9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Session A:
Broadband Datacasting to the PC and TV
Broadband datacasting directly into the home and office is a new segment of the industry that is about prove itself in the marketplace. Companies have varied approaches to solving the problem, but the basic issue is how to deliver a wide range of media rich broadband services to the PC or television set user. The unique proposition that these companies present is the establishment of a cost effective way of reaching millions of users simultaneously at a low cost. Some companies will go through the broadcast DTV spectrum, delivering data along with broadcast signals, while others will access users via satellite and cable companies. Broadband datacasting is about to become a factor in the marketplace.
David Atkinson, co-founder & CEO, Dotcast
Oliver Luckett, co-founder & CTO, iBlast
William Reed, Vice President Marketing, 2netFX
Richard Johnson, President & CEO, CacheVision
John Abel, Vice President Broadcast Development, Geocast Network Systems
Dr. Diana Gagnon Hawkins, founder, Interactive Associates
Yangbin Wang, founder & Chairman, EnjoyWeb
David Michail, Director of Legal Affairs, rare medium, Moderator
David E. Atkinson is chairman, CEO and co-founder of Dotcast, Inc., a privately held Silicon Valley company developing a national broadband digital network for the distribution of digital entertainment, interactive services and multimedia communications to consumers and businesses. Mr. Atkinson has been a leader in the telecommunications, Internet services and interactive television industries for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Dotcast, he was the managing member of iDEA Holdings LLC, an interim management and business development company. As the interim-president and CEO of HomeCast, Mr. Atkinson led the formation and development of a broadband service company that was jointly owned by Bank of America, TCI and Intuit. He was founder, CEO and Chairman of NetChannel Inc., an Internet service company that enhances the television experience by delivering highly personalized channels and information to consumers. NetChannel was acquired by AOL and remains the basis for AOLTV. Prior to NetChannel, Mr. Atkinson was a managing director at Unterberg Harris, where he helped manage venture capital investments and broadened the company’s traditional investment banking business to include business strategies and operational plans for a wide range of interactive media and personal communications clients. Mr. Atkinson held key executive and financial management positions for AT&T between 1981 and 1994. As vice president of AT&T’s Multi-media Group and as Managing Director of West Coast Operations, he developed and implemented multi-media and personal communications business and investment strategies to extend AT&T’s traditional voice communications into new high growth areas. He has actively advised management teams as a member of the boards of directors or boards of advisors for numerous interactive communications companies, including EO Inc., 3DO Inc., PF Magic Inc., NeTalk, Inc. the ImagiNation Network Inc. and Sylantro Systems, Inc. Mr. Atkinson has an MBA in Finance and Internaional Business from Rutgers University, Newark, NJ; and a BS degree in Marketing and Economics from Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA. As an AT&T executive, he received AT&T’s nomination to attend the Sloan Fellowship Program at Stanford University.
Oliver Luckett is co-founder and chief technology officer of iBlast and has worked at th
e forefront of converging new media, communication and Internet technologies. Oliver most recently served as senior vice president of network affiliates and e-commerce at Digital Entertainment Network. He was previously vice president of network development at Anschutz Digital Media, a spin-off of Qwest Communications. Prior to working at Anschutz, Oliver was the chief IP services architect at Qwest Communications, where he designed and implemented the Q.talk Voiceover IP Network, the first nationwide domestic VOIP service. He was also responsible for unified messaging, online payment, online provisioning, and other network-based enhanced IP services at Qwest Communications. Prior to Qwest, Luckett was the founder and vice president of product development at Wonderland Labs, whose product suite was the first network-based drag and drop Internet publishing system. Oliver attended Vanderbilt University and Harvard University. He is a sought after speaker at Internet conferences and has had numerous articles published by influential industry journals.William Reed serves as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, bringing to 2netFX.com ove
