LSU To Host High-Tech Summit Oct. 11
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 1999
BATON ROUGE -- Representatives from some of the world's most prominent computer-software and telecommunications companies will tell Louisianians how to "get wired" at a high-tech summit Oct. 11 at LSU.
U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin recently announced plans for the summit after a study by the Progressive Policy Institute ranked Louisiana 47th in the nation in making the transition to a high-tech economy.
The free, public event will be held from 8 a.m. until about 5 p.m. in the LSU Union Theater and will include such speakers as Microsoft Corp.'s senior vice president Craig Mundie; former White House press secretary Mike McCurry; USA Networks Inc. chairman and CEO Barry Diller; and Federal Communications Commission chairman William Kennard.
In addition, Gov. Mike Foster will deliver the luncheon address, and Louisiana House Speaker Hunt Downer and Senate President Randy Ewing will give opening remarks.
The program, titled "America's Digital Future: A New Millennium Summit," is expected to draw some 1,000 participants from around the state.
Tauzin, chairman of the House Telecommunications Subcommittee, said the summit will show Louisianians how to use modern technology to their advantage. Speakers will address how rapidly changing technologies impact commerce, health care, education and information dissemination. Tauzin said more homes and businesses must get wired to the Internet, or the state's educational and economic levels will continue to fall behind those of the rest of the nation.
Currently, only one-fifth of adults in Louisiana have access to the Internet in their homes, and most businesses do not have commercial Web sites, Tauzin said. He said one example of how technology can benefit families is through an inexpensive teacher's Web site that helps students with their homework.
"Hopefully, this summit will inspire parents to see the advantages of technology for their children," Tauzin said. "Being left out is the worst inheritance we can leave our children."
Other speakers at the summit will include Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission Robert Pitofsky, President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Robert Coonrod, Chairman and CEO of Echostar Communications Corporation Charlie Ergen and Chairman and CEO of WorldGate Communications Hal Krisbergh.
For more information on the summit, call Tauzin's office at 1-800-352-2890 or access www.publicforuminstitute.com.
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Contact Kristine Calongne
LSU News Service
225 388-5985
N:SEP99TAUZIN.KC
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