Top Industry and Government Officials Headline CEA'S Entertainment Technology Policy Summit; Two Day Event Features Debates on Intellectual Property, Network Neutrality and Digital Television

Microsoft's Bill Gates, Senator John Ensign and Congressman Joe Barton Honored at Second Annual Digital Patriots Dinner on Day One of Summit

Feburary 17, 2006

Top technology, content industry and government leaders will debate the hottest technology and public policy issues at the Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA) Entertainment Technology Policy Summit. The event focuses on the issues surrounding the revolutionary intersection of digital content, distribution networks and hardware, as well as the final steps in the transition to digital television (DTV). The Summit runs March 15-16, 2006, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. On Wednesday morning, CEA's Director of Industry Analysis Sean Wargo will present new market research on the future of television, digital lifestyles and sales forecasts for next-generation DVD players (HD-DVD and Blu-ray). This in-depth research session also includes CEA's overall market forecast for television, with a specific focus on DTV and flat panel displays. With a hard date for the end of analog television broadcasts finalized, panelists in Wednesday's Final Steps to the Big Finish panel will discuss what steps are needed to make sure the transition to digital television is a success and other issues such as consumer education and the tuner mandate. Moderated by Jeremy Pelofsky from Reuters, panelists include Bryan Burns, vice president, strategic business planning and development, ESPN; Rick Chessen, partner, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton; Jeff Joseph, vice president communications and strategic relationships, CEA; and John Taylor, vice president, public affairs and communications, LG Electronics USA. In another Wednesday panel session, Kiss the Ring: A Tale of Two Interests - The Pipe Owner and the Innovator, panelists including John Godfrey, vice president, government and industry affairs, Pioneer North America; Paul Misener, vice president for global public policy, Amazon.com; and Paul Mitchell, senior director, chief of staff, Microsoft TV Group, will debate what the future will hold for new technologies and Internet-based services, applications and devices. The group, moderated by Jon Healey, editorial staff writer, Los Angeles Times, will question whether service providers will become gatekeepers to the Internet and what policymakers can do to ensure a robust commercial marketplace for new technologies. On Thursday morning, content industry leaders will discuss new business models and what their companies are doing to give consumers anytime, anywhere entertainment during The Entertainment Reinvention panel. Moderator Rob Pegoraro, consumer technology editor, The Washington Post, will lead panelists Hank Barry, partner, Hummer Winblad Venture Partners; Ted Cohen, senior vice president, digital development and distribution, EMI Music; Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman and CEO, Gibson Guitar Corp., and John Williams, president, MusicGiants through a conversation on new products and the challenges and opportunities they present. Hot button issues such as intellectual property protection, fair use rights and digital rights management will take center stage during Thursday's The Digital Revolution: Ready, Aim, Argue panel. With panelists from all sides participating, attendees will hear the latest arguments and learn what is being done to reach a common ground. Moderated by Gary Arlen, president, Arlen Communications, panelists include: Mitch Bainwol, chairman and CEO, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); Hon. Dan Glickman, president and CEO, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA); Leslie Harris, executive director, Center for Democracy & Technology; Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA; Gigi Sohn, president and co-founder, Public Knowledge and Fred von Lohmann, senior staff attorney, fair use and intellectual property, Electronic Frontier Foundation. The Entertainment Technology Policy Summit also features the second annual Digital Patriots Dinner on Wednesday evening at the Renaissance Hotel. This year's dinner honors Digital Patriot Innovator of the Year Bill Gates of Microsoft, Digital Patriot Senator John Ensign (R-NV), chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation and Competitiveness, Senate Commerce Committee, and Digital Patriot Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. For more information on the Entertainment Technology Policy Summit and the Digital Patriots Dinner, including a full conference schedule and registration, visit http://www.CE.org/events. About CEA: The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,100 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $125 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at http://www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy. UPCOMING EVENTS -- 2006 CEA Winter Summit March 2-4, 2006, Vail, CO -- CEA 2006 Winter Technology and Standards Forum March 6-10, 2006, Clearwater Beach, FL -- CEA Entertainment Technology Policy Summit March 15-16, 2006, Washington, DC -- CEA Digital Patriots Dinner March 15, 2006, Washington, DC -- EHX Spring 2006 March 28-April 1, 2006, Orlando, FL -- CONNECTIONS(TM) - The Digital Home Conference & Showcase May 2-4, 2006, Santa Clara, CA -- 2006 PARA Conference May 3-7, 2006, Hilton Head, SC -- The 10th Annual Consumer Electronics CEO Summit June 21-24, 2006, Southampton, Bermuda -- 2006 SINOCES July 7-10, 2006, Qingdao, China -- 2006 CEA Summer Technology and Standards Forum July 24-28, 2006, Coronado, CA -- CEA Industry Forum October 16-18, 2006, San Francisco, CA -- 2007 PARA Conference May 16-20, 2007, Coronado, CA

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