.org registry launches initial program in Ecuador to create internet awareness.

Public Interest Registry (PIR), the registry for .org domains, announced today the first of multiple planned .org outreach initiatives in Latin America, commencing in Quito, Ecuador on May 18, 2006.

According to Edward G. Viltz, President and CEO of PIR, .ORGanize 2006 under which strategic use of the Internet for the .org community is designed to create confidence and build awareness in the Internet as well as educate the not-for-profit community on the benefits of the .org domain. While .ORGanize 2006 will focus on the importance of Latin American non-profit organizations and individuals getting online.

The agenda includes an in-depth overview on the strategic uses of the Internet for non-commercial organizations presented by ChasquiNet; Internet technical and security issues presented by Microsoft; the status of connectivity in Ecuador given by CONATEL, the state of the Internet in Ecuador presented by FLACSO; and the benefits of an online presence & domain name value presented by PIR.

"This is the first of several initiatives planned for Latin America during 2006. Our objective in the Quito conference is to increase Internet usage in Ecuador and build understanding of the many benefits of an online presence. As the Internet home of the global noncommercial community, .org is pleased to host this conference and we look forward to working with CONATEL, FLACSO, Microsoft, and the ChasquiNet Foundation who have all graciously offered assistance on this initiative," continued Edward.

"The internet usage in Ecuador is an interesting paradox. Ecuador has an internet penetration rate of 5.5% an increase of over 200% over the past 4 years," said Klaus Stoll, President of ChasquiNet and a charter member of the .org Advisory Council. "There are still however many barriers to getting online, as well as, lack of trust in the internet. This conference will address these issues so that additional Ecuadorians can more confidently get online."