Digital Inclusion: The New Frontier of US Competitiveness

Digital Inclusion Forum, a cooperative initiative of Microsoft, Intel, IBM, One Community and the Wireless Internet Institute, will facilitate the sharing of best practices among local leaders overseeing digital inclusion programs and call for and promote effective public policies in support of initiatives bridging the digital divide affecting the competitiveness of local communities. The Forum will focus on identifying and implementing proven sustainable market solutions to bridge the digital divide in communities.

The Forum will be launched on December 10, 2007 at the Washington Marriott Hotel

The Digital Inclusion Forum understands that it takes localized efforts to successfully bridge the digital divide within a community - so don't miss the opportunity to participate in this major gathering of state and local government officials, educators and community technology project stakeholders from around the country - people who know what works and who are making it happen!

Who Should Attend

• State and local government elected officials taking a leadership role in digital inclusion initiatives
• Institutional stakeholders including government services agencies, economic and social development agencies, educational agencies, non-profits institutions, community technology centers and other community based technology project stakeholders
• Ecosystem vendors including technology and application vendors, service providers and systems integrators
• Funding organizations
• Policy makers and regulators

Also, attend the W2i Digital Cities Convention, a 2 day session following the Forum on December 11 & 12. The convention will provide you an opportunity to address how your local community broadband wireless initiatives can be leveraged to bridge the digital divide. Attend a special roundtable discussion on the role of Local Government in establishing accessible wireless emergency services for persons with disabilities. Learn about the implications of the pending bill H.R. 3403: "911 Modernization and Public Safety Act of 2007" for state and local government wireless networks and its disability access requirements to interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services.