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"By every yardstick, the region's InfoComm sector is thriving,"
said Alan Spoon, president of the Washington Post Company and
KnowledgeWay director. "It is now time for this region to move to
a new phase and bring all of the area's businesses within the
glow of the New Economy."
The Potomac KnowledgeWay Project was created just as the effects
of the Internet were beginning to be felt in the region. The
Project's goal was to increase awareness about the revolution
that was about to take place and to educate the community about
the possibilities that the Internet afforded for all aspects of
the economy.
"The Potomac Knowledgeway's leadership in helping to define the
emerging new economy and INFOCOMM industry for Greater Washington
is really a defining event for Greater Washington's technology
image. This outstanding service to the community will have long
and lasting impact."
----- James F. Lafond, Managing Partner, Greater Washington
Region,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
"Since it's inception, the Potomac Knowledgeway has provided the
Washington Region with the foundation, vision and continuing
support to embrace the spectacular unfolding of the
commercialization of the Internet. In my opinion, I believe it truly
was the only 'organized collaborative initiative' in existence that forged the way for
the commercial metamorphosis of the Internet and prepared our
region to be on the cutting edge while others were asleep at the
wheel."
----- Ms. Lou Ann Scanlan, President, UUcom, Inc.
Since the Potomac KnowledgeWay Project's inception, working with
other regional
groups and community leaders:
- The Washington region has achieved the highest Internet
penetration in the country -- 55% vs. 40% nationwide;
- Employment in the region's InfoComm sector has grown to more than
345,000 -- exceeding that of the federal government;
- The number of technology firms in the region has surpassed 2,300,
including such industry leaders as MCI WorldCom, AOL,
washingtonpost.com, Ciena, Microstrategy, Proxicom, Teligent,
Nextel, and many others;
- Venture capital flowing into the region's InfoComm sector has
grown from $50 million in 1996, to $329 million in the second
quarter of 1999 alone.
- A just released Ohio State University study listed Washington,
D.C. as the most Internet-connected community in the country.
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