In the spirit of CCIA’s quarter-century of public policy endeavors and education, the Association presents an Industry-Government Roundtable. This communication opportunity will allow corporate executives and government leaders to present their respective views on issues they believe are critical to the industry. The Roundtable will take place from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm in Salon A of the Four Seasons Hotel. Sponsored by AT&T, the Roundtable discussion will focus on issues such as encryption, digital copyright reform, computer export controls and telecommunication reforms. Among the discussants are: Representatives Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth, Bill Wiedemann of RedCreek Communications, Inc., Neville O’Reilly, of AT&T and Bob Kahn of the Center for National Research Initiatives.
“It is our expectation that this dialogue will lead to a better understanding among the participants of the respective concerns of industry and government on these issues,” said Glenn K. Davidson, CCIA’s Executive Vice President.
Later that evening, CCIA’s 25th anniversary celebration continues with a black-tie dinner in the Grand Ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel where the Association will present its Industry Legend Award to Dr. Robert Metcalfe(at approx. 9:30 pm). Currently, Dr. Metcalfe is Vice President of Technology at International Data Group, but he is widely known as the inventor of Ethernet and founder of 3Com Corporation. Dr. Metcalfe’s work at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center in 1973 resulted in the invention, standardization and commercialization of Ethernet which now connects more than 100 million computers, many with the Internet. Virtually every computer manufacturer supports Ethernet, and this support coupled with Ethernet’s low cost and high flexibility are major reasons for its popularity.
CCIA presents the Industry Legend Award to those individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to a dynamic and competitive computer and communications industry.
“Dr. Metcalfe’s contribution to advancing network capabilities and communication is widely respected and we are pleased to have him join our list of recognized industry legends,” said CCIA’s Davidson. Previous Industry Legend Award winners are Dr. Vinton Cerf, co- developer of the Internet and Dr. Gene Amdahl, founder of Amdahl Corporation which produced the first successful IBM-compatible CPU.
CCIA President Edward Black and the Association’s Chairman of the Board, Fred Hansen of Hitachi Data Systems will present Dr. Metcalfe with this year’s award. Joining CCIA to honor Dr. Metcalfe will be former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, now with the Aspen Institute; Pat McGovern of IDG Corporation; Bob Kahn of the Center for National Research Initiatives; and George Gilder, of Gilder Technology Group.