1. Monthly archive
  2. March 2016

March 2016

Policy Summit

Telecommunications Industry Association
March 8-9, 2016
http://www.tiaonline.org/events/spring-policy-summit-2016


FaegreBD Consulting
March 8, 2016
noon -- 2:00 pm
http://www.faegrebdc.com/faegrebd-insights-2

The incentive auction, new privacy rules, development of the Alternative Connect America Model and ongoing reforms to the Universal Service Fund program are continuing public policy issues that are of interest to businesses and consumers alike. Commissioner O’Rielly will address the FCC’s work on those emerging consumer issues, as well as other FCC issues. There will be significant time to ask our guest of honor questions at this private lunch.

The discussion will be facilitated by the Honorable Mary Bono of FaegreBD Consulting. As a former senior member of the House Commerce Committee, Mary worked on these issues in her capacity as a legislator and continues to be involved as a leader in these areas today.

This event is part of the FaegreBD Insights Series, where national leaders address key topics of interest to our client sectors.

There is no fee to attend.


Live and On Air:
Getting More Women in Foreign Policy on Television

New America
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
6:30 PM – 8:15 PM EST
https://www.cvent.com/events/live-and-on-air-getting-more-women-in-forei...

In 2015, only around 1 in 4 guests who were booked to discuss foreign policy and national security topics on prime time cables and top Sunday news shows were women.

While there have been noteworthy improvements, media representation is still a volatile battleground for gender parity. In a "lean in" era where much has been written on how to change the ratio in male-female presence on the airwaves, how do we turn overworked critiques into opportunities to offer more women experts more mics and bylines? How does a better-amplified diversity of voices change our understanding of the news and how it's told?

On International Women's Day, join New America, Foreign Policy Interrupted, and Media Matters for America for the release of new findings on women's representation in foreign policy commentary on television and for a conversation on how we can push the cause of equity farther.

Lauren Bohn @LaurenBohn
Middle East Correspondent, The GroundTruth Project
Co-founder, Foreign Policy Interrupted

Ayman Mohyeldin @AymanM
Foreign Correspondent, NBC News
Anchor, MSNBC

Rachel Tardiff @ranachronism
Deputy Outreach Director, Media Matters for America

Elmira Bayrasli @endeavoringE
Co-founder, Foreign Policy Interrupted
Author, From the Other Side of the World: Extraordinary Entrepreneurs, Unlikely Places


Things of the Internet:
Critical Minerals in the Information Age

New America
Friday, March 18, 2016
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EST
https://newamerica.cvent.com/events/things-of-the-internet-critical-mine...?

In this New America event, “the Internet of Things” will meet the “Things of the Internet,” or the minerals and metals that make up the circuits, screens, and batteries behind the meteoric rise of the Information Age. An expert panel will discuss how the supply and demand patterns for these materials have changed, and what the implications are for our security, economy, and for clean energy technologies.

Participants:

David Abraham
Author, The Elements of Power: Gadgets, Guns, and the Struggle for a Sustainable Future in the Rare Metal Age

Dr. Diana Bauer
Director, Energy Systems Analysis and Integration, Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Dr. Alex King
Director, Critical Materials Institute, The Ames Laboratory

Gianni Koskinas
Senior Fellow, International Security Program, New America
CEO of The Hoplite Group

Moderator:
Sharon Burke
Senior Advisor, Resource Security at New America

Follow the conversation online using #InternetMinerals and following @NewAmerica.
Live streaming of this event will be available on the New America website.



ITIF 10-Year Anniversary Conference
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
8:00 am -- 1:45 pm
https://itif.org/events/2016/06/14/restoring-americas-investment-economy

The most important determinant of long-term economic growth is the rate at which we increase productivity, because it is the key to higher incomes and better living standards. Yet by this metric, U.S. prospects are dim. In fact, the annual growth rate in labor productivity since the Great Recession has been half the rate we achieved in the post-World War II era.

A key reason for the drop has been the simultaneous decline in both public and private investment in the fundamental underpinnings of a dynamic, innovation-oriented economy. To really thrive again, we need to restore robust, sustained increases in public and private investment in four main categories: scientific research, new equipment and machinery, education and skills, and infrastructure.

But rather than address the underlying problem of inadequate investment, policymakers have largely treated our economic malaise either as if it were a business cycle problem that the Federal Reserve can solve through monetary policy or a permanent condition of structural stagnation that we must learn to live with. ITIF does not agree. We believe that by recommitting the country to a strategy of investing in the right fundamentals, we can kick start productivity and increase wages for all Americans.

On the occasion of ITIF’s 10-year anniversary, with the generous support of Bernard L. Schwartz, ITIF will hold a half-day conference exploring policy solutions to restore America’s investment-driven economy. The conference will highlight the nature of the country’s investment challenge, the policy options to turn in a new direction, and the political path to enact a workable strategy.

On the occasion of its 10-year anniversary, with the generous support of Bernard L. Schwartz, ITIF will hold a half-day conference to discuss ways to improve U.S. living standards by investing in the underpinnings of a dynamic, innovation-oriented economy. The conference will highlight the nature of the challenges the country faces because of inadequate investment, the policy options to turn in a new direction, and the political path to enact a workable strategy.

