WASHINGTON , DC - The top executive of the world's leading provider of critical infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks will deliver a keynote address at The Progress & Freedom Foundation's 10 th annual Aspen Summit in August. Stratton Sclavos, chairman and CEO of VeriSign Inc., will offer his views on the future of the Internet - the theme of this year's Summit - on Monday, August 23 at 8:15 a.m. (mountain). The three-day gathering of top Internet and technology leaders begins on August 22 at the St. Regis hotel in Aspen , Colorado.

"The tenth annual Aspen Summit will feature insights and predictions of some of the world's most compelling communications and technology leaders on a topic that concerns everyone - the future of the Internet," said Progress & Freedom Foundation President Raymond L. Gifford. "This is the event of the year for anyone interested in the current state and future of the digital economy."

The agenda includes such topics as security, governance, digital content distribution, layers integration, the 'end-to-end' principle, openness, spam, CALEA and protocols.

Past Aspen Summit speakers have included industry leaders Jeff Bezos, Carly Fiorina, Peter Chernin and Ivan Seidenberg; authors Lawrence Lessig, George Gilder and Esther Dyson; as well as leading policymakers and academics. Last year's highlights included presentations by FTC Chairman Timothy Muris and FCC Chairman Michael Powell and a conversation with former Viacom CEO Mel Karmazin led by acclaimed interviewer Charlie Rose. Leading the Silicon Valley contingent was Sybase CEO and Disney board member John Chen. Wired News has compared the Aspen Summit to the annual Davos event in Switzerland and the Renaissance Weekend at Hilton Head.

Further details about the 2004 Aspen Summit will be announced soon. Registration can be accomplished here. Rooms at the St. Regis can be booked here.

The Progress & Freedom Foundation is a market-oriented think tank that studies the impact of the digital revolution and its implications for public policy. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.