Palo Alto, CA - TechNet, the bipartisan political network of CEOs that promotes the growth of the innovation economy, and the Churchill Club today hosted a discussion in Silicon Valley on the National Broadband Plan with Blair Levin, Executive Director, U.S. Federal Communications Commission Omnibus Broadband Initiative and Carlos Kirjner, Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the FCC.

President Barack Obama has made universal and affordable broadband access a key goal of his Administration and record funding was included for this effort in the economic stimulus package approved by Congress earlier this year. The FCC is the lead agency in developing the national broadband plan and its Broadband task force is headed by Blair Levin, who had been chief of staff for former FCC chairman Reed Hundt. The plan is in development and will set broad communications policy for the U.S. for the next five years and is scheduled to be presented to Congress on February 17, 2010. The plan will have significant impact on all aspects of the technology and communications industries, including fixed and mobile network infrastructure, applications and devices.

"For nearly the past decade, TechNet has been pushing for a comprehensive national broadband strategy as it represents a prime driver of economic growth for the United States," said Jim Hawley, Acting CEO of TechNet. "We are delighted to have Blair Levin and Carlos Kirjner, the leaders of the U.S. Broadband Initiative, in Silicon Valley to discuss the importance of a increasing broadband access to every corner of our nation."

About TechNet:
TechNet is the national, bipartisan network of CEOs that promotes the growth of technology industries and the economy by building long-term relationships between technology leaders and policymakers and by advocating a targeted policy agenda. Our members are the nation's drivers of innovation in the fields of information technology, e-commerce, clean technology, biotechnology, venture capital and investment banking - representing two million employees and $800 billion in revenues. TechNet has offices in Washington, DC, Palo Alto, Sacramento, Seattle, Boston, Austin, and Albany, NY. Web address: www.technet.org. You can also follow us on Twitter at Technetupdate@twitter.

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