Consumer interest leaders join Connected Nation Board

I’m very pleased to report that today Connected Nation is announcing the addition of three new members to our Board of Directors (details below). Thank you as always for your interest and please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have questions or feedback. Brian

Three new directors representing diverse consumer interests join Connected Nation Board to ensure all Americans have access to broadband and related technology.

Today, Connected Nation, a national 501c3 non-profit known widely for its ability to improve digital inclusion, announces three new members to its Board of Directors:
Ralph B. Everett, President and Chief Executive Officer, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Sally Greenberg, Executive Director, National Consumers League
Kathleen Martinez, Executive Director, World Institute on Disability

The three new directors join U.S. technology leaders representing industry, labor, academia and government, planning for ways to partner to promote access to and use of broadband and related technology. Connected Nation research has indicated that the U.S. economy stands to benefit by $134 billion annually by increasing use of broadband.

“I’m excited about the broad perspectives that our new directors bring to the Connected Nation Board,” said Larry Cohen, President of the Communications Workers of America and also a Connected Nation director. “Having faster broadband available to all Americans must be a national policy priority, and as the Connected Nation Board well represents, the organization is well positioned to play a lead role in ensuring America’s broadband leadership in the years ahead.”

"Broadband access to the digital world is fast becoming a necessity for anyone to fully participate in the nation's economic and civic life,” according to Everett, president and chief executive officer of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the nation’s premier African American think tank. “By working to expand this access to every American, Connected Nation is creating new pathways to opportunity and new hope to underserved communities, and I am delighted to join in that effort."

Mr. Everett guides the 38-year-old research institution on its mission to improve the socioeconomic status of African Americans and other people of color and expand their effective participation in the politics and public policymaking. A native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, Mr. Everett is a 30-year veteran of the Washington policy scene.

"I look forward to working with Connected Nation to fulfill its all critically important mission of getting rural and urban Americans alike connected to the Internet," Sally Greenberg said. Greenberg serves as the executive director of the National Consumers League (NCL). Ms. Greenberg’s focus at NCL is on four key priority areas: fraud, child labor, LifeSmarts (a program encouraging high school students to learn about the consumer issues) and healthcare forums.

At NCL, Ms. Greenberg has testified before the White House Interagency Working Group on import safety and is NCL’s primary spokesperson on a variety of issues. Formerly, Ms. Greenberg worked at Consumers Union, where she worked on auto safety and legal and liability reform and to improve the legal system for consumers.

“Broadband presents a great opportunity for Americans with disabilities, in particular the opportunity to work from home,” according to Kathleen Martinez. “I look forward to working with Connected Nation to realize and promote these opportunities for disabled people at home and in the workplace.” Blind since birth, Martinez is an internationally recognized disability rights leader specializing in employment, asset building, independent living, international development, diversity and gender issues.

Since 2000, Ms. Martinez has supervised World Institute on Diversity's technical assistance, international, employment, poverty reduction and training projects. The World Institute on Disability is an internationally recognized public policy center organized by and for people with disabilities. She has also led development activities with disabled women in Ethiopia for the International Labour Organization, and has collaborated on projects in Brazil, China, Indonesia, Honduras, Hungary, Korea, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Spain.

The new directors are joining an impressive group of national leaders including:
James W. Cicconi, Senior Executive Vice President of External and Legislative Affairs, AT&T, Inc.
Larry Cohen, President, Communication Workers of America
John E. Davies, Vice President, World Ahead, Intel Corporation
Harry Herington, Chief Executive Officer, NIC, Inc.
Steve Largent, President & CEO, CTIA – The Wireless Association
Wendy Lazarus, Founder & Co-President, The Children’s Partnership
Walter B. McCormick, President & CEO, United States Telecom Association
Mark K. McElroy, Chief Operating Officer, Connected Nation, Inc.
Kyle E. McSlarrow, President & CEO, National Cable & Telecommunications Association
Brian R. Mefford, Chief Executive Officer, Connected Nation, Inc.
R. Eric Mills, General Counsel, Connected Nation, Inc.
Doug Robinson, Executive Director, NASCIO
Grant E. Seiffert, President, Telecommunications Industry Association
Thomas J. Tauke, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs, Policy and Communications, Verizon Communications
Joseph W. Waz, Jr., Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Public Policy Counsel, Comcast Corporation