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Congressional Internet Caucus Co-Chairs Bolster U.S. Delegation’s WCIT Position

Bipartisan Congressional support critical as details leak about ITU Internet control plan

WASHINGTON, DC – The Congressional Internet Caucus co-chairs predicted “dire consequences” should “unaccountable international entities” usurp control of Internet functions in a letter to Ambassador Terry Kramer in advance of the World Conference on International Communications (WCIT). Over the weekend, more details leaked about the impending WCIT power struggles that Ambassador Gross faces as the U.S. delegation heads to Dubai. The co-chairs urged Ambassador Kramer to take a strong stand, noting “our cherished notions of free speech would be chilled on the global platform leading to a balkanization of the Internet where censorship could become the new norm.”

In the letter, all four Congressional Internet Caucus co-chairs — Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator John Thune, Representative Bob Goodlatte and Representative Anna G. Eshoo — stated “Internet governance issues can best be addressed through [current] multi-stakeholder mechanisms” rather than “unaccountable intergovernmental agencies.” Leading U.S. stakeholders alerted Congress to the impending ITU takeover in the spring at a Congressional briefing hosted by the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee.

The strong statement from the bicameral, bipartisan caucus bolsters the U.S. delegation’s mission to ensure that Internet governance functions remain with “the private, nonprofit, and governmental organizations that have managed the Internet effectively for many years and empowered it to flourish.”

Link to letter: http://bit.ly/ROU4W4

Contact:
Eric Hinkes
[email protected]
(202) 638-4370 x127

Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee
1634 I Street NW – Washington, DC 20006
www.NetCaucus.org
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COPA Report to Congress Still Influencing Policy

The Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee is pleased to report that even after 10 years of its release the COPA Commission’s final report to Congress is still being downloaded at an astounding rate — between 700 and 1,000 copies a month. Users from all over the world are downloading the report from the COPA Commission, a congressionally appointed panel mandated by the Child Online Protection Act. The primary purpose of the Commission was to “identify technological or other methods that will help reduce access by minors to material that is harmful to minors on the Internet.” The Commission released its final report to Congress on Friday, October 20, 2000.

As a public service the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee agreed to virtually host the deliberations of the COPA Commission on the Web site COPACommission.org. The final posting to the site was the actual COPA Commission final report making it available for download. In the subsequent 10 years it is estimated that close to 150,000 copies of the report have been downloaded. The Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee‘s contribution to the COPA COmmission’s legacy is especially important since only handfuls of the original report were actually printed due to budget constraints.

Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee Chairman Jerry Berman served as a COPA Commission commissioner. Executive Director Tim Lordan served on a more recent Congressionally appointed blue ribbon panel called the Online Safety and Technical Working Group (OSTWG). That commission sent its report to Congress in June of 2010.

Accolades to the European Internet Foundation on its 10 Year Anniversary

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

On behalf of the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee (ICAC), I would like to offer my congratulations to the European Internet Foundation (EIF) on their 10th anniversary. The EIF, the European Parliament’s counterpart to the Congressional Internet Caucus, has been working to promote informed policymaking in the digital age since 2000.  We commend the EIF on its longevity and extraordinary productivity over a decade of work promoting the benefits of Internet innovation for all EU citizens.  The EIF has achieved this remarkable milestone thanks to the leadership of its current and past chairs and governors including among others James Elles, Erika Mann and Pilar Del Castillo.

Since the founding of the EIF, when Internet Caucus Co-Chairs Congressmen Boucher and Goodlatte attended EIF’s inaugural event in Brussels at the turn of the millennium, our organizations have worked together to share ideas and to ponder the policy steps needed to ensure that the Internet achieves its full potential.  We have been inspired and excited by the great strides made by the EIF in these last ten years to encourage engaged and informed policy leadership in the digital area. It has been a great pleasure to watch the EIF grow over the last decade, and we wish them even more success in the next.

Sincerely,

Tim Lordan
Executive Director
Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee
www.netcaucus.org

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Comcast CEO Brian L. Roberts to Keynote State of the Net Conference

Leading Internet Policy Conference, Sponsored by Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee, Will Feature Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts

Conference registration is open. REGISTER NOW!

