Google’s Vint Cerf and Congressmen Mike Doyle and Fred Upton Honored at CEA’s Digital Patriots Dinner
Nation’s Policymakers Experience Next Generation of Technology at Inaugural CES on the Hill
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® honored Google’s Dr. Vinton G. Cerf, Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI) for their support of technology innovation last night at the Sixth Annual CEA Digital Patriots Dinner. Coinciding with the dinner was the inaugural CES on the Hill, featuring the hottest products from the 2010 International CES, CEA’s flagship event and the world’s largest tradeshow for consumer technology.
United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Ron Kirk, kicked off the CEA Digital Patriots Dinner with an opening keynote address. He spoke of the Administration’s commitment to work toward the passage of several critical trade agreements including Panama, South Korea and Columbia. Ambassador Kirk also focused on the importance of small business, saying, “We recognize the majority of new job growth over the past 40 years has occurred within businesses that employ less than 500 people. We are focused on helping these small businesses grow.”
In closing, Ambassador Kirk said, “America’s greatest gift to the world is the belief in freedom and innovation. We will create the proper atmosphere to allow this to happen.”
Google Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist Dr. Vint Cerf, along with Congressmen Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Fred Upton (R-MI), were honored at the dinner for their contributions and advancement of consumer technology. CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro said, “Dr. Vint Cerf and Congressmen Mike Doyle and Fred Upton are on the front lines of the fight to keep American innovation as one of our core values. They are working to ensure that America fulfills its destiny as the most innovative nation on the planet.”
Dr. Vint Cerf, widely known as the ‘Father of the Internet,’ accepted CEA’s Digital Patriots award last night. In a short video, Wall Street Journal columnist Walt Mossberg said, “It’s hard to overstate his importance.” Dr. Cerf, along with his colleague Dr. Robert Kahn, has been awarded the U.S. National Medal of Technology, the Turing Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He said, “Bob Kahn should be standing next to me.” He added, “The Internet without adoption is a fruitless enterprise and we must make sure that there are no barriers to the types of innovations that companies in this room represent.” Dr. Cerf concluded, “This award represents the fundamental belief in freedom to speak, but it’s worthless without the freedom to hear. We must get both sides of the equation right.”
Congressman Doyle accepted his Digital Patriots award by remarking that the desire to communicate connects us all. He described the need for more transparency in government and noted how a new coalition is working toward making all federally funded research available to the public. He commented on the pending Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement and bemoaned the “three strikes” provision that could cut his constituents off from the Internet, making it “not ready for enactment yet.”
Congressman Upton was recognized as a Digital Patriot for putting principle ahead of politics and being a driving force behind the DTV transition. As a member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet, he is advancing emerging high-tech issues such as broadband deployment and wiring America's classrooms for Internet technology. Upon accepting his award, Congressman Upton said, “CEA means jobs through innovation. This industry has done more than any other to bring innovation to Americans."
All proceeds from Digital Patriots Dinner ticket sales and sponsorships will be donated directly by CEA to Telecoms Without Borders (Télécoms Sans Frontières), which is deploying critical emergency telecommunications infrastructure to assist in disaster recovery in Haiti and throughout the world.
Additionally, the inaugural CES on the Hill, which took place Tuesday at the historic Eastern Market on DC’s Capitol Hill, showcased the latest innovations from exhibitors including Audiovox, AT&T, Best Buy, Google, Kodak, LG, Microsoft, Motorola, Panasonic, Qualcomm, Samsung, Schlage and Sony. Many of the products on display to the more than 400 attendees demonstrated how technology can benefit consumers, as well as the importance of pro-innovation policies that support fair use, broadband deployment, environmentally sustainable technologies, safe driving, accessibility and family viewing.
As owner and producer of the event, CEA made an $8,500 donation to the DC Government to provide Internet connectivity in the Eastern Market facilities.
For photos from CES on the Hill visit CEA’s Flickr page. For more information on the CEA Digital Patriots Dinner and other CEA news and events, visit CE.org.
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $165 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- LA Games Conference
April 29, 2010, Los Angeles, CA - CEA Line Shows
June 22-23, 2010, New York, NY - 2010 SINOCES
July 8-11, 2010, Qingdao, China - 2010 CEA Industry Forum
October 17-20, 2010, San Francisco, CA - i-stage
October 18, 2010, San Francisco, CA - Digital Hollywood Fall
October 18-21, 2010, Santa Monica, CA - CES New York Press Preview featuring CES Unveiled @ NY
November 9, 2010, New York, NY - Future of Television East
November 19, 2010, New York, NY - 2011 International CES
January 6-9, 2011, Las Vegas, NV
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Tara Dunion
703-907-7419
tdunion@CE.org
www.CE.org
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Sarah Myers
703-907-4368
smyers@CE.org
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