CWA President Named To National Innovation Advisory Board

CWA President Larry Cohen today was named as a member of the newly created national Innovation Advisory Board by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

Established by President Obama earlier this year as part of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, Cohen is the sole representative of labor on the 15-member board that will coordinate with the National Economic Council and other federal agencies in helping form national policies related to job creation and global competitiveness.

“CWA is pleased to participate in developing policy that creates good jobs and innovative infrastructure. Our five years of experience promoting Speed Matters as well as initiatives from our industrial division prepare us well,” Cohen said. “Our ability as a nation to educate and innovate depends on broadband build out for rural and urban America, developing a platform for the next generation of economic development.”

The Innovation Advisory Board is specifically charged with developing a study looking at the competitiveness of the national economy as compared to those of other nations, looking at areas that include education, research, business development and the ability to commercialize new technologies.

“American working families can get the job done. Our role is to take a step back and look at how government policies can better help them,” Cohen said.

The President’s order requires the board to complete the study and offer recommendations no later than January 4, 2012.