r eighteen years of successful sales, channel and Internet marketing experience. His professional experience includes Director of the Systems Business Unit for 8x8, Inc., the leading supplier of video compression and communications technology, where he worked closely with associate Samuel Wang to achieve a $20 million run rate in under two years. Mr. Reed was also: Vice President and founder of CDI, a marketing consulting firm whose customers included Novell, Micropolis, Creative Labs and others; Vice President and co-founder of Paradygm Concepts, Inc.; and Director of Marketing for Sigma Designs where he worked closely with associate Eric Yao to develop network video and streaming technologies in concert with leading network media companies. Reed is listed in Who's Who for Computers and Technology as well as Media and Communications. He is the recipient of numerous industry awards including the "Best of PR" award from High Technology News and the Top Ten Advertising Award from Cahners Publishing and McGraw Hill. Reed is a former SEAL-trained U.S. Navy Diver and holds a BBA in Marketing from San Diego National University.Richard C. Johnson, President & CEO, CacheVision: Richard Johnson joined
Seagate in April 2000 as Vice President, Consumer Solutions. Johnson has more than 20 years of management experience in the high tech and consumer electronics industries. He joined Seagate from SkyTune Corporation, a company focused on digital TV and databroadcasting, where he was president and CEO. Prior to SkyTune, Richard held management positions with leaders such as NEC and NCR. During these years, developed an extensive understanding of Internet andbroadcasting technologies and built strong relationships with leaders in the industry. Johnson earned his Masters in Business Administration at the University of Southern California, where he majored in the Entrepreneurial Program. Johnson is an avid skier and tennis player. He is a private pilot with instruments and rating. Johnson is fluent in Spanish and has a working knowledge of Portuguese.John Abel, Vice President Broadcast Development, Geocast Network Systems: A form
er Executive Vice President of the National Association of Broadcasters, Abel was instrumental in the broadcasting industry's development of digital television. He was a founding board member of the Advanced Television Test Center, and served as Vice Chairman of the Systems Subcommittee of the FCC's Industry Committee on Advanced Television Service. Abel also was President and CEO of Datacast LLC, a partnership of broadcasters working to advance digital broadcasting. Prior to that, he was Chairman of the Department of Telecommunications at Michigan State University, and served as a consultant to the FCC. He holds both a master's and a doctoral degree from Indiana University.Dr. Diana Gagnon Hawkins, founder, Interactive Associates: Acknowledged indust
ry expert in the area of interactive entertainment: Internet TV, intelligent interface design, interactive television, virtual reality, and video games. Prior work includes: application and interactive program design, business development, strategic planning, user interface, consumer research, product development and early phase company development. Cofounder, dotcast.com - Dotcast is a national high-speed digital network for distribution of digital entertainment, interactive services and multimedia communications. The Dotcast Digital Network packs 4.5 million bits per second (100 times the speed of a 56k modem) into a conventional NTSC or PAL TV signal and upward of 10 million bits per second of the new digital TV broadcast spectrum. Homecast Palo Alto, CA (1998-1999) Service designer. A joint venture between TCI, Bank of America and Intuit to develop a broadband financial channel for TCI digital cable systems.David Michail is currently the Director of Legal Affairs for Rare Medium, Inc. (Nasdaq:
RRRR) and is in charge of all transactional legal work for Rare Medium’s Western United States offices, including its Web Services, Broadband, E-Commerce, Digital Media (ITV), and Wireless competencies. Mr. Michail`s areas of practice include Internet Law, Technology Licensing, Business transactions, E-Commerce, Digital Media and Corporate Law. Mr. Michail has been with Rare Medium since 1999 and serves as the lead attorney for Rare Medium’s incubator e-business solutions provider Rare CSP, Inc. Mr. Michail is licensed to practice law in the jurisdictions of California, Virginia, Colorado and the District of Columbia as well as licensed to appear before the United States Federal District Courts (Central California) and U.S. Federal Court of Appeals (4th Circuit). Yangbin Wang, Founder Chairman and CEO, EnjoyWeb: Mr. Wang is a visionary technologist and experienced entrepreneur. Prior to EnjoyWeb, Mr. Wang was Director of Software Architecture in the Consumer Broadband Group of Oak Technology. He was also a cofounder and key technologist for two Silicon Valley digital video networking companies. As a leading Research Engineer for both General Instrument and Compression Labs, he received a "Silver Star " for his significant contribution in the development of the MPEG-2 encoder system for DirecTV. In addition, Mr. Wang is an active member of several international standardization committees, including the IETF and MPEG. Mr. Wang holds a MS degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Florida.