It's a great honor to be here with you today. From Silicon Alley to Silicon Valley, from Boston to Austin, cities are where the action is in telecommunications. Communications tools are redefining industry and our economy. And increasingly, access to communications technology is defining who gets ahead and who gets left behind. We all know that what you earn is based upon what your learn, and that an educated workforce is the most important resource any city can have.
Mayors know more about educating kids and creating jobs than any leaders in the country.
We need your knowledge, your passion, your authority, as we set telecommunications policy for the 21st century. That's why it's so important that we at the federal level continue to work with mayors and other civic leaders. At the FCC in the last few years, we have been fortunate to have some very dynamic members of this organization who have helped forge a good relationship between the FCC and cities. In particular, I'd like to acknowledge Victor Ashe, of Knoxville, who wisely urged the FCC to establish an Advisory Committee comprised of state and local elected officials. Which we did.