Colleagues: The 2013 Michigan Broadband Conference is only 15 days away! Speakers and panelist have been confirmed and registration numbers are increasing daily. Since the last invitation: - Howard Rheingold, renowned author, professor, and TED speaker, has been confirmed as our lunch keynote speaker. More information on Mr. Rheingold can be found at: http://rheingold.com/. - The capstone Broadband and Economic Development panel has been finalized. The four panelists will be Blair Levin, fellow at the Aspen Institute, Mike Finney, CEO of MEDC, Steve Webster, CEO of Prima Civitas, and Dr. Johannes Bauer, chair of the telecommunications department at Michigan State University. - Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley will provide the opening address for the conference. - Breakout session topics will include: o Community-Enabled Broadband Expansion o Technology Adoption and Use for Small Businesses o Digital Entrepreneurship o Gigabit Libraries o USDA - Rural Utilities Service Program o Digital Job Creation o Rural Broadband Expansion Success o Collaboration for Michigan Businesses and Libraries o Rural Healthcare Connections o Understanding the Michigan State Education Network There will be something for everyone at this conference and all are welcome to attend. No previous knowledge of the information technology industry is required. The conference is designed to bring together a wide cross section of Michigan to share and learn best practices for expanding broadband and technology for improved community and economic development. Please don't forget to register yourself for the conference at: http://www.connectmi.org/broadband-summit. *** library staff register for free! Use this promotion code: Libraries4Broadband *** [cid:image001.jpg@01CEC41F.92477570] Sheryl L. Mase Assistant Director Statewide Library Services Library of Michigan 702 West Kalamazoo, P.O. Box 30007 Lansing, MI 48909-7507 Ph: 517-373-4331; Fax: 517-373-5700 Toll free: 877-479-0021 Email: mases@michigan.gov<mailto:mases@michigan.gov> URL: http://michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan ***visit the Michigan eLibrary at http://mel.org<http://mel.org/>***