Broadening Broadband: The Benefits and Beyond

The panel Broadening Broadband: The Benefits and Beyond will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 20th, in Meridian D&E.

Description
Broadband access has become vital to life and commerce in America. Individuals, businesses, government agencies, healthcare providers and educational institutions all rely on it as an efficient and effective platform for communicating and conducting business. It has enabled significant prosperity already, and it will be a key element determining our continued competitiveness in the global economy. There is an important role for the new Administration, particularly as we seek to address the gaps in deployment and adoption so often defined by demographics and geography. It is time for our leaders to turn their attention to a National Broadband Strategy, a plan to complement and accelerate efforts in the marketplace to achieve universal adoption of high speed Internet. Working together, public and private leaders can restore U.S. primacy in Internet technologies and ensure the benefits of true broadband reach all Americans.

Speakers

 * Bruce P. Mehlman (moderator) - Bruce P. Mehlman is co-chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance and co-founder of Mehlman & Vogel, Inc., a public affairs consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. A technology industry leader for many years, Mehlman helps high tech players understand, anticipate and navigate the public policy environment and trends likely to impact the global marketplace. As Executive Director of the Computer Systems Policy Project, the leading CEO-led information technology association, Mehlman works with the CEOs of Dell, EMC, HP, IBM, Intel, Motorola, NCR and Unisys to identify and promote public policies that encourage innovation leadership and tech-led economic growth. Mehlman works with other clients on a variety of issues including software, telecom and emerging technologies.


 * Larry Irving - Larry Irving is co-chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance and the President and CEO of the Irving Information Group, a consulting firm providing strategic advice and assistance to international telecommunications and technology companies, technology and media startups and foundations and non-profit organizations. Prior to founding the Irving Information Group, Mr. Irving served for almost seven years as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), where he was a principal advisor to the President, Vice President and Secretary of Commerce on domestic and international telecommunications and information technology issues.


 * Brian R. Mefford - Brian Mefford is recognized as a leading resource among global corporations, policy makers, and associations interested in designing and executing digital inclusion strategies and programs around the world. He was featured as part of CSPAN's “Communicators” series and has been profiled in The Economist and The Wall Street Journal for efforts to provide broadband Internet and computers to underserved areas of the United States. Mr. Mefford serves as the Chairman & CEO of Connected Nation, Inc., a non-profit organization widely known for its ability to accelerate technology availability, literacy and use among previously overlooked populations. Mr. Mefford was responsible for leading the successful design and execution of broadband expansion plans in Kentucky with ConnectKentucky - the organization's “proof of concept” project. Through those efforts, Kentucky went from “worst to first” among various technology indicators, making ConnectKentucky a model program for states seeking to ignite a technology turn around of their own.


 * Susan Patrick - Susan Patrick is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL). NACOL is the international K-12 nonprofit association representing the interests of practitioners, providers and students involved in online learning worldwide. She is the former Director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education. As Director, she published the U.S. National Education Technology Plan for Congress and managed research and technical assistance programs on educational technology. In addition, she co-chaired the federal government's Advanced Technologies Working Group for Education and Training; and served as a member of the Secretary's Rural Education Task Force.


 * Dr. Jay H. Sanders - Jay H. Sanders, M.D. is President and CEO of The Global Telemedicine Group, Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Adjunct), and a founding board member of the American Telemedicine Association where he serves as President Emeritus.


 * Mike McCurry - Mike McCurry is a veteran political spokesperson with 25 years of Washington DC policy experience. McCurry served in the White House as press secretary to President Bill Clinton from 1995-1998. He also served as spokesman for the Department of State (1993-1995) and director of communications for the Democratic National Committee (1988-1990). McCurry has also held leadership roles in several national campaigns, including national press secretary for the vice presidential campaign of Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen (1988), and spokesman and political strategist in the presidential campaigns of Senator John Glenn (1984), Governor Bruce Babbitt (1988) and Senator Bob Kerrey (1992).

From Bruce

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From Larry

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From Brian

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From Susan

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From Jay

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From Mike

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General/from discussion

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