WASHINGTON — The Consumer
Electronics Association (CEA) last month
presented its Digital Patriots Awards to
Vinton G. Cerf, one of the “Fathers of the
Internet”; Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.); and
Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) for their contributions
to furthering CE technology
and innovation.
Cerf, currently VP/chief Internet technologist
with Google since 2005, is the codesigner
of the TCP/IP protocols and the
architecture of the Internet with his colleague
Robert E. Kahn, and has received
numerous other awards, including the
Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.
Rep. Doyle serves on the House Energy
and Commerce Committee, which he
has championed innovation through the
protection of “fair use” issues and has also
been a congressional leader in promoting
the availability of reliable, affordable,
high-speed broadband Internet service in
the U.S., according to CEA.
Rep. Upton is a member of the Subcommittee
on Communications, Technology
and Internet, which has jurisdiction over
newly emerging high-tech issues like telemedicine,
broadband deployment and the
wiring of classrooms for Internet access. He
has been a long time proponent of DTV,
along with other critical issues, CEA said.
He noted how technology has changed
and become more available since he
worked for his congressman years ago on
Thanksgiving weekend, because the office
had an electric typewriter to write his resume
and he couldn’t afford one at home.
The keynote speaker of the evening was
Ambassador Ron Kirk, the U.S. Trade
Representative, who discussed free trade,
fair trade.
The event was held at the Andrew W.
Mellon Auditorium, here, with proceeds
from the dinner going to Telecoms Without
Borders.
