News
C-SPAN Tonight: USDOJ & R Street’s Baker Debate Crypto
Last month the Internet policy community came together at State of the Net in Washington, DC. Among the most pressing debates was the use of strong end-to-end encryption. After a feisty panel on crypto C-SPAN producers interviewed two of our key speakers, Justice Department Associate Attorney General Sujit Raman and former FBI General Counsel James Baker.
That debate, filmed in the lobby of State of the Net, will air on the C-SPAN show “The Communicators” through this weekend and into next week. The first airing will be tonight, February 21, at 10:30 am. Visit C-SPAN here to be alerted to additional broadcast times and streaming.
Watch Reps. McMorris Rodgers & Hurd, w/ FEC’s Weintraub, on C-SPAN This Weekend
The award-winning C–SPAN show “The Communicators” will broadcast in-depth interviews from the State of the Net tonight at 10:30 pm ET and through the weekend on C–SPAN.
The first set of featured interviews include Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Federal Election Commissioner Ellen Weintraub, and Rep. Will Hurd. Each interview expanded on their comments at State of the Net.
Visit C–SPAN here to be alerted to broadcast times.
The Winners of the 2019 App Challenge Have Been Announced!
After a nation-wide competition with over 2,000 apps submitted, the winners of the annual Congressional App Challenge have been named. This year, we saw 10,000 students from over 300 congressional districts use their technical skills to craft one of a kind apps.
The winners of this challenge were awarded a $250 Amazon Web Services gift card and have been invited to the annual #HouseOf Code Festival on Capitol Hill. This event will showcase each student’s winning applications and will provide lawmakers and the global tech community with the chance to interact with the next generation of domestic CS talent directly.
This year’s #HouseOfCode will be on Tuesday, March 24th in the US Capitol Complex. #HouseOfCode presents students with the opportunity to hear from current lawmakers, participate in a tour the Library of Congress, and demo their apps for their Representatives and the broader DC Tech community. RSVP details have been shared with all winners, parents, and teachers.
The student demonstrations will be held throughout the day on Tuesday, March 24th in the Rayburn House Office Building. The general public can RSVP to view these demonstrations here.
This year’s Congressional App Challenge was the most successful yet. Over 10,000 students registered to participate in this year’s competition, more than doubling the number of registrants from the 2018 Congressional App Challenge. This year’s students created 2,177 fully-functioning apps, with some congressional districts receiving over 50 applications. In total, 304 Members of Congress participated in the Congressional App Challenge. These districts spanned across 48 states, Puerto Rico, the Mariana Islands, and Washington, D.C..
In the five years of the Congressional App Challenge, thousands of functional apps have been created by over 25,000 students, and participant demographics surpass all industry diversity metrics.
Internet Law and Policy Foundry Announces its 2019 Class of Fellows
The Internet Law and Policy Foundry (aka the Foundry) is proud to announce its third class of Fellows. The 2019 Fellows Class consists of 56 future leaders in internet law and policy. The Fellows are students and early career professionals from a range of nonprofits, think tanks, internet companies, law and professional services firms, top universities, and congressional offices.
The Foundry brings together future leaders in the internet law and public policy space to network and participate in events aimed at providing them opportunities to share their research.
The 2019 Class represents diversity in demographics, geography, ideology, and skillsets. While many Fellows are lawyers, the class also includes cybersecurity professionals, a historian, and computer scientists. Several fellows have backgrounds as programmers, engineers, data analysts, and in similar technical roles.
Geography of the 2019 Class of Fellows
The Foundry is based in Washington, DC. The 2019 Fellows, however, are a geographically diverse group. Of the 56 Fellows:
- 29 are in Washington, DC
- 10 are in the Bay Area
- Others are located in: New York, NY; Boston, MA; Scottsdale, AZ; Madison, WI; Gujarat, India; and more!