On Wednesday, January 27, 2010, the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee will host the sixth annual State of the Net Conference, the largest and most influential Internet policy conference in the country. The conference, which will bring together technology policy experts and industry leaders, is the only tech policy conference routinely recognized for its balanced blend of academics, consumer groups, industry and government (over 50% of the 550 attendees in 2009 were government policy staff).

The 2010 conference will include senior government officials, who will be introduced by Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA), the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet. The luncheon keynote will feature a discussion on the future of broadband with Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation. The conference will also feature a keynote by Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and sessions on the top-tier technology policy issues including broadband deployment, antitrust, cyber security, copyright, privacy and cloud computing to name a few. More information about the conference and the full agenda can be found at http://www.netcaucus.org/conference/2010/.

What: 6th Annual State of the Net Conference

When: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Wednesday, January 27, 2010 (Pre-Conference Communications Seminar on January 26, 2010).

Where: Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW

Panel Sessions Include:

  • Online Copyright Piracy
  • Antitrust in the Internet Era
  • Cyber Security and Cyber War
  • Legislating Online Privacy
  • Internet Global Freedom (The Judith Krug Memorial Intellectual Freedom Panel)
  • Can the Internet Save the Planet with Smart Grid?
  • The Liability Exemption of ISPs: Can Section 230 Hold Up Under Pressure?

Speakers to include:

  • Jerry Berman, Chairman, Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee
  • The Honorable Rick Boucher (D – Virginia), Co-Chair, Congressional Internet Caucus
  • James Brokenshire, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
  • Philip Dunne, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
  • The Honorable Bob Goodlatte (R – Virginia), Co-Chair, Congressional Internet Caucus
  • Roberta Katz, U.S. Department of Justice
  • Edward Tsang Lu, Google
  • Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Comcast Corporation
  • John Robertson, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
  • Catherine Sandoval, Santa Clara University School of Law
  • The Honorable John Thune, (R-SD), U.S. Senate, Co-Chair, Congressional Internet Caucus
  • Gerry Waldron, Staff Director, House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
  • Phil Willis, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom, Chairman Select Committee, Science & Technology
  • Derek Wyatt, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
  • And more to be announced.

This is a widely attended event hosted by the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee (ICAC), part of a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. The ICAC is a private sector organization comprised of public interest groups, trade associations, non-profits, and industry leaders. The diversity of ICAC membership ensures that all educational events and initiatives are fair and balanced forums for Internet-related discussion. The ICAC does not promote any particular policy position.

Contact Cat Parsons Matsuda with questions or inquiries about sponsorship at 202-638-4370, ext. 319 for more information.

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Net Neutrality Congressional briefing audio available for download

On October 28, 2009 the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee hosted a briefing in the U.S. Capitol Building titled “Net Neutrality: Understanding the FCC’s Proposed Rule Making.” To listen to the panel discussion, please download the audio podcast at http://www.netcaucus.org/events/2009/nn/.

The briefing features experts on the Federal Communications Commission and its Notice of Proposed Rule Making on “Preserving the Open Internet,” or net neutrality colloquially.

Panelists included:

  • Rebecca Arbogast, Stifel Nicolaus (Moderator)
  • Hank Hultquist, AT&T
  • Jef Pearlman, Public Knowledge
  • Paul Misener, Amazon.com
  • Howard Symons, Mintz Levin Ferris Glovsky and Popeo
  • Christopher Yoo, University of Pennsylvania Law School
  • Wendy Wigen, EDUCAUSE

Note: If you are subscribed to our podcasts you will download the audio briefing automatically from our iTunes storefront. To subscribe to our podcasts visit http://www.netcaucus.org/podcast/ All past ICAC podcasts are available at http://www.netcaucus.org/audio.xml

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ICANN Congressional briefing audio available for download

The audio recording of the Congressional briefing titled “The Future of the U.S. Government’s Role in ICANN, Internet Addressing and Internet Governance” is now available for download. The briefing was held in the U.S. Capitol Building on October 1, 2009. Visit the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee’s podcast page at http://www.netcaucus.org/audio.xml to download the audio MP3 or go to the Agenda page for the event at http://www.netcaucus.org/events/2009/icann/ for more details. You can subscribe to all Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee podcasts in the Apple iTunes Store as well.

