WASHINGTON — The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) said Joe Clayton, president and CEO of Dish Network; U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.); U.S. Congressmen Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Greg Walden (R-Ore.) will be the honorees at the ninth annual Digital Patriots Dinner, scheduled for Wednesday, April 17, at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, here.
“We couldn’t be more proud to honor our 2013 Digital Patriots and to launch a new Innovation Policy Ninja Award, recognizing a forward-thinking legislator who advances public policies that will spur innovation for years to come. This year’s class has unprecedented passion for technology and supports innovation that is critical to the consumer electronics industry,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA in a statement.
Clayton, a 40-year veteran of the consumer electronics, telecommunications and satellite communications industries, is the president and CEO of Dish Network and serves on the company’s board. Throughout his career, Clayton has been instrumental in the discovery and implementation of numerous consumer electronics products including the VCR, DVDs, satellite TV, HDTV and satellite radio. Clayton was a four-year member of the EchoStar’s board and former chairman of CEA.
Senator Moran successfully led the opposition to defeat the Protect IP Act (PIPA), because of its impact on innovation, free speech and national security.
U.S. Congressman Jared Polis was a foe of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), and fought to defeat SOPA saying it would “destroy the internet as we know it.”
U.S. Congressman Greg Walden will be honored with the inaugural Innovation Policy Ninja Award for his work as the lead champion of crucial spectrum reform legislation last year.
All proceeds from the Digital Patriots Dinner will be donated to Bright Beginnings and the CEA Foundation.
