Interestingly, the US Congress recognition of Meucci last year, has reenergized Italy's interest in Meucci, which was always keen, but has taken on an increased excitement with this new "legitimization".

Just earlier this month, "SuperQuark" an important TV evening show in Italy, spotlighted Meucci, and his champion Basilio Catania. (Article 1)

And just three months prior to that, Italy's leaders and prominent citizens
gathered to celebrate Meucci and Honor Dr. Catania.

Those in attendance included the President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Vice Premier Gianfranco Fini (Premier Silvio Berlusconi being engaged abroad), the Minister of Communications, Maurizio Gasparri, Lucia Annunziata, RAI's President, Nobel Prize Winner for Physics, Prof. Carlo Rubbia, President of Fondazione Ugo Bordoni, Prof. Giordano Bruno Guerri, and Nicholas Negroponte, head of the Media Lab of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among many others.

The entire celebration was broadcast live by RAI.-TV, and a special commemorative stamp was issued for the occasion by the Italian Poste.(Article 2)
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Article (1)
ANTONIO MEUCCI REMEMBERED IN "SUPERQUARK" ON TV SHOW, BY RAI UNO TELEVISION, AUGUST 5, 2003

During the evening TV show, Superquark, the scientific survey conducted by the renowned anchorman Piero Angela, the life and scientific work of Antonio Meucci was illustrated, also with reference to the recent US Congress recognition of his merits. An interview with Basilio Catania was broadcast, regarding his discovery of the scientific proofs that have helped in obtaining said recognition.
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(Article 2 )
MEUCCI DAY CELEBRATED IN ROME, AT THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS, MAY 28, 2003

In the presence of the President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and of many authorities, a celebration of Antonio Meucci's priority in the invention of the telephone was held on May 28, 2003, at the Lecture Hall of the Italian Ministry of Communications in Rome. After a welcome speech by the Minister of Communications, Maurizio Gasparri, and greetings by the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Rome, Emil Skodon -- who called Meucci a "brilliant scientist"-- Basilio Catania was honored to give the keynote address, relating to the history of Meucci's vindication that led to the US Congress Resolution no. 269 recognizing Meucci's priority in the invention of the telephone. Nicholas Negroponte, head of the Media Lab of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed with considerations on future advanced technologies likely to emerge from the developments following the invention of the telephone. The celebration was brilliantly concluded by Piero Angela -- the well-known scientific anchorman of RAI Television -- who illustrated the principles of telephone transmission, aided by some useful animations, and re-proposed a few clips of a TV movie on Antonio Meucci, made by RAI in 1973. Prof. Giordano Bruno Guerri, President of Fondazione Ugo Bordoni, acted as a moderator, and also gave a brief introduction on the subject.

The Minister of Communications, Maurizio Gasparri, warmly congratulated Basilio Catania at the end of his speech. After the end of the celebration, President Ciampi also congratulated Catania (see photographs below, kindly supplied by the President's office). Among the other authorities expressing their appreciation to Catania was the Nobel Prize for Physics, Prof. Carlo Rubbia, and Vice Premier Gianfranco Fini (Premier Silvio Berlusconi being engaged abroad).

A special exhibition on Meucci's life and inventions, as well on Catania's research on the subject, was set up by the Historical Museum of Communications in an area adjacent the Lecture Hall, and was illustrated to President Ciampi and other authorities by the Curator of the Museum, Dr. Barbara Desimio. The Istituto Superiore of the Ministry of Communications issued and distributed to the attendees a special monograph, authored by Basilio Catania, titled "Antonio Meucci: una vita per la scienza e per l'Italia" (Antonio Meucci: His life for science and Italy). A reprint by the review of the Italian Electrical Association (AEI), also authored by Basilio Catania, titled "Antonio Meucci--Storia di una rivendicazione" (Antonio Meucci--History of his vindication) was also distributed.

The whole celebration was live broadcast by RAI television, Channel 1, with the comments of journalist Dino Sorgonà. Lucia Annunziata, RAI's President, was among the attending authorities.

The President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, congratulates Basilio Catania after the celebration and before leaving the Lecture Hall.

Special stamp issued for the occasion by the Philatelic Section of Poste Italiane. Special cancellation was available.
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The Most Complete and Authoritatitive Web Site on "Antonio Meucci" in the World.  Basilio Catania: a lifelong researcher in telecommunications
http://www.esanet.it/chez_basilio/index.html