Agenda

What's on the agenda for policymakers.

Who Should Enforce Privacy Protections?

The Federal Trade Commission’s $5 billion settlement with Facebook over the company’s deceptive privacy practices made a big splash, raising questions about the role the FTC should play in enforcing US privacy laws. While some observers criticized the FTC for not going far enough, others felt the record fine demonstrated the FTC’s willingness to set new precedents for punitive actions—and its unique ability to serve as the cop on the beat. But that isn’t the end of the conversation.

37th Annual Parker Lecture Honorees Underscore the Importance of “Remembering Our Stories”

Three media justice advocates stressed the importance of retelling stories—and telling them accurately—at the 37th Annual Everett C. Parker Ethics in Telecommunications Lecture and Awards Breakfast today in Washington, DC, sponsored by the United Church of Christ’s media justice ministry, the Office of Communication, Inc. Three media justice advocates stressed the importance of retelling stories—and telling them accurately—at the 37th Annual Everett C.

Sen Kennedy: Litigation Looms Over Pai's 5G Airwaves Choice

Sen John Neely Kennedy (R-LA), the top Senate appropriator overseeing Federal Communications Commission funding, will bring in FCC Chairman Ajit Pai for a hearing Oct 17 to grill him about whether the agency will run its own, likely slower, auction of the 5G airwaves known as the C-band or, as Sen Kennedy fears, allow the satellite companies holding the spectrum to conduct a private sale. “They say we’ve got to do a private deal because it’ll be faster,” said Sen Kennedy. “You ever heard of courts? Duh, you don’t think anybody’s going to file suit over this?

Democrats wrangle over whether to break up Big Tech in debate first (updated)

The top Democratic presidential candidates wrangled over their differing views on how to take on the unprecedented power of Big Tech, marking the first time the contenders have been asked to discuss the issue on the debate stage. Most of the candidates drew a contrast between their own views and those of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who has called for breaking up top tech companies including Facebook, Google and Amazon. While other candidates agreed the government should take on Big Tech, they said they don't believe "breaking up" the companies will properly address issues including data p

Denver council members eye broader broadband to address internet inequities

Some Denver City Council members want to explore the city's options for providing internet access to residents who don't have connections. But first, they need to get  permission from voters to take stock of those opportunities, says City Councilman Paul Kashmann.

The Presidential Candidates Need a Plan for Big Tech That Isn’t “Break Up Big Tech”

What is the agenda that provides hope and opportunity for Americans in a new digital-based economy? So far, much of the campaign focus on the new economy has been reduced to a misleadingly simple “break ‘em up!” solution for Big Tech.

Sponsor 

House Judiciary Committee

Date 
Fri, 10/18/2019 - 14:00
Sponsor 

Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee

Senate Committee on Appropriations

Date 
Thu, 10/17/2019 - 15:00

Witnesses

 

Panel 1:

The Honorable Ajit Pai

Chairman

Federal Communications Commission

 

Panel 2:

Mr. Tom Schatz

President

Citizens Against Government Waste

 

Mr. David Williams

President

Taxpayers Protection Alliance



Sponsor 

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Date 
Tue, 10/15/2019 - 22:00 to Wed, 10/16/2019 - 21:00

A multi-sectoral, interdisciplinary approach to understanding the dimensions and determinants of social disparities and their intersections is necessary work towards equity and equality of opportunity in the face of rapid technology innovation changing the future of work. How can the research community of federal and state governments, academia, companies, and other actors take institutional and collective action to identify and address disparities at the intersections that will make interventions most effective?



Sponsor 

Subcommittee on Communications and Technology

Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce

House Commerce Committee

Date 
Wed, 10/16/2019 - 15:00

Witnesses

Steve Huffman
Co-Founder & CEO
Reddit, Inc.

Danielle Keats Citron
Professor of Law
Boston University School of Law

Corynne McSherry
Legal Director
Electronic Frontier Foundation

Hany Farid
Professor
University of California, Berkeley

Katherine Oyama
Global Head of Intellectual Property Policy
Google, Inc.

Gretchen S. Peters
Executive Director
Alliance to Counter Crime Online