WASHINGTON D.C. - The Progress & Freedom Foundation's 2008 Aspen Summit will highlight a variety of issues facing the communications industry. In addition to two keynote speeches from leaders in the communications sector, this year's event also includes the discussion panel, "Next Generation Network Policy - Here and Abroad." The international group of experts will discuss key infrastructure issues facing regulators and industry in the United States, Britain and Japan, and share their experiences concerning network investment, deployment and management.

The panel will feature The Honorable Robert McDowell, Commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission and Kathleen Abernathy, Partner, at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP and a former FCC Commissioner. Sharing the perspective of the international community will be David Eveleigh, Vice President and General Counsel of BT Americas and Yasuhiko Taniwaki, Director of the Telecommunications Policy Division at the Telecommunications Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan.

Representing the views of network operators will be Brett Glass, Owner and Founder of Lariat Networks and Joe Waz, Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Public Policy Counsel from Comcast Corporation. The panel will be moderated by Barbara Esbin, PFF Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Communications and Competition Policy.

The Aspen Summit is also featuring addresses by two communications industry executives. Patrick J. Esser, President, Cox Communications Inc. and Richard Lynch, Chief Technology Officer, Verizon are scheduled to speak on Tuesday, the second full day of the Summit. Maggie Wilderotter, Chairman and CEO of Citizens Communications Company, will give the Chairman's Dinner address.

The 2008 PFF Aspen Summit will be held August 17th - 19th at the St. Regis Hotel in Aspen, Colorado. Further details, including an updated agenda, can be found on our web site. Registration can be performed online, and a discounted rate is available through June 30th. Questions should be directed to Allison Bringardner at abringardner@pff.org or (202)289-8928. Members of the media are always welcome to attend and should contact Amy Smorodin at asmorodin@pff.org or (202)289-8928.

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.