How the Fellows are Selected
Foundry Fellows are chosen through a competitive process. The Foundry opened up its applications for the 2019 Class of Fellows in late spring of 2019, and current Fellows reviewed applications through August of this year. For its Fellows, the Foundry seeks “doers” who are interested in the Foundry’s activities, have a passion for technology, and can provide diverse perspectives on internet law and policy issues.
The Foundry chooses a new cohort of Fellows through a competitive process every two years. The current class of Foundry Fellows was selected in 2017, and will transition out of their Fellow roles as the 2019 Fellows ramp up their activities over the fall.
Internet Education Foundation
The Foundry is a project of the Internet Education Foundation (IEF), which runs the Congressional App Challenge and the annual State of the Net conference in Washington, DC, perhaps the best known conference on internet policy issues. IEF also runs the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory, which hosts a long running series of technology briefings on Capitol Hill.
IEF launched the Foundry to fill a gap: before the Foundry there were few if any professional organizations for lawyers and policy experts focused specifically on internet law and policy, despite growing interest in the field. The Foundry also provides opportunities for students and early career professionals to provide leadership and showcase their skills, distinguishing it from well established niche bar associations and other professional groups.
You can read more about the Foundry on its website: http://www.ilpfoundry.us/
See the 2019 Class of Fellows at: ilpfoundry.us/about/2019Class
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Foundry Fellows // The 2019 Class
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The Congressional App Challenge Celebrates Another Successful Launch
On Monday July 8th, the House of Representatives launched the 2019 Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for its 5th consecutive year. As the CAC is district-specific, students compete against other students from their congressional district to be named their district’s Congressional App Challenge winner. After the Challenge’s completion, the winners from each district are welcomed to #HouseOfCode to meet their Congress Member and celebrate the future of American tech talent.
📱Calling all parents, teachers, mentors: middle & high school students interested in coding are invited to submit an app for the 2019 Congressional App Challenge.
— Rep. Susan Wild (@RepSusanWild) July 21, 2019
Check it out👉https://t.co/ZGbd1Alv2F#Congress4CS @CongressionalAC pic.twitter.com/iKdJeVOPdS
The Challenge is open to all middle and high school students residing or attending school in a district whose Member of Congress is hosting an App Challenge. In 2019, Over 275 Members of Congress are hosting App Challenges in their respective districts. Of the Freshman Congress Members, 75% are hosting a Challenge in their district. Students with or without coding experience are welcome! In fact, 44% of students who competed in the 2018 Challenge were beginners.
Interested in taking the Challenge? Remember, the application portal closes November 1st!
Marianas middle school & high school students interested in computer science or STEM fields, it’s time to enter this year’s .@CongressionalAC. Previous winners came to DC to show their apps to members of Congress & leaders in the tech industry.
— Del. Kilili Sablan (@Kilili_Sablan) July 18, 2019
For more:https://t.co/1Ziw8iXVyH pic.twitter.com/w1n6Udva3i
The CAC is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, managed by the Internet Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Want to know if your Congress Member’s district is hosting an App Challenge? Click here! Not sure who your Congress Member is? Click here!
The 2019 @CongressionalAC has officially launched. This is a great opportunity for students throughout West Tennessee to get involved in coding. I encourage everyone to apply! https://t.co/Uu40P5cZk1
— Rep. David Kustoff (@RepDavidKustoff) July 8, 2019
The Congressional App Challenge is supported by private-sector organizations that share a commitment to creating a diverse pipeline of computer science talent. These organizations make it possible for the Challenge to reach students from across the nation and spread computer science education to all.
Rep. Eshoo Announces Rep. Doug Collins as Co-Chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus
June 18, 2019 – Today, Representative Anna G. Eshoo announced Representative Doug Collins as House co-chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus. Congressman Collins succeeds Congressman Bob Goodlatte as the Congressional Internet Caucus co-chair. Representative Collins serves as the House Judiciary Committee’s Ranking Member and represents the ninth district of Georgia.
