ATLANTA, June 3 /PRNewswire/ --

- New Members Join Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis, Former McDonald's Executive Bill Lamar and Recording Industry Pioneer Clarence Avant in Consumer Empowerment Coalition

The Alliance for Digital Equality held its Mid-Year Board Meeting in Atlanta, May 30-31, 2008 and Chairman Julius H. Hollis and The Board of Directors of The Alliance for Digital Equality today announced the appointment of two new Board members -- Harold Henderson and Brian Bradford.

The Alliance, an Atlanta, Georgia-based national non-profit organization, is currently engaged in the development of Digital Empowerment Councils in the following cities - Detroit, Michigan; Houston, Texas; Miami, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Boston, Massachusetts.

"Both Mr. Henderson and Mr. Bradford are welcome additions to The Alliance Board. They both have made major contributions to their fields and have been recognized for their leadership, diligence and innovative approaches to moving their industries forward," stated Alliance Chairman Julius H. Hollis. "And now, their participation on the Alliance Board will help extend our organization's mission of advocating for affordable alternatives in broadband for underserved communities across the nation."

Both Board appointments are effective immediately.

Mr. Henderson and Mr. Bradford join a distinguished group of individuals who have pledged to work for increased access to new technologies, products and services for all communities - regardless of race, ethnicity or income. Other Alliance Board members include Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis; former SVP and Chief Marketing Officer for McDonalds USA Bill Lamar; Vice Chairman Clarence Avant, President of Los Angeles based Avant Garde and Interior Music Corporation; United Parcel Service's Legal SVP Teri Plummer McClure; Roy Keith, former President of Morehouse College; Tallahassee, Florida Mayor John Marks; Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce CEO Bill Diggs; former Henry Ford Professor Emeritus at MIT, Frank Jones; Managing Partner of Memphis-based Mitchell Technology Group, Marvell Mitchell; and Founder of Detroit-based Inheritance Capital Group, Robert Shumake.

Mr. Henderson is the NFL's Executive Vice President for Player Development focusing on programs for substance abuse and conduct policies, and benefits for current and former players. He recently served as the NFL's Executive vice President for Labor Relations and Chairman of the NFL Management Council Executive for sixteen years. In that capacity, he had responsibility for all aspects of the League's player and labor relations. Henderson is a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Member of the Board of Trustees of the National Urban League, and former member of the Board of Directors of Children's Hospital National Medical Center. He was the Traphagen Distinguished Alumni Speaker at Harvard Law School, Henry Kaiser Speaker at Georgetown Law School, and has been recognized for his work by the National Bar Association, Operation PUSH/Rainbow Sports Coalition and many other professional and community organizations.

Mr. Brian Bradford is the Director of Strategic Consulting of GridPoint, Inc., a clean technology venture funded by Goldman Sachs. He is charged with communicating to utilities, legislators and the green community, as well as, facilitating the value proposition of smart grid technology to the electric utility industry. Prior to joining GridPoint, Brian was the Director of Strategic Planning and Business Development for NSTAR Electric and Gas Corporation. At NSTAR Communications, he also served as President of NSTAR Communications Inc., a non-regulated fiber optic communications development and construction subsidiary. Brian has served on the Board of Directors of the Houston Area Urban League, NSTAR Communications Inc., NeuCo Inc., and the Phillips Academy Executive Alumni Council.

About The Alliance:

Founded in 2007, The Alliance for Digital Equality is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization that serves to facilitate and ensure equal access to technology in underserved communities. The Alliance also serves as a bridge between policymakers and minority individuals in order to help the public understand how legislative and regulatory policies regarding new technologies can impact and empower their daily lives. As part of its mission of "Empowering Communities Across the Digital Divide," The Alliance will bring together elected officials, consumers and the business community to educate minority communities about the importance, as well as, benefits of broadband usage across the United States for all people regardless of their race, ethnicity or income. For more information on The Alliance for Digital Equality, please visit www.alliancefordigitalequality.org .

Web site: http://www.alliancefordigitalequality.org

Cynthia Miller, ADE Deputy/Communications Director, +1-843-693-8637, cmiller@adeql.org