FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr To Deliver Keynote Remarks at Oct. 14 Virtual Event

FOR RELEASE: August 4, 2020

Contact: Richard T. Kaplar
The Media Institute
703-243-5700

Arlington, Va., August 4, 2020 – The Media Institute will honor David L. Cohen, senior executive vice president of Comcast Corporation, and Mignon Clyburn, former FCC commissioner and acting chair, at its annual “Free Speech America” Gala on Oct. 14.  This year’s Gala will be a virtual event.

David Cohen will receive the American Horizon Award, while Mignon Clyburn will receive the Freedom of Speech Award.  The master of ceremonies will be communications attorney and former FCC chairman Richard E. Wiley.

The theme of the evening will be “A Voice for Everyone,” recognizing the efforts of Mr. Cohen and Ms. Clyburn to promote inclusion and bring broadband and telecom access to Americans in all their diversity throughout the country.

David Cohen, senior executive vice president of Comcast, also served as chief diversity officer.  In addition to making the Comcast workforce a welcoming place for workers of all backgrounds, Mr. Cohen spearheaded Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which has connected more than 8 million low-income Americans to the Internet at home since 2011.

Mignon Clyburn served as a commissioner and acting chair of the Federal Communications Commission.  She was known at the FCC as a strong consumer advocate who pushed for broadband and technology access for everyone, and was a proponent of viewpoint diversity among broadcasters.  She has been a long-time supporter of closing the “digital divide.”

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr will deliver keynote remarks.  He is leading the FCC’s effort to modernize rules governing the buildout of 5G and other next-gen networks.  His reforms have already helped to bring more broadband to more Americans.  Commissioner Carr has worked to ensure that rural America has a fair shot at next-generation connectivity.

The American Horizon Award recognizes an individual for visionary leadership in the communications industry.  The Freedom of Speech Award recognizes an individual who has worked to advance free speech and the First Amendment. The Media Institute is a nonprofit foundation specializing in communications policy and the First Amendment. For more information, visit the Institute online at www.mediainstitute.org/.

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