The MIT Communications Forum has played a unique role at MIT and beyond for more than twenty-five years as a site for cutting edge discussion of the cultural, political, economic and technological impact of communications, with special emphasis on emerging technologies. Leading scholars, journalists, media producers, political figures and corporate executives have appeared at conferences and panels sponsored by the Forum. Translating specialized or technical perspectives into a discourse accessible to non-specialists is a defining ambition of the Forum. When engineers, scientists, other academics or media practitioners address the Forum, they accept a responsibility to speak in a common language that must be understood and used by literate citizens and professionals in many fields. The Forum's founding director was the late Ithiel de Sola Pool of the MIT Political Science Department, a pioneer in the study of communications. The Forum is funded by contributions from members of the MIT Industrial Liaison Program, other corporations and foundation grants.