DMA Co-Sponsors State of the Net Conference

WASHINGTON, February 3, 2006 – The Direct Marketing Association is pleased to announce that it will co-sponsor the Internet Caucus Advisory Committee’s 2006 "State of the Net Conference," which will be held in Washington, DC on Wednesday, February 8, 2006.

First held in 2005, the State of the Net conference brings together public and private sector representatives, as well as leaders from academia and consumer advocacy groups to discuss technology trends and the enormous policy challenges which lawmakers, industry leaders, and citizens must confront and resolve.

This year’s conference includes separate issue tracks that will provide targeted opportunities for the discussion of key issues that will shape the future of technology, the economy and society. A track focused on trust, privacy and security will explore growing concerns as more and more businesses, consumers, and systems rely upon the global Internet grid. Another track will focus on protecting intellectual property and creative innovation, while a third track will look at how the internet has begun to subsume traditional communications technologies and how will policymakers will balance traditional regulatory policies with the decentralized nature of the Internet.

Keynote speakers include the Honorable Joe Barton, Chair of the House Commerce Committee, the Honorable Bob Goodlatte, Internet Caucus Co-Chair, and Vinton Cerf of Google, widely regarded as a pioneer in the growth and development of the Internet.

The conference is hosted by the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee, a diverse group of public interest, non profit and industry groups working to educate the Congress and the public about important Internet-related policy issues. The Congressional Internet Caucus is a bi-partisan group of over 170 members of the House and Senate working to educate their colleagues about the promise and potential of the Internet. Additional sponsors include Time Warner, the Center for Democracy and Technology, CompTIA, 463 Communications, Microsoft, Recording Industry Association of America, RSA Security, TRUSTe., VeriSign, Verizon.

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The Direct Marketing Association (www.the-dma.org) is the leading global trade association of business and nonprofit organizations using and supporting direct marketing tools and techniques. DMA advocates industry standards for responsible marketing, promotes relevance as the key to reaching consumers with desirable offers, and provides cutting-edge research, education, and networking opportunities to improve results throughout the entire direct marketing process. Founded in 1917, DMA today has more than 4,800 corporate, affiliate, and chapter members from the US and 46 other nations, including 55 companies listed on the Fortune 100.

In 2005, companies will spend more than $161 billion on direct marketing in the United States. Measured against total US sales, these advertising expenditures are expected to generate $1.85 trillion in increased sales in 2005, or 7% of the $26 trillion in total sales in the US economy (which includes intermediate sales). All together, direct marketing will account for 10.3% of total US GDP in 2005.