WASHINGTON,USA: Generating revenue from next-generation, fiber to the home (FTTH) networks and building subscriber loyalty in today’s competitive marketplace will be the focus of the 2009 FTTH Conference & Expo, scheduled for September 27 – October 1, 2009 at the Hilton-Americas Houston and the George R, Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX.

The event is expected to attract 2,000 executives from FTTH service providers – including telecoms, cable companies, municipalities and utilities – as well as key decision makers from optical access equipment manufacturers and other segments of the broadband industry.

Under the banner Building the Business of FTTH, the conference will highlight practical information and marketing strategies to help operators take their networks to the next level of business success. The conference will also serve as a one-stop information center on the broadband initiatives program of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. During a number of presentations and panel discussions, the Fiber-to-the-Home Council, which has been instrumental in shaping the stimulus legislation and programs, will shed light on the evolving process and procedures for accessing the funds made available through the programs.

In addition, Jonathan Adelstein, the recently-nominated Administrator of the U.S. Rural Utilities Service, will update attendees on guidelines for the distribution of funds through the agency’s broadband stimulus program at the closing general session on Wednesday, September 30th.

Opening keynote speaker Richard Lynch, Executive Vice President and CTO of Verizon Communications, will discuss how fiber to the home has changed the game for Verizon – broadening the company’s product offerings, making it more competitive in the marketplace and creating new opportunities for growth through innovation.

“This conference will be focused on two vitally important areas,” said Joe Savage, President of the FTTH Council. “One is the business success that both large and small telephone companies are having in providing enhanced television and Internet services over end-to-end fiber networks. And the other involves the enormous opportunities that the federal broadband stimulus programs are offering for telecom providers to upgrade to FTTH or expand their existing networks.”

Among the more than 50 track sessions are presentations covering marketing, financial and technology issues, including a broad range of case studies, best practices and success stories. Special panels will feature industry leaders in discussions of legislative and regulatory issues, MDU considerations and marketing for success. The Expo Hall, featuring more than 160 vendors and suppliers from all corners of the FTTH industry, will provide the latest solutions in fiber to the home services, content and technology. Online registration is now open at www.ftthconference.com.

New to this year’s conference will be presentations offered in Spanish covering issues specific to Latin America. The FTTH Council’s recently launched Latin America chapter will hold its second meeting during the conference, which is expect to attract increased attendance from South America and other parts of the globe.

Home PNA, a non-profit association of more than 100 technology companies working together to ensure adoption of a phone line networking standard to provide high-speed, affordable home networking, will collocate its Home PNA Summit with the FTTH Conference & Expo. The one-day summit will take place on Thursday, October 1, 2009.