Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies and everyone go!

The City Council is bringing together the community partners, businesses, activists, experts and multiple City Bureaus to work on the Portland Broadband Strategic Plan.

The “Connecting Our Future” kick-off event will feature national and local presenters, including two nationally known speakers, Anthony Townsend of The Institute for the Future (www.iftf.org) and Joanne Hovis, CEO Columbia Telecommunications Corp. Locally, Steven Bass, CEO Oregon Public Broadcasting and Lew Frederick, Oregon State Representative will also be amongst the presenters.

The plan is sponsored by Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who stresses that the Council and the City must develop a broadband communications infrastructure as well as connectivity strategies to increase business vitality and job creation, enhance government services, promote sustainability, transportation, health care and regulatory policies; and to improve accessibility and responsiveness of government to citizens through connectivity.

Quite a mouthful, but come at 10 am for a brief coffee mingle to engage your fellow constituents, representatives and thought leaders for some plain talk.

For complete information, including the full kick off agenda and plan charter see PortlandonLine, the Office of Cable Management