WASHINGTON D.C. - Richard J. Lynch, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Verizon Communications, has been confirmed to speak at The Progress & Freedom Foundation's 2008 Aspen Summit. Lynch, a veteran of the wireless communications industry, will join other respected experts at the conference to explore a wide range of issues affecting the information and communications industries.

Richard Lynch has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Verizon Communications since July 2007. Prior to his current position, Lynch served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer for Verizon Wireless. While at Verizon, Lynch has been responsible for key technology decisions that have supported innovation in wireless services and products. Most recently, he was instrumental in implementation of the Verizon Wireless Open Development Initiative. Lynch was also responsible for deployment of EV-DO, the first true wireless broadband service widely available in the U.S, and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), which still remains the basis for the Verizon Wireless voice network. Prior to joining Verizon, Lynch served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer at Bell Atlantic Mobile, where he led building of one of the largest CDPD networks in the country. Lynch began his career in the communications sector at New England Telephone.

In addition to his work at Verizon, Lynch is a Fellow of The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and was a member of the Federal Communications Commission Technical Advisory Committee. He has also served on the executive board of the CDMA Development Group (CDG).

More Information about the 2008 PFF Aspen Summit, to be held August 17th - 19th at the St. Regis Hotel in Aspen, Colorado can be found on our web site. Members of the media are always welcome to attend and should contact Amy Smorodin at asmorodin@pff.org or (202)289-8928. Further additions to the conference agenda will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

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.