Wireless to Wireline Local Number Portability.”

February 24, 2004: “Broadband over Powerlines: What’s the Buzz.” .

April 7, 2004: “Broadband Development and Industry Deployment of Broadband.”

May 5, 2004: “Plug and Play” Time: The Digitization of Video Services Regulation.”

Vice Chair Dan Lipschultz and Section Member Milda Hedblom took responsibility for organizing the summer CLE session. On July 15, they will co-chair the 2004 Regional Communications Law Forum which will host a number of local and out-of-town speakers on various current topics.

The person elected Treasurer of the Section declined to serve and Steve Mihalchick was nominated and elected to serve during the term. The Section did without a Secretary for the term.

The Section’s balance on July 1, 2003 was $7,642.54. Membership dues of $1,937.50 were collected. As of April 30, 2004, the Section’s balance was $8,452.85. The only significant expense that I anticipate in the coming months is related to the July 15, 2005 Regional Communications Law Forum, as described below.

The Section’s annual meeting was held on Thursday, June 3, 2004 at a noon hour meeting. The members in attendance elected Dan Lipschultz as Chair, Milda Hedblom as Vice Chair, Thomas Bailey as Secretary, and Steve Mihalchick as Treasurer for the 2004 to 2005 term. The Section also approved paying any bills relating to the Regional Communications Law Forum. Dan and Milda explained that our Section may be charged for travel expenses for the out of town guest speakers.

It has been a pleasure to serve as the Communications Law Section Chair over the past twelve months.

J. Jeffery Oxley
2003-04 Communications Law Section Chair

MSBA Communications Law Section
2002-03 Annual Report
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The Section held a program focusing on one of the most ambitious international efforts in the arena of international telecommunications known as the World Summit for the Information Society, which is organized under the United Nations by the International Telecommunications Union. The program, entitled "Telecommunications Issues and The World Information Summit", featured a discussion on some key telecommunications issues likely to affect US practice and what effect the agenda in the World Summit may, in turn, have on those issues. The presenter, Milda Hedblom, recently returned to Minnesota after serving as Executive Coordinator for the ITU for the World Summit in Geneva, Switzerland.

MSBA Communications Law Section
1999-2000 Annual Report

The primary effort of the Communications Law Section was the planning and presentation of its annual Telecommunications Law CLE, which took place in spring 2000. During the year, the section held several monthly meetings covering topics of current interest. Topics addressed during the monthly meetings included the Federal Communications Commission's new rules on low-powered FM radio stations, various proposals being considering by the Minnesota Legislature for the rewriting of laws governing telecommunications in Minnesota, and infrastructure backbone used within the state of Minnesota to handle internet traffic.

For the year 2000-2001, it is anticipated that the section will continue to present an annual telecommunications law CLE. Also, it is likely that the Minnesota Legislature will act upon various proposals for telecommunications law reform in the state, and there will likely be presentations and discussions concerning those issues.

Donald W. Niles, Chair

MSBA Communications Law Section
1996-97 Annual Report

The primary focus of the Communications Law Section this fiscal year has been in the area of education. With the dramatic changes occurring in the area of local competition for telephone services and in cable regulation, the section offered five one-hour CLEs and one seminar offering 6.0 hours of CLE credit.

The educational topics included: A discussion by the chair of the Public Utilities Commission regarding changes at that agency: conflicts of interest and electronic monitoring of employees. The full-day seminar covered a variety of topics of current interest.

The financial reports for the section show adequate income, and the section elected not to increase dues next year.

At the annual meeting in June 1997, the following new officers were elected: Christopher Sandberg, chair; Don Niles, secretary; Milda Hedblom, treasurer; and Brian Grogan, vice chair.

Susan Miles,
Chairperson

- Last Updated 10/15/04 -