What's on the agenda for policymakers.
Agenda
The Digital Revolution and the proliferation of digital economy goods and services have been truly astonishing. However, what seems evident in daily life is not reflected in the nation’s GDP statistics. The value of “free goods” companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon produce is not included in GDP, which understates their contribution to economic welfare. As a result, true economic growth is also understated and the rate of inflation overstated. Policy makers rely on these important indicators to formulate monetary and fiscal policy.
Witnesses
Panel I
- Commissioner Thomas Hicks
Chair
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- Commissioner Christy McCormick
Vice Chair
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- Charles Romine
Director of the Information Technology Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Matt Masterson
Senior Cybersecurity Advisor
Department of Homeland Security
Panel II
- Scott Leiendecker
CEO
KNOWiNK
This hearing will examine the work that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is doing to assist state and local officials secure election infrastructure, including voting machines, vote tallying systems, and voter databases. The hearing will also provide Members an opportunity to hear about DHS’s role working across all 16 critical infrastructure sectors because a cyber threat to elections may pose a similar threat to other critical infrastructure sectors.
Witnesses
Judge Brett Kavanaugh decided against net neutrality and for NSA surveillance
Judge Brett Kavanaugh's past rulings suggest a reliably conservative voice on tech. His addition to the highest court in the country could vastly reshape the digital landscape.
Rep Cole: Noncommercial Broadcasters Must Be Protected in C-Band Sharing
As the Federal Communications Commission prepares to vote July 12 on opening up the C-Band for wireless broadband, House Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tom Cole (R-LA) is calling for care and handling of noncommercial broadcasting. Chairman Cole has written FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to advise caution as the FCC ponders remaking the band to allow wireless use, either by dividing up the band or allowing for sharing.
The Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee will consider and vote on reports and recommendations from its Harmonization Working Group to harmonize the Model Code for Municipalities and Model Code for States adopted by the BDAC on April 25, 2018. In addition, the Ad Hoc Committee for Rates and Fees will give a presentation. The BDAC will also discuss its next steps. This agenda may be modified at the discretion of the BDAC Chair and the DFO.
The Policy Forum at AT&T is hosting an in-person, in-depth discussion on FirstNet and the efforts currently underway to build, deploy, and operate the first-ever nationwide public safety broadband network. Chris Sambar, Senior Vice President, AT&T, FirstNet Program will provide the keynote address.
A webinar featuring the authors of a new research paper describing in economic terms the costs of building and supporting a broadband network. The conversation will center on the critical role rural subsidies play in assisting service providers to deliver broadband to high-cost areas and how best to ensure subsidies are properly targeted and efficiently distributed.
Presenters
Steve Parsons, PhD, President, Parsons Applied Economics
James Stegeman, President, CostQuest Associates (CQA)