By Bill Rautenstrauch

Staff Writer

Both the wonders and the shortcomings of modern telecommunications were highlighted Wednesday during the first Eastern Oregon Telecommunications Conference at the Blue Mountain Conference Center.

The event, co-sponsored by the Eastern Oregon Telecommunications Consortium and the Oregon Public Utilities Commission, drew about 160 people.

"We knew there would be a high level of interest," said Union County Commissioner and Consortium Chair Steve McClure. "The PUC’s participation was key. It was big in getting this kind of turnout."

Industry leaders, educators, health care professionals and politicians talked throughout the day to an overflow crowd, covering subjects ranging from high speed broadband Internet service, to medical teleconferencing and distance learning.

Keynote speaker was Edwin R. Parker, president of Parker Communications of Gleneden Beach and chairman of Lincoln County’s Coastnet Committee of the Economic Development Alliance.

In opening remarks, Parker reminded the audience that affordable telephone and broadband service is essential to Oregon’s economy and quality of life.

"They’re essential for all businesses, government, health care and education institutions, and consumers, not just information-intensive businesses," he said.

Although noting that most Oregon communities have good telephone service, Parker hit on a theme that was repeatedly aired during the day-long event a lack of high-speed, broadband service in rural areas.

"Rural areas are lucky if they have any access to broadband. Many have no access. Even when DSL (digital subscriber line) is available, many residents live too far from the central office to qualify for it," he said.

The federal government was well represented at the event, with Congressman Greg Walden, R-Ore., featured as a luncheon speaker.

Walden praised Northeast Oregon entrepreneurs who have taken it upon themselves to provide telecommunications services to rural customers.

"The innovations that are occurring in rural areas are phenomenal. I have heard of people out there building antennas on their silos," he said.

Walden, who represents Oregon’s 2nd District, serves on the House subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

He is a member of the congressional Internet caucus, and co-chairman of the House Rural Health Care Coalition.

Homeland security and bandwidth conflicts are two tough telecommunications issues facing government, he said.

He added that administration and oversight of the Universal Service Fund, which supports the goal of high quality, reliable Internet services for all, also is a priority.

"Congress must make sure the fund stays viable. Part of the job is deciding who should pay into the fund, and at what rate," he said.

Walden noted that rapidly changing technologies make the telecommunications industry a difficult one to govern.

"Is a voice a voice when it’s sent by data packet?" he asked.

Walden said evolving technologies must be taken into consideration when the next Congress reviews and updates the 1996 Telecommunications Act.

"As different technologies emerge, it’s time to look at that act from different viewpoints," he said.

Also on hand was Jeff Carlisle, newly appointed head of the Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Compe-tition Bureau.

Carlisle told the audience that he wants to make sure the federal regulatory system works to bring people broadband service, in supporting the administration’s goal of universal access by 2007.

Panel discussions throughout the conference focused on subjects as diverse as e-commerce, wireless Internet access, distance learning and medical teleconferencing.

A highlight was the airing of an actual teleconference between a doctor and his rural patient, presented by Ruth Giesking of Bend’s St. Charles Medical Center.

Large and small telephone and Internet service providers were in attendance, speaking to the audience in panel discussions and demonstrating applications.

Among those speakers was Pat Punteney, Verizon’s area manager. He said his company hopes soon to improve high speed access in the La Grande area.

He said Verizon will make more DSL connections available as soon as it determines there is enough market to support the effort.

"We need to make sure we have at least 200 subscribers before we can do it," he said.

During a break between panel discussions, McClure said he hopes the conference raises public awareness of telecommunications issues, especially the problem of providing high speed services to outlying communities.

"Our problem is still the ‘last mile,’ " he said. "I hope the conference provides some impetus for getting those services out to Union, Elgin and everywhere else."