The briefing featured experts on the relationship between the U.S. and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the non-profit body that manages the Internet’s domain name system, including IP address space allocation. The main topic of discussion was the newly released “Affirmation of Commitments” agreement between ICANN and the U.S. Government. The predecessor to that agreement, the Joint Project Agreement (JPA), would have expired at midnight on September 30, 2009. Our esteemed panel discussed the implications for the new agreement.

Panelists included:

* Steve DelBianco, NetChoice

* John Kneur, Kneur LLC, Former Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of National Telecommunications & Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

* Brenden Kuerbis, Syracuse University, Internet Governance Project

* Steven Metalitz, Partner, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP

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2009 State of the Net West audio coverage now available

The audio recording of the 2009 State of the Net West Conference held on August 5, 2009 is now available. The 3rd annual conference, held in conjunction with the High Tech Law Institute of Santa Clara University, featured Aneesh Chopra, White House CTO and Representatives Boucher, Lofgren and Goodlatte. Visit the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee’s podcast page at http://www.netcaucus.org/audio.xml to download the four sessions or go to the State of the Net West Agenda page  at http://www.netcaucus.org/events/2009/sotnwest/agenda.shtml for more details. You can subscribe to all Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee podcasts in the Apple iTunes Store as well.

To see a sampling of media accounts of the Conference including local TV/radio along with press from the San Francisco Chronicle and Twitter posts visit http://www.netcaucus.org/events/2009/sotnwest/media.shtml

Conference sessions included:

“Broadband in America and Issues Before the House Commerce Committee”
Congressman Boucher discusses Broadband and Privacy at State of the Net West 2009 with Allen Hammond, Santa Clara University School of Law, and Michael Hintze, Microsoft Corporation.
Download MP3 at http://www.netcaucus.org/audio/2009/20090805boucher.mp3 (16.6 MB)

“Antitrust in the Internet Era”
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren discusses Antitrust in the Internet Era at State of the Net West 2009 with Cathy Sandoval, Santa Clara University School of Law, Tim Bresnahan, Stanford University, and Michael Katz, University of California, Berkeley.
http://www.netcaucus.org/audio/2009/20090805lofgren.mp3 (21.0 MB)

White House Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra speaks at State of the Net West 2009 in Santa Clara California
http://www.netcaucus.org/audio/2009/20090805chopra.mp3 (11.2 MB)

“The Innovation Agenda”
Congressman Bob Goodlatte discusses Innovation and Immigration with AnnaLee Saxenian, University of California Berkeley, Keith Wolfe, Google, and Pratheepan (Deep) Gulasekaram, Santa Clara University School of Law
http://www.netcaucus.org/audio/2009/20090805goodlatte.mp3 (18.9 MB)

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Senator John Thune Assumes Congressional Internet Caucus Leadership Post Thune to Deliver Keynote at Inaugural Mobile Tech Policy Conference

Washington, D.C. – The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Internet Caucus have announced Senator John Thune (R-SD) as the newest Co-Chair of the prominent bipartisan and bicameral Member organization, focused on educating Congress about the promise and potential of the Internet. Senator Thune will discuss his technology-focused vision during the opening keynote speech at the inaugural State of the Mobile Net Conference on April 23, in Washington, D.C.

As a Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senator Thune has shown leadership on Capitol Hill by promoting the growth and continued innovation of broadband technologies and the Internet. Thune has continued to promote a regulatory framework that protects the openness and sustained advancement of the Internet. Senator Thune has sponsored legislation to promote the critical advancement of health information technology, better e-government, deployment of rural broadband and protection of youth online.

Thune ascends as a Co-Chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus — joining Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA), and Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) — on the eve of its 13-year anniversary.

“Senator Thune has a great track record of encouraging innovation in technology, while balancing privacy protections and concerns,” said Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee chairman Jerry Berman.  “As the newest Co-Chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus the senator will bring to bear his expertise and business acumen on key policy issues that are currently challenging Congress.”

Thune will join a distinguished list of technology experts and prominent speakers at the State of the Mobile Net Conference.  The senator’s conference keynote will follow an introduction by Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Co-Chairman, Congressional Internet Caucus.

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Event Information:
When: Thursday, April 23 – keynote begins after lunch
Where: Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue NW
RSVP: Please visit www.netcaucus.org/conference/2009/sotmn/ Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the media.
For more information Contact: Stephanie Tackach, 908.230.8091

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IEF Posts Audio Transcript of Latest Congressional Briefing on Privacy

Today the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee (ICAC) posted the audio transcript of its latest Congressional Briefing, “Anatomy of Online Advertising: Understanding the Privacy Debate.” The ICAC hosted the briefing on the morning of March 30, 2009 in the U.S. Capitol Building, Capitol Visitors Center Meeting Room South. The audio file can be downloaded from the ICAC web site at http://www.netcaucus.org/events/2009/privacyanatomy/ The page also features a description of the briefing as well as a list of panelists.

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All State of the Net Audio and Videos Online Now!

We have just finished posting all of the audio and video from every panel and keynote at the 5th Annual State of the Net 2009 Conference. The videos and audio are next embedded within the agenda page on the Conference Web page.

Here are all the direct links to the keynote and panel audio and videos (Check below to learn how to subscribe to iTunes podcasts and YouTube videos – and how to become a “fan” on Facebook.):

State of the Net Conference, January 14, 2009, Washington, DC

9:00 am
What Does the Transition Mean for Internet Policy?
Blair Levin, Team Leader for the Technology, Innovation and Government Reform Working Group on the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team
Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh6t2HMZ42o

10:15 am
Comments and Perspectives on Internet Policy
* James Elles, Member, European Parliament
Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jXbnRn4XSc
* Aneesh Paul Chopra, Secretary of Technology, Commonwealth of Virginia
Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfoBMNhjHU8
* John Windhausen and Rick Cimerman Summarizing the Preconference Seminar: Strategies for Investing in and Benefiting from America’s Broadband Infrastructure
Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__8zza7QTLM

11:30 am
Breakout Sessions

Making Online Personal Information More Anonymous: Will It Save Privacy?
MP3 Audio at http://www.netcaucus.org/audio/2009/20090114privacy.mp3

Future of ICANN and Internet Governance
MP3 Audio at http://www.netcaucus.org/audio/2009/20090114futureicann.mp3

Top Tech Policy Bloggers on The State of the Net
MP3 Audio at http://www.netcaucus.org/audio/2009/20090114bloggers.mp3

1:30 pm
Keynote Address
Featuring Josh Silverman, President, Skype with
The Honorable Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Co-Chair, Congressional Internet Caucus
Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf-XgTKr6IU

2:15 pm
Breakout Sessions

Has the Internet Transmuted Electoral Politics and Policymaking?
MP3 Audio at http://www.netcaucus.org/audio/2009/20090114politics.mp3

The Top Five Ways Congress Can Save Healthcare Through Technology
MP3 Audio at http://www.netcaucus.org/audio/2009/20090114healthcare.mp3

Policy Issues Facing Cloud Computing
MP3 Audio http://www.netcaucus.org/audio/2009/20090114cloud.mp3

3:30 pm
Sessions

Final Report of the Internet Safety Technical Task Force: Enhancing Child Safety and Online Technologies
Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWV-Oo5jMDk

Digital Copyright: What’s Next?
MP3 Audio at http://www.netcaucus.org/audio/2009/20090114copyright.mp3

You can subscribe to our YouTube Channel and our podcasts at the iTunes store. They are respectively at:

YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/InternetCaucusAC

Itunes Store
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73800215

Facebook: Become a “Fan” of the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Congressional-Internet-Caucus-Advisory-Committee/34540796558

Courtesy of the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee
http://www.netcaucus.org

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