THE GROWING MONOPOLIZATION of the Internet and the media is a direct threat to all democratic rights. Already Comcast has censored anti-war ads on it's cable network and the threat of these media/digital robber barons threatens all of us from the consumers to workers rights on the job.

Join with us in a Northern California conference on Access: Broadband and the Digital Future; Who Is In Control?

We will have workshops on using the Internet and Wi-Fi to stream our rallies and meetings at remote locations, as well as how we can defend our democratic rights on the "information highway", micro-radio and the fight to defend it from the FCC, community TV, privacy, spying and the fight for democratic control of Global Internet governance (ICANN, the WSIS, etc.) and others. The conference will also focus on the battle with ATT-Broadband-Comcast and their control of over 90% of cable connections in the Bay Area. We will discuss a plan to build a Northern California interconnect that would link up all cable stations for a regional community access channel.

We will hear reports of how in other cities around the United States such as Ashland, Oregon, the community has taken over the running of the cable/internet system for the benefit of the people.

Finally, we will be having a competition for the best community access videos of Northern California. For community access producers, please submit your 5 minutes high-light of your program.

You can't afford to miss this important conference. We want your ideas, spirit, creativity and enthusiasm.

Schedule
9:00 - 9:30    Registration
9:30 - 10:30    Opening Plenary-Key Note
10:30 - 12:00    Workshops I
12:00 - 1:30    Lunch (Video, music)
1:30 - 3:00    Workshops II
3:00 - 4:30    Workshops III
4:30 - 6:00    Report back, Proposal

Workshops
*Cable Internet Access and regulation
*Workersą rights in the new technology industries
*Labor video and a labor channel
*Privatization of telecommunications
*The "digital divide" and Discrimination
*Public Access Cable and interconnect channels
*Threats to peer-to-peer file sharing
*Privacy, spying, and censorship
*Wireless networks and micro-radio
*Municipalization of broadband infrastructure and cable TV
*Defending access to alternative media
*Global Internet governance (ICANN, the WSIS, etc.)

Speakers (partial list as of 2/1/03)
Wes Brain-Oregon OPEU
Carl Bryant-NALC 214
Todd Davies-Stanford University
Karin Hart-CWA 9415
Dorothy Kidd-University of SF
Art McGee-Black Radical Congress
Sarah Olsen-SF Liberation Radio
Jeff Pearlstein-Media Alliance
Larry Shaw-Solddowntheriver.org
Steve Zeltzer-LaborNet, LVP

Endorsers (partial list - as of 2/1/03)
San Francisco Labor Council, LaborTech, Producers and Programmers Network of
SF, CWA Local 9423, CWA Local 9415, Media Alliance, NALC Local 214, Lany
College Labor Studies, Stanford University-Symbolic Systems Program, Black
Radical Congress, LaborNet, Pasters & Ministers Conference SF & Jason city,
Labor Video Project, Ace In Your Face, Good News Show, Union Producers
Programmers Network (UPPNET)

Registration Form
Access: Broadband and Digital Future, Who is in Control?
April 5th (Saturday) 9:00 - 6:00

(Please print)

Name:

Address:

State:            Zip:

E-Mail:

Web Site:

Phone:

Organization/Union:

Registration Fee - $15-$25
(Sliding scale)
Student $10
Lunch included with pre-registration by April 1, 03

Yes, I would like to register, enclosed is $_________for my registration.

Please send form and check or money order to:
LaborTech/Access Conference
P.O.Box 425584
San Francisco,CA 94142