Science and Engineering Council of Santa Barbara
 February Luncheon
at
The Elephant Bar Restaurant
Thursday, February 14, 2002 12:00-1:30 p.m.

The New Access Edge:
The Economic and Technical Reality of a Converged Network

 Telecom carriers must find a way to provide bandwidth not just to some areas with some users, but rather to everyone, everywhere. This trend is propelled by the increase in bandwidth-intensive applications such as digital video teamed with always-on applications (such as instant messaging and stock quotes), and Congress' move toward "Universal Broadband" to address the digital divide. At the same time, voice networks are poised for rapid change.

The challenge service providers face is how to deliver the bandwidth customers need over today's separate voice and data networks in a way that can evolve to tomorrow's converged voice and data network. At the same time, a simplified, low-cost architecture is needed. Ms. Lisa Farr, CEO of Occam Networks, will discuss today's telecom infrastructure, what problems are forcing it to change, and why a converged network is the best solution.

------- PRESENTER -------
Ms. Lisa Farr
CEO, Occam Networks

Ms. Farr has significant experience in the telecommunication industry. As the founder and CEO of Occam Networks, she succeeded in raising over $40 million in venture capital, and built the company to the point of shipping product for revenue. She now serves as Chairman of the Board. Starting as a software engineer for N.E.T., she worked as a Project Manager for Cadence Design Systems Telecom/Datacom Design Center. Prior to that, Farr played a key role at StrataCom/Cisco, developing the company's first voice/data integration product for Frame Relay and ATM networks, as well as in the development of Cisco's first Voice over IP product. She holds a BS degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

------- OTHER INFO -------
$12 for SEC members; $15 for non-members.
Information: Barbara Keaney (E-mail scieng@silcom.com or call 684-4927) or
Tim Murphy (Email: timothy_murphy@urscorp.com or tel: 805-964-6010 ext.336).
Reservations NOT required.
Website: http://www.scieng.org

From the Co-Presidents: Thanks to all of you who have renewed your memberships and donated to SEC's scholarship fund. 2002 should be a banner year for the SEC. Our program is already set for the first half of the year and topics range from networks to alternative fuel vehicles. (See the SEC's website, www.scieng.org, to find out who's speaking when.) We look forward to seeing you at one or more of the upcoming meetings.

Bruce McRoy and Mary Howe-Grant