WASHINGTON D.C. - The Progress & Freedom Foundation has been named by the U.S. Department of State as a formal advisor on issues related to the United Nations. PFF will join the U.S. National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Commission members assist the U.S. government in its dealings with UNESCO, which is based in Paris.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said PFF will bring "expert advice" to U.S. diplomats as one of the National Commission's non-governmental organizations. "I am confident that The Progress & Freedom Foundation will contribute significantly to the value of the Commission's work."

"We're honored to have been selected by Secretary Powell to serve as an advisor, as the U.S. works with UNESCO to further progress in the Digital Age," said Foundation President Ray Gifford. "The Internet is global, and so are the policy issues related to its deployment and adoption."

Under Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, broadband deployment has been a focal point of UNESCO in recent years. A number of workshops and case studies have been launched related to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), including the potential of wireless broadband. The Progress & Freedom Foundation has a long history of scholarship and policy input regarding ways to increase broadband deployment through market-based competition. Reports and other publications are available on the Foundation's web site, www.pff.org.

Background: The U.S. National Commission for UNESCO can have as many as 100 members, limited to no more than 40 individuals and 60 organizations. The U.S. withdrew from UNESCO in 1984, citing irresponsible spending and an oversized bureaucracy. Under Matsuura, UNESCO has significantly reduced its staffing and streamlined its operations. As a result, President George W. Bush agreed to have the U.S. rejoin UNESCO in 2002.

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