Opening Remarks:
• Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
• Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)
• Robert D. Atkinson, ITIF

Panel: Why do we need long-term productivity growth, and what kind of investment do we need to support it?
• Martin Baily, Brookings Institution
• Stephen Cohen, Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy
• Donald Marron, Urban Institute
• Sam Fleming, Financial Times (moderator)

Panel: What kind of policies do we need to restore public and private investment?
• Douglas Holtz-Eakin, American Action Forum
• Rosabeth Kanter, Harvard Business School
• Laura Tyson, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
• Jim Tankersley, Washington Post (moderator)

Discussion: The political path to an investment economy
• Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE)
• Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO)
• Robert D. Atkinson, ITIF (moderator)

Lunch Panel: How will machine learning, autonomy, and robotics drive the next investment wave?
• Arvind Krishna, IBM Research
• Greg Zacharias, U.S. Air Force
• Robert D. Atkinson, ITIF (moderator)


Decoding the Encryption Dilemma:
A Conversation on Backdoors, Going Dark, and Cybersecurity

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Thursday, March 31, 2016
9 -- 10:30 am
https://itif.org/events/2016/03/31/decoding-encryption-dilemma-conversat...

As a steady stream of advancements in encryption have made products and services more secure for consumers and businesses, some members of the law enforcement and intelligence community have grown concerned that these innovations will inhibit their ability to prevent terrorism and prosecute crimes. While these advancements will undoubtedly impact how the government fights crime and terrorism, attempts to limit encryption are impractical, create new cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and make it more difficult for U.S. companies to compete abroad.

At this event, ITIF will discuss a new report that analyzes the current proposals put forth to address the “going dark” problem. Following a presentation on the report, panelists will offer their reactions and discuss how policymakers can harness the benefits of encryption and put in place policies that both encourage advances in cryptography and protect the rule of law.

Panelists to be announced.


Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
12 noon -- 1:30 pm
https://itif.org/events/2016/03/29/telegraph-smartphone-history-electron...

When we gaze at our smart phones or tap away on our computers, it is easy to take for granted the miracle of electronic innovation. But behind every one of these devices is the story of a creator who conceived it. Please join ITIF for a discussion with Derek Cheung, a Ph.D electrical engineer, former CEO of Rockwell Scientific, and author of the book Conquering the Electron, a fascinating history of electronics innovation, from the discovery of static electricity in the 1600s to today’s smartphones. Cheung profiles the creators behind these innovations and explains in an easy-to-understand and compelling way how one generation of innovation leads to the next. He describes the impacts these innovations have on society and speculates on where the future will lead us next.

Lunch will be served.


FCC Settles Verizon "Supercookie" Probe, Requires Consumer Opt-In for Third Parties

The Federal Communications Commission announced a settlement resolving an investigation into Verizon Wireless’s practice of inserting unique identifier headers or so-called “supercookies” into its customers’ mobile Internet traffic without their knowledge or consent. These unique, undeletable identifiers – referred to as UIDH – are inserted into web traffic and used to identify customers in order to deliver targeted ads from Verizon and other third parties. As a result of the investigation and settlement, Verizon Wireless is notifying consumers about its targeted advertising programs, will obtain customers’ opt-in consent before sharing UIDH with third parties, and will obtain customers’ opt-in or opt-out consent before sharing UIDH internally within the Verizon corporate family.

“Consumers care about privacy and should have a say in how their personal information is used, especially when it comes to who knows what they’re doing online,” said FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Travis LeBlanc. “Privacy and innovation are not incompatible. This agreement shows that companies can offer meaningful transparency and consumer choice while at the same time continuing to innovate. We would like to acknowledge Verizon Wireless’s cooperation during the course of this investigation and its willingness to make changes to its practices for the benefit of its customers.” Under the terms of the settlement, Verizon must pay a fine of $1,350,000 and adopt a three-year compliance plan.

Sen Cruz Accuses Media of Sitting on Negative Trump Stories

GOP presidential candidate Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX) attacked the media on CBS' Face the Nation March 6, saying they are sitting on exposés about Donald Trump because they know Hillary Clinton can beat him in the general election.
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Sen Cruz has been a frequent and vocal critic of the "liberal" media. Sen Cruz told CBS that a number of media outlets have "this great exposé" on various aspects of Trump's business dealings or past, but have said: "You know what, we're going to hold it for June or July." He would not identify the reporters, saying he did not want to "out" media outlets, then added, "but I can tell you, there is so much out there." "One of the reasons the media wants Donald Trump to be the nominee is because the media knows Donald can't win the general, that Hillary would wallop him." He said all the attacks on Trump the media is not talking about now "you better believe that come September, October, November if he were the nominee, every day on the nightly news they would be taking Donald apart." Sen Cruz says the media has also helped Trump by giving him hundreds of millions of dollars of free advertising—though arguably that would be working against their financial interest since it has allowed him to spend much less on TV advertising than other candidates. He said that "massive in-kind contribution from the media" has helped create the Trump phenomenon.

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