Building the Broadband Economy 2008 May 13, 2008

For over five years, Building the Broadband Economy has been an international meeting place offering a unique opportunity to learn from the world's most innovative communities how they have made the Broadband Economy work for them, sometimes against great odds. It offers a global perspective on the best ways to capture economic opportunity by creating broadband infrastructure, attracting knowledge workers, fostering innovation and implementing e-government programs that contribute to economic growth and bridge the digital divide.

Sustainability and Intelligent Communities

BBE 2008 will focus on the issue of sustainability in three areas:

Self-sustaining programs. Intelligent Communities seek to create programs that sustain themselves through local service revenue, growth of the tax base, and the attraction of long-term investment.
Smart growth. Intelligent Communities plan growth and craft policies on land use, transportation and other issues in order to maintain quality of life while creating jobs and spurring business growth. They also use technology to allow citizens to share community resources more efficiently, reducing demand for building more physical infrastructure.
"Green" development. Intelligent Communities frequently invest in programs to reduce pollution and curb carbon emissions as well as for economic development and inclusion.
To understand how these three issues all connect to economic prosperity and social inclusion in the Broadband Economy, read the editorial, "The Green Road Less Traveled," by New York Times correspondent Thomas Friedman.

Program

BBE 2008 takes place Wednesday-Friday, May 14-16, 2008, with the annual Intelligent Communities of the World Alumni Dinner on Friday, May 16. The program for is now in development. Click here for highlights of the 2007 conference.

Who Attends?

Building the Broadband Economy is an international conference attracting attendees from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. It is a unique opportunity to learn from the world’s best how to adapt, at the community level, to today’s economic realities. Click here to learn who attends.

Intelligent Community Awards

Building the Broadband Economy is also the site of the annual Intelligent Community Awards, which celebrate the communities, developments, technologies and visionaries that are leading the race to adapt and prosper. The Top Seven Intelligent Communities of 2008 - announced in January - will be featured in the conference program. During the award ceremony, one of ICF's Top Seven Intelligent Communities will be named the 2008 Intelligent Community of the Year.

Official Website: http://www.intelligentcommunity.org/cde.cfm?event=171467