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On Tuesday, March 9th, the Federal Communications Commission along with the Knight Foundation hosted America’s Digital Inclusion Summit in Washington, DC.  The purpose of the Summit was to present an overview of the recommendations in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan that will be delivered to Congress on March 17th.   The Plan includes information regarding how Broadband has benefited people across the country and the need for it to be expanded for everyone to access.

Alberto Ibarguen, CEO of the Knight Foundation, gave the welcome and opening remarks and introduced the vibrant, young Chairman of the FCC, Julius Genachowski.  Other speakers included four members of Congress,  Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Shaun Donovan, various officers of the FCC and five people from across the country that have benefited from broadband.  I was one of the five having been suggested by Tom Kamber, our leader of OATS.

It was an exhilarating experience to be part of such company and the honor of representing OATS.  Dr. Kamber was much in evidence and kept busy responding to the many questions regarding OATS.  Renee Martinez was present at the tabling event which accompanied the Summit with information as well as demonstrating with video the work being done by OATS.

The Newseum, yes, a museum dedicated to news, and a gift of the Knight Foundation, is a new, spectacular space in NW Washington on Pennsylvania Avenue.  “Its unique architectural features a 74-foot-high marble engraving of the First Amendment and an immense front wall of glass through which passers-by can watch the museum fulfill its mission of providing a forum where the media and the public can gain a better understanding of each other.”

It is all chrome, glass, steel and muted shades of blue which made me feel as though I was floating in the clouds.

In a way, I guess I was,  with all the energy, the extraordinary participants and the lofty idea of the possibility of making Broadband available to everyone across the country.

[I WILL BE AWAY UNTIL APRIL 1ST AND WILL CONTINUE WITH MORE ON THE WASHINGTON SUMMIT]