John Chambers to Keynote U.S. Senate Majority Leader's Second Annual
Technology Summit
March 26, 2002
By John Earnhardt, Cisco Government Affairs
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) will host
Cisco president and CEO John Chambers as the keynote
speaker during the second annual South Dakota Technology
Summit. The Summit, held in Sioux Falls on March 26, will
also be viewed in other areas of the state and gives the
Majority Leader and other South Dakotans the opportunity to
hear Chambers and other tech executives talk about how
technology can help foster economic opportunities.
"I am excited that John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems, and other nationally recognized
technology industry leaders will be joining us to offer their perspective on many critical
technology-related issues," Daschle stated in a press release. "I hope to use this event to talk about
sharpening our state's competitive edge, and positioning South Dakota to take advantage of
emerging technologies."
Chambers will talk about the increased efficiencies and productivity levels that technology and
broadband can bring to businesses and states of all sizes. "Developing next generation broadband
is necessary to bring the benefits of new services to the entire country, and to improve the quality
of life and standard of living for all Americans," says Chambers.
"Broadband is the ultimate strategy for sustainable economic growth and productivity," Chambers
continued. "I believe industry leaders and policymakers, together with other constituencies—small
business, entertainment, consumers, application developers, etc.—can accomplish the national
build out of broadband with the right policies and leadership."
Senator Daschle acknowledged the importance of broadband and its build out in a speech he
delivered in January, when he stated: "High-speed, broadband Internet access has become an
indispensable tool for businesses, schools, libraries, and hospitals. And access to this service is fast becoming the line between the haves and have-nots in the information age. We should create tax
credits, grants, and loans to make broadband service as universal tomorrow as telephone access is
today."
Other technology executives at this year's tech summit include Rajiv
Dutta, CFO of e-Bay, and James M. Robl, President of the biotechnology
firm Hematech. Last year's keynote was delivered Bob Pittman, Co-Chief
Operating Officer of AOL Time Warner.
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