Third Annual Best-Practices Awards to be bestowed at the W2i Digital Cities Convention in Washington, DC, this fall
BOSTON, Mass. (March 6, 2007) — To pay tribute to local governments implementing broadband-wireless infrastructure, applications, and services for their communities, the Wireless Internet Institute hosts the third annual
Wireless Communities Best Practices Awards. Submissions are invited from local-government units around the world. Finalists receive global recognition for their achievements and are invited to a special ceremony and discussion forum at the Digital Cities Convention in Washington, DC, later in the year.
W2i and the Jury kicked off the 2007 nomination period at the
W2i Digital Cities Convention in Tempe, Arizona, on February 13–14. Nominations for local governments will be accepted through June 30, 2007. For more information, visit the
Awards homepage.
In 2006, winners were selected by the Jury from a field of 10 finalists, who were announced at a ceremony at the Digital Cities Convention in Philadelphia on on Dec. 6. The 2006 winners are:
- Technology Innovation
Kista Science City, Stockholm, Sweden
- Community Momentum Building
OneCommunity, USA
- Digital Inclusion
Basque Government, Spain
- E-Government Applications
Taipei City, Taiwan
- Neighborhood Portals
E-Mexico National System, Mexico
The W2i Awards Jury includes:
Chair, Costis Toregas, President Emeritus, Public Technology Institute; Chair, National Academy of Public Administration standing panel on Social Equity in Governance
Sonja Reece, Mayor Pro Tem, Normal Illinois; Chair, ITC Committee, National League of Cities (NLC)
Timothy Lowenstein, Supervisor, Buffalo County, Nebraska; Chair, ITC Committee, National Association of Counties (NACo)
Axel Leblois, Co-Founder, W2i; Director, Global Initiative for Inclusive Technologies (G3ict)
Scott Shamp, Director, New Media Institute, University of Georgia
“On behalf of the Jury, I am excited to kick off the third season of the W2i Wireless Communities Best Practices Awards,” said Costis Toregas, Jury Chair. “In 2007, the Jury will continue to look for truly innovative experiences and truly innovative approaches.”
About W2i and the Digital Cities Convention Series
The Wireless Internet Institute (W2i) is an independent forum bringing together stakeholders around the world to accelerate the adoption of wireless Internet in support of social and economic development and better managed cities, communities and regions. Held annually in three to four regions of the world, the W2i Digital Cities Convention includes a thought-leadership conference exploring the planning and deployment of broadband-wireless infrastructure, applications and services; practical training for local authorities; roundtables for wireless service-provider executives and digital-inclusion stakeholders; the annual Wireless Communities Best-Practices Awards; and a Technology Showcase produced in partnership with the public sector, private sector, and international development institutions. Building on conventions in Philadelphia, Shanghai, San Francisco, Bilbão, Houston, Rio, and Los Angeles, and London, planning is in final stages for São Paulo (April 12) and Chicago (May 22–23, 2007).
Contact:
Peter Orne
Editorial Director
+1 (617) 439-5400
