Let’s face it, Washington is not known for being hip, but last night’s party held at Google’s D.C. office was very cool. They were celebrating the opening of their Government Affairs office and I was thrilled to be invited. U.S. Representatives, FCC Commissioners, business leaders and a sea of 30-somethings bent on improving the world sipped on “YouTubes” (a cocktail concoction) and munched on sushi, while Xbox games played on walls throughout the office draped with dramatic colors and distinctive furniture.

How nice it was to hear from Google’s president, Eric Schmidt, that Google understands the importance of working within the system to affect change. He was talking about Net Neutrality—a battle ERA members share with Google. It’s always a pleasure to hear a CEO who “gets it” and makes the commitment to be an active player.

However, perhaps the biggest thrill of the evening for me was meeting the “father” of the Internet—no not Al Gore, but the inventor himself —Vint Serf! I was pleasantly surprised by how gracious and humble he was in light of his tremendous contribution to society.

It was a great evening. As I headed to my car, I was heartened to feel the energy and excitement surround not the party itself, but rather the spirit of the industry. The future is indeed very bright.

Barbara Tulipane is ERA’s president and CEO

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