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On March 5, 2026, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) hosted a commemorative event ‘Alexander Graham Bell’s Telephone Patent: 150 years, a world of connection‘ marking the 150th anniversary of Bell’s telephone patent (granted March 7, 1876). The program brought together historians, technologists, policy experts, and descendants of the Bell family to reflect on the invention of the telephone, its impact on communications and society, and the continuing role of intellectual property in shaping innovation.
01 Opening Remarks
John A. Squires– Director, USPTO
Dr. Bernard Carlson – Professor Emeritus of Humanities, Professor Emeritus of Engineering and Society, University of Virginia
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02 Panel I: From Bell to Broadband — Innovation and Industry Across 150 Years
Edwin S. Grosvenor – President and Editor-in-Chief, American Heritage
Joshua Levy – Historian of Science and Technology, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Brian Wood – Curator, Bell Homestead National Historic Site, retired
Sheldon Hochheiser – Corporate Historian Emeritus, AT&T, retired
Moderator: Jill Gostin – President-Elect, IEEE
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3 Panel II: Protecting Ideas and Shaping the Future — Intellectual Property and the Next 150 Years
Giulia McHenry – Senior Vice President for Public Policy, AT&T
Bob Giles – Senior Vice President, Chief IP Counsel, Qualcomm
Christopher Beauchamp – Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School
Patrick Coyne – Principal, Coyne Consulting, PLLC
Moderator: Louis Foreman – CEO of Enventys, Professor at Wake Forest
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04 Closing Reflections & Anniversary Tribute
Sara Grosvenor – President, Alexander and Mabel Bell Legacy Foundation
Vint Cerf – Chief Internet Evangelist, Google
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#uspto #alexandergrahambell #patents