The Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee in the Media
A packed room and C-SPAN cameras at the July 24 event on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)
Each Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee event this year has been broadcast live to viewers everywhere. Audio podcasts and media coverage of our events have also helped spread awareness of the key issues our expert speakers have broken down for policymakers in Washington. Here’s a quick look at how we’ve gotten out the message in 2015.
The European Internet Forum (EIF) has been working to support informed policymaking in the digital age since 2000. We commend our partners in Europe on their record of success promoting the benefits of the Internet for all EU citizens and providing a nonpartisan platform for debate.
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, Elly Plooij-van Gorsel, and Pilar del Castillo.
Our organizations have worked together to share ideas and to explore 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 over the last 15 years encouraging informed policy leadership and engagement on Internet policy and new technologies.
Video and audio podcast from our March 12 #CryptoConvo panel discussion are now available. Watch the video on our YouTube Channel and stream audio on our website or your favorite podcast service. You can also subscribe to the ICAC iTunes podcast channel for all of our policy panel discussions.
Thank you to the Internet Society for providing the video recording and to our panelists and all in attendance for the event!
Meerkat is a free application that live-streams directly from mobile devices through Twitter. By simply following the link to the broadcast on our Twitter account @NetCaucusAC with your mobile device, you will be able to watch the briefing in real time (barring any technical difficulties). Watch from your Apple or Android device — just download the app and find the link on @NetCaucusAC!
Cyber Security: Will The Sharing of Threat Information Secure The Homeland or Erode Privacy?
We’ve just announced our speakers for the Friday luncheon (see below). The cyber security panel will discuss legislation that will allow the sharing of threat information and attacks. Bills on this issue will be first out of the gate this session of Congress. Get up to speed on how effectively the legislation helps secure the Internet and whether it infringes on the privacy of your constituents.
Speakers:
Cory Bennett, Cyber Security Reporter, The Hill (Moderator) (Bio)
Robyn Greene, Policy Counsel, Open Technology Institute at New America (Bio)
Cheri McGuire, Vice President, Global Government Affairs & Cybersecurity Policy, Symantec (Bio)
Heather Molino, Cornerstone Government Affairs (Bio)
Attend: RSVP via Eventbrite here Note: This is a fast-paced, recess 60-minute flash-luncheon briefing format Date: Friday, April 10, 2015 Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. Program starts at 12:00 pm, check-in starts at 11:40 am Location Rayburn House Office Building Room 2226 Lunch: A boxed lunch will be served. Follow:@NetCaucusAC | #CISA
Background
President Obama has made the public-private sharing of threat information one of the most pressing priorities in his massive push to protect the nation’s cyber infrastructure. Last month at the Cyber Security Summit the President signed an executive order to promote better sharing of threat information, “both within the private sector and between government and the private sector.” As part of that strategy he has called upon Congress to pass legislation to increase the flow of threat information.
Yet, Congress has attempted to pass such legislation before and was met with vigorous opposition. Almost two years ago the “Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA)” met an abrupt end amid civil liberties, privacy, and surveillance concerns- and that was before the NSA revelations by leaker Edward Snowden.
Now the President and Congress are back with new legislation to protect cyber systems via information sharing. Bills are being prepared and you are likely to see Congress vote on it shortly. Our panel of experts will explore the issues related to information sharing, whether the approach will secure the homeland and whether the legislation puts civil liberties and privacy at risk.
This widely attended educational briefing is hosted by the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee (ICAC), part of a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Congressional staff and members of the press welcome. The ICAC is a private sector organization comprised of public interest groups, trade associations, non-profits, and corporations. The ICAC takes no positions on legislation or regulation. Rather, it’s 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 ICAC is available at www.netcaucus.org.
Last Monday’s Congressional briefing on the sharing economy capped off our most productive and influential year in the 18 years since the inception of the Congressional Internet Caucus (and we said that in 2013)! We have detailed below the remarkable breadth, timeliness, and impact of Internet policy briefings and events hosted by the NetCaucus AC in 2014. Here is a summary of this remarkable accomplishment.
2014 Highlights
At the end of 2014 we have hosted 60% more programs than 2013 for a total of 16 events. This rivals the number of hearings that some committees hold. All of our events have been listed below and can be viewed on our events page here.
Video and C-SPAN Coverage:
Remarkably nearly 50% of our 2014 Congressional briefings have yielded C-SPAN coverage. That coverage exponentially increases our viewing audience not only within the Capitol Complex but also across America. The amount of C-SPAN coverage is a testament to the credibility and the content of our program (here is an example). Also, together with C-SPAN coverage we have been able to webcast over 50% of our events this year.
24 Hours / 48 Hours / 75 Hours – Breaking News Briefings
In 2014, we achieved an unprecedented level of timeliness in our Congressional briefings. For instance, we hosted a briefing within 75 hours of the DC Circuit Court’s decision to strike down much of the FCC’s Open Internet Rules. Within 48 hours, we hosted a briefing on the Supreme Court’s Aereo decision. We also hosted a briefing within 24 hours of the FCC releasing its proposed Net Neutrality rules and its Spectrum order.
Packed Attendance
Our events are extremely well attended by our target audience – Congressional and government policy staff. On Twitter, you can find photos of our event audiences and lively event hashtag conversations.
Revived Speakers Series
This year we revived the historically successful Internet Caucus Speakers Series. That program, which provided an open forum within the Capitol Complex for executives and luminaries, was halted in 2007. In 2014 we hosted two terrific speakers — famous Internet researcher danah boyd and Zillow.com CEO Spencer Rascoff. Both presentations were extremely successful and we would like to further revive this program in 2015.
[thaudio href=”http://netcaucus.org/audio/2014/20141208p2peconomy.mp3″]Listen to Audio[/thaudio]
Audio of today’s panel on regulation and the future of the sharing economy is now available. You can also subscribe to our Podcast for all of our latest panel discussions and find more