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<b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:BrownExtraBoldCondensed">'Global Connect'
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<b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:BrownExtraBoldCondensed">US Initiative Will Examine How To Speed Deployment of Broadband Worldwide, FCC Official Says
</span></b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:BrownExtraBoldCondensed"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;text-indent:.5in"><span><span style="font-size:12.5pt">A new State Department diplomatic initiative will be unveiled at the U.N.
</span></span><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">General Assembly in New York in two weeks, said Phil Verveer, senior counsel to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. Verveer said the initiative is “an effort to try to coordinate as much
development activity as possible” to get another 1.5 billion people online over the next five years. He spoke Thursday at a Silicon Flatirons Center symposium webcast from Boulder, Colorado.
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<p style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“<span>That’s a very ambitious goal</span>,” Verveer said. “It’s one that is shared by other countries.” The U.S. contribution
will be in trying to coordinate the Internet push, he said. The World Bank also will be involved, he said. Estonian President Toomas Hendrik, World Bank Chief Economist Kaushik Basu and senior State Department officials are expected to be on hand for the
announcement, Verveer said. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“<span>It’s a serious effort to try to promote the idea that telecommunications investment
</span>… ought to enjoy a place and a priority of development that heretofore roads and electricity and water, things of that nature, have enjoyed,” said Verveer, who was a State Department official before working for Wheeler. One basic assumption is “we are
better off as more and more people connect to the Internet,” Verveer said. “There are quite significant geopolitical benefits as well,” he said. “We benefit if there is order, if there is prosperity, if there is economic activity.”
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<p style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;text-indent:.5in"><span><span style="font-size:12.5pt">To have development, a nation has to have the rule of law
</span></span><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">and has to address corruption, “which is endemic in much of the world,” Verveer said. “You’ve got to have licensing regimes that are sensible, you’ve got to have legal and regulatory
arrangements that are favorable for investment,” he said. “Some of the elites in some countries show a remarkable resistance to that set of principles.” U.S. carriers, with the exception of AT&T’s investment in Mexico, have rarely been engaged in international
markets, he said. “It would have been useful to have U.S. service providers operating around the world extensively over the last 20 years.”
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:13.0pt;text-indent:.5in"><span><span style="font-size:12.5pt">Verveer also said comparing broadband in the U.S. with deployment in other nations
</span></span><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">is complicated. “One can be inspired by the experience of South Korea” with its very high rates of speed, he said. “But you also have to stop and consider both the ability of
the government in South Korea to assist with that kind of </span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">10—COMMUNICATIONS DAILY
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Manu K. Bhardwaj</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Senior Advisor and Staff Coordinator for IT and Internet Diplomacy Matters</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Office of the Under Secretary</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><a href="tel:%28202%29%20647-9038" target="_blank">(202) 647-9038</a></span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Friends and colleagues:
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">We are pleased to invite you to a high-level panel discussion on
<i>Development in the Digital Age</i> co-hosted by Estonia, the USA and the World Bank Group on September 27th at 11 AM in UNHQ. At this special event, we will be joined by the Presidents of Estonia, Tanzania and the World Bank, among other foreign ministers
and dignitaries. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The format will be a panel discussion. During the question-and-answer session, we would welcome any interested representatives to deliver a statement on the benefits of broadband
as fundamental infrastructure and vital for the international development agenda. This event will be open to the press. Attached is the Save-the-Date for the event and full concept note.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Next week, we look forward to unveiling more details about our new diplomatic initiative first previewed by the Secretary of State in Korea earlier this summer. Space is
limited, please RSVP to <a href="javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','tmadsen@mfa.ee');" target="_blank"><span style="color:windowtext">tmadsen@mfa.ee</span></a> as soon as possible. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Pleased with the building momentum to help catalyze action in closing the digital divide and extend the economic and social benefits of connectivity to everyone. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Thanks,
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Manu (Snr. Political Advisor, Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, State) and Ann Mei (Executive Director, Global Development Lab, USAID)<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">“</span>So looking to the future, we have to respond to this demand for openness and opportunity by making steady progress toward closing the digital divide. And with
that goal in mind, the United States State Department will soon launch a new diplomatic initiative – in combination with partner countries, development banks, engineers, and industry leaders – and we’re going to do just that: try to make it more available.”</i></b>
-- Secretary Kerry in Korea on May 18,2015<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> <u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We are excited about the Secretary Kerry's <a href="http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/05/242553.htm" target="_blank">
remarks in Korea</a> today that highlight the State Department's and USAID's commitment to global connectivity. As the Secretary said, looking to the future, we have to make steady progress towards Internet freedom and closing the digital divide. With that
goal in mind, the United States will soon be launching a new diplomatic initiative - in combination with friends, regional development banks, and industry leaders - to do just that.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">In the coming weeks, the State Department and USAID will be reaching out to all of you to explore areas for partnership as we develop this new connectivity initiative. We are actively exploring opportunities to improve connectivity health
information systems in West Africa (in the recovery from Ebola), digital financial systems in India, and internet access and usage across the world. Please don't hesitate to contact my team at the Global Development Lab or Manu Bhardwaj, the State Department's
Senior Advisor and Staff Coordinator for IT and Internet Diplomacy Matters, copied here.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Best,<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Ann Mei (USAID/Lab) and Manu (State/<span style="color:#545454">Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment)</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#888888">Ann Mei Chang | Executive Director</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;color:#888888"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#888888">U.S. Global Development Lab l USAID</span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#888888"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><u><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1155cc"><a href="http://www.usaid.gov/GlobalDevLab" target="_blank"><span style="color:#1155cc;text-decoration:none">www.usaid.gov/GlobalDevLab</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#999999">Twitter: </span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#888888"><a href="https://twitter.com/annmei" target="_blank"><span style="color:#1155cc">@annmei</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<br><br><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.666666984558105px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><br style="font-family:arial;font-size:small"><div dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial;font-size:small"><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.666666984558105px"><i>Carolina Rossini </i></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.666666984558105px"><font color="#666666"><i>Vice President, International Policy</i></font></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.666666984558105px"><b><font color="#666666">Public Knowledge</font></b></div><div><font face="arial, sans-serif" color="#0000ff"><span style="font-size:12.666666984558105px"><u><a href="http://www.publicknowledge.org/" target="_blank">http://www.publicknowledge.org/</a></u></span></font><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.666666984558105px"><a value="+16176979389" style="color:rgb(102,102,102)">+ 1 6176979389 | </a><font color="#666666">skype: carolrossini | </font><font color="#0000ff">@carolinarossini</font></div></div></div></div><div><br></div></div></div></div><br>