Several extremely prescient Members of Congress founded the Congressional Internet Caucus in 1996 to address the knowledge gap among House and Senate Members regarding the nascent Internet. Almost a quarter of a century later, the mission of the Caucus — to educate other Members about Internet technology and its implications — remains even more critical today.
The bipartisan Congressional Internet Caucus remains among the most prominent and active caucuses on Capitol Hill. The Caucus is chaired by Senators John Thune and Patrick Leahy on the Senate side. Representative Anna G. Eshoo and Senator Leahy are founding Members of the Caucus.
In addition to its educational program for Members and Congressional staff, the Congressional Internet Caucus created the Congressional App Challenge. The Congressional App Challenge encourages middle and high school students to compete in district-wide coding competitions. It has become the most prestigious computer science award for students.
The Congressional Internet Caucus Academy applauds the appointment of Congressman Collins as the House Caucus co-chair. He is among the most respected and active Members in Congress.
About The Congressional Internet Caucus Academy
The Congressional Internet Caucus Academy (CICA) is a part of a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The CICA takes no positions on legislation or regulation. Rather, it is a neutral platform where thought leaders debate important technology issues that shape legislative and administration policy in an open forum. We vigilantly adhere to our mission to curate balanced and dynamic debates among Internet stakeholders. Our volunteer board members ensure that we dutifully execute that mission. More information on the CICA is available at www.netcaucus.org.
Rep Anna G. Eshoo Honors Bob Goodlatte For His Congressional Internet Caucus Service
On January 29, 2019 Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo, on behalf of her other Congressional Internet Caucus co-chairs — Senator John Thune and Senator Patrick Leahy — presented former Congressman Bob Goodlatte a gift as an appreciation for his decades of service as co-chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus. The co-chairs presented Bob Goodlatte, a renowned collector of baseball memorabilia, with a one-of-a-kind baseball bat engraved with the signatures of the three remaining co-chairs.
Last Tuesday, @RepAnnaEshoo gives appreciation on behalf of the @NetCaucusAC to @RepGoodlatte: ‘We thought we’d give you a one-of-a-kind collector’s item- a Congressional Internet Caucus baseball bat with our signatures carved in it.’ #SOTN19 pic.twitter.com/qSgg74NIrs
— State of the Net (@SOTN) January 31, 2019
Carved in the “one-of-a-kind collector’s item” are @SenJohnThune’s signature along with @SenatorLeahy's! #SOTN19 pic.twitter.com/HdAWqCSziD
— State of the Net (@SOTN) January 31, 2019
.@RepAnnaEshoo‘I mean you cant go anywhere to buy this thing, you really cant. Not Macys, not Neiman Marcus, no one carries this. I hope that when you carry it home & glance at it as one of your mementos you will always remember our deepest respect & appreciation for you.’#SOTN19 pic.twitter.com/iTjogOf0w4
— State of the Net (@SOTN) January 31, 2019
Reps. Bob Goodlatte and Anna G. Eshoo Appoint New Leaders of House STEM and Computer Science Initiative
Reps. French Hill and Suzan DelBene Ascend As Co-Chairs of the 2018 Congressional App Challenge
September 25, 2018
Washington, DC – Today Representatives Bob Goodlatte (VA) and Anna G. Eshoo (CA) announced new leadership for the next session of the Congressional App Challenge (CAC), an initiative to inspire students across the country to learn about STEM education and coding. As co-chairs of the Congressional Internet Caucus, Goodlatte and Eshoo appointed Representatives French Hill (AR) and Suzan DelBene (WA), two recognized leaders in Congress on STEM and next generation workforce issues. The Congressional Internet Caucus initiates the CAC at the start of each Congress.
“I am pleased to announce that Representatives French Hill and Suzan DelBene will be leading this year’s Congressional App Challenge. The App Challenge, which is only in its fourth year, has already seen tremendous growth and I know that this will continue under the leadership of Representatives Hill and DelBene,” states Rep. Bob Goodlatte. “The Congressional App Challenge is a great opportunity to engage student’s creativity and encourage their participation in the STEM education fields that create jobs and fuel innovation in America. With new apps for electronic devices popping up every day, it’s time for our students to show what they can do.”
Rep. Anna G. Eshoo states, “It’s an honor to welcome Rep. Suzan DelBene and Rep. French Hill as bi-partisan Co-Chairs of this year’s Congressional App Challenge, a competition which invites high school students from across the country to create and exhibit software applications for various platforms for everyday use. The Congressional App Challenge was co-founded by Reps. Eshoo and Goodlatte in 2013, to engage students’ creativity and encourage their participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education fields. This competition helps students hone the critical STEM skills they need to have the best opportunities in our modern economy. Given Rep. DelBene’s and Rep. French’s experience and interest on a range of technology issues, I’m confident the Challenge will succeed in their capable hands.”
“I’m excited and honored to co-chair the Congressional App Challenge,” said Representative Hill. “During my time in Congress, central Arkansas students have submitted for consideration more than 75 apps and two winners Anne Li and Michael Davis have come to Washington, D.C., for the national reception. I’m looking forward to helping lead the charge in encouraging students in Arkansas and across the country to use their creativity to participate and pursue in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education fields and to make this year’s App Challenge bigger and better than ever.” – Congressman French Hill
Rep. Suzan DelBene states, “As the product of a STEM education that led to a career in tech, I am thrilled to help encourage the ingenuity of all our nation’s best and brightest students. The App Challenge is a great opportunity for students who are interested in coding to hone their skills, learn new ones, and cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit.”
“We’re thrilled that Representatives Hill and DelBene will spearhead the Congressional App Challenge. Both of them have shown great leadership in STEM and computer science education. We are confident that their leadership will take the Challenge to the next level.” – Tim Lordan, Executive Director, Internet Education Foundation
This year, the CAC runs until October 15, 2018. The #HouseOfCode Winners’ reception is set for Spring 2019 in Washington, D.C.
About the Congressional App Challenge
The CAC is an initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. The non-profit Internet Education Foundation provides the CAC with supplemental staffing and support. In the first three years of the Congressional App Challenge, the program has yielded 605 App Challenges across 42 states. Over 2,400 functional apps have been created by over 10,000 students, and participant demographics surpass all industry diversity metrics.
IEF is Hiring a Digital Marketing Intern for Fall 2018
Interns will have immediate responsibilities including event planning, website and database management, email marketing, content creation, and policy research.
As a digital marketing intern, you will be central in planning and marketing frequent, nonpartisan briefings hosted on Capitol Hill for the Congressional Internet Caucus Academy, organizing and promoting the annual State of the Net Conference, and assisting with the Congressional App Challenge, and other events through programs supported by IEF.
This is a paid position!
Responsibilities:
- Manage email marketing (iContact/Mailchimp) and organizational database (Salesforce)
- Maintain and create content for organizational websites (WordPress)
- Contribute to social media marketing (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, podcasts)
- Reach out to tech policy experts for panels and briefings
- Manage multimedia for events including live-streaming, live-tweeting and photography
- Contribute to communications strategy and media outreach/relations, monitoring press coverage
- Conduct research and brief Executive Director on current tech policy issues and trends
Requirements
- College student or recent graduate
- Prior experience with WordPress, email marketing, and social media marketing is helpful but not required
- Bonus Skills: Salesforce, Adobe Creative Suite, and HTML/CSS
- Quick learning and a sense of humor
Testimonial
- Working here is awesome. If you don’t believe us, ask our summer fellow, Rebecca (Blog Post: The Best Place To Intern)
Submit your resume to [email protected]
The Internet Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For 20 years the Internet Education Foundation has been building the most prominent platforms for engagement. The Internet Education Foundation (IEF) hosts four major projects under its umbrella: The Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee, the State of the Net Conference Series, The Congressional App Challenge, and the Internet Law & Policy Foundry. Interns will work within any or all of these dynamic projects.