National Press Club to Host "NEWSMAKER" Media Briefing With Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association

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Apr 12, 2011, 12:19 ET

"The Spectrum Crunch: A Call to Action to the FCC"

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by the National Press Club about a Newsmaker media briefing with Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080917/NPCLOGO)

DATE:	Wednesday, April 20

TIME:	10 a.m.

Place:	Murrow Room, National Press Club
	529 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20045

It has been more than a year since the Federal Communications Commission's National Broadband Plan was introduced, and there still has been no investment made in wireless spectrum needed to support the growth of innovative products such as tablets and smart phones. During the Newsmaker, Shapiro, author of the new book, "The Comeback: How Innovation will Restore the American Dream," will discuss the need for Congress to take the first step in freeing spectrum by allowing the FCC to conduct voluntary incentive-based auctions. With over-the-air broadcasts utilized by fewer than 10 percent of Americans, broadband, not broadcast, is today's source for news, weather and entertainment for American consumers, Shapiro noted. "We need more spectrum for mobile services, and we need it now," he said. The Consumer Electronics Association has more than 2,000 member companies.

SOURCE National Press Club