Broadband Champion and ex-Mayor Graham Richard Will Keynote 2008 Broadband Properties Summit.

DALLAS -- Graham Richard, the former mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana, who championed a broadband network in his city and made it the first Midwest city with Verizon's FiOS service, will keynote the Cornerstone Awards luncheon during the Broadband Properties Summit here April 28-30.

Richard, mayor from 2000 through 2007, will draw on his own experience as a two-term mayor to address the issues that he says "keep city officials awake at night" and show how they can use broadband technology to address those issues.

As mayor, Richard wrapped Fort Wayne's broadband initiative into his vision of a high-performance government. He worked with Verizon to bring about a $100 million fiber-optic investment in the city, which gives virtually everyone within city limits access to a high-speed Internet connection.

"Broadband creates jobs, creates wealth and provides for better city services. Companies now look at the availability of a broadband infrastructure when they make decisions about where to locate," Richard said. "It makes a city truly competitive."

A former Indiana state senator and business entrepreneur before becoming mayor, Richard is also the author of the book "Performance is the Best Politics."

His keynote, on Tuesday, April 29, will be part of the Cornerstone Awards luncheon, at which the winners of the prestigious annual awards will be announced. Winners are recognized for outstanding achievements in bringing the benefits of fiber-to-the-premises and advanced broadband technology to residential and business users.

In addition to Richard, other keynotes and major addresses at the Summit will be delivered by Deborah Taylor Tate, a member of the Federal Communications Commission; Bruce P. Mehlman, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy and Co-chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance; Tim Nulty, president of the ValleyFiber fiber-to-the-home project in Vermont; and Dan Rogers, President of the Kendall County Economic Development Corporation in Texas.

Additional educational sessions throughout the three-day Summit will be presented by local economic development leaders, industry analysts, property developers, independent telephone companies, and recognized technology and legal experts. These sessions examine the latest broadband strategies of cities, communities, and carriers, and explore the appeal and economic development potential of fiber-based networks for property owners and municipal and regional governments.

The Broadband Properties Summit is the premier fiber to the premises industry event. It is April 28-30 at the Hyatt Regency DFW. Complete information on the Summit is available at www.bbpmag.com.