Panel 1: Technology and the Internet: Current State of Affairs and Trends in IT Sector

• One Hypothesis for Communications – Panelist #1
• In five years, little voice will flow over traditional telephone lines, via old technology, or even fiber
• The Internet Protocol (IP) will dominate both data and voice communications
• Trends in Software & Services – Panelist #2
• Trends on the Consumer Side – Panelist #3

Panel 2: What are the Implications of These Trends in terms of

• Met and unmet needs
• Specific issues: privacy, security, ease of use
• What is working and what is not working?

For the critical segments of our society and economy

• Business – Panelist #1
• Government and instititional – Panelist #2
• Consumers – Panelist #3

Panel 3: Is the Phoenix Rising from the Ashes of the 2000 Dotcom Crash?

• Implications of the “New Internet”: hardware, software, tech gear, broadband and storage are cheaper, have more functionality and are faster than ever
• Specific examples
• Geo-Cities vs. MySpace
• Webvan vs. FreshDirect
• PetFoods vs. PetMeds
• Net2Phone vs. Skype

What are the implications of these trends for

• Business models: What failed in the 1990s? Why? What have we learned? What works today? Why are old models suddenly and apparently “ready for prime time?” – Panelist #1
• What are the implications for investing? – Panelist #2
• Will this time be “different,” or will we see another “Internet Bubble”? – Panelist #3

Panel 4: What are the Implications of These Trends for Vermont?

• Will they provide local opportunities for economic development? – Panelist #1
• Will they help, or hurt, the local entrepreneurial climate – Panelist #2
• Will they raise new public policy issues in Vermont – Panelist #3

Town Meeting: Five Years From Now

• How will people/families/careers be different?
• Learning/studying
• Communicating
• Shopping
• Getting their entertainment