July 2019

Sponsor 

The Brookings Institution

Date 
Wed, 07/24/2019 - 15:00 to 16:00

The digital economy has a profound influence on the world’s trajectory and the societal well-being of ordinary citizens. It affects everything from resource allocation to income distribution and growth. The information and communications technology (ICT) industry stands at the center of the digital economy, serving as a reliable yardstick of its performance. The ICT industry unites labor policy, economic growth, and the current heated immigration policy discourse and poses both profound challenges and exciting opportunities for a broad cross-section of policymakers.



Sponsor 

Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

House Committee on Appropriations

Date 
Wed, 07/24/2019 - 15:15

Witness

Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier 
Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy



CenturyLink Fiber Expansion Plan Aims to Create Largest ‘Low Loss’ Fiber Network in North America

A CenturyLink fiber expansion plan will see the carrier add 4.7 million miles of fiber across the US and Europe, creating what the company calls the “largest ultra-low-loss fiber network in North America.” CenturyLink reports the first phase of this construction was completed in June, comprising 3.5 million miles of fiber, creating an expansive US inter-city network. The global carrier was able to leverage existing multi-conduit infrastructure for this first phase, connecting more than 50 US.

Attorney General Barr says encrypted apps pose ‘grave threat’ to safety

Attorney General William Barr delivered a blistering critique of encrypted messaging programs, saying they are preventing law enforcement from stopping killings, drug dealing and terrorism, and warned that time may be running out for the tech industry to make changes on its own.