Microsoft to Chair FOSI Board

WASHINGTON - The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) announced today that Kim Sanchez, senior group manager in the Trustworthy Computing division at Microsoft Corporation, will become the next chair of the FOSI Board of Directors. Online safety and privacy issues are a priority for Microsoft, as Sanchez has represented Microsoft on the FOSI board for two years.

"FOSI works day-in and day-out to build a Culture of Responsibility online and our board members play a major role in identifying and promoting the best tools, rules and education programs in schools to make surfing the Internet safer for families," said Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI. "Microsoft has been a very active and involved member of FOSI and we are excited for Kim to assume the leadership role and further distinguish FOSI as a leader in the field."

"FOSI has emerged over the past couple of years as an international leader in online safety, and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the chair of this wonderful board," said Sanchez. "Families are presented with new online safety challenges, and we are working to provide the resources to help families safely navigate the online world. Microsoft is dedicated to developing technologies, engaging in partnerships and offering guidance to keep families safer online."

About FOSI

The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) works to make the online world safer for kids and their families by identifying and promoting best practices, tools and methods that also respect free speech. FOSI's members include: AOL, AT&T, Blue Coat Systems, BT Retail, Comcast, Entertainment Software Association, Facebook, France Telecom, Google, GSM Association, Kingston Communications, Loopt, Microsoft, MySpace, NCTA, Ning, Nominum, Optenet, RuleSpace, Sprint, StreamShield, Symantec, Time Warner Cable, Telefónica, TELMEX, The Wireless Foundation, Verizon, Yahoo!. FOSI hosts an annual international conference to bring together Internet safety advocates from a variety of sectors, including global corporations, government, non-profits, academia and the media, to discuss the current pulse of online safety and emerging solutions that will enhance it. For more information, please visit www.fosi.org.