Symposium Overview
The Internet Innovation Alliance held its biannual Symposium at the Newseum in Washington, DC on June 17, 2009. The Symposium, "Developing a National Broadband Strategy: Deployment, Adoption and the Stimulus," featured Governor Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and NBA All-Star and tech advocate Chris Bosh. For a full list of speakers and panelists, as well as event video, please visit IIA's Symposium webpage.

The Symposium highlighted the importance of broadband adoption, with two panels and three keynotes offering in-depth discussions regarding the barriers and benefits of adoption as well as policy recommendations.
Our first speaker, John Horrigan from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, gave an overview of Pew's latest study on broadband adoption. He highlighted the results of Pew's April 2009 survey, which shows that Americans are increasing their adoption of high-speed Internet despite the economic recession. For more information and to see full results of the study, please click here.
We had two panels devoted to broadband adoption; the first focused on reaching Americans in rural areas, and panelists discussed the economic implications of the broadband stimulus, the need for widespread broadband deployment and adoption to facilitate distance learning and eHealth initiatives. The second panel was devoted to making broadband affordable for all Americans, and panelists explored ways to get minority communities connected and increasing digital literacy. To watch video coverage of these panel discussions, please visit IIA's Symposium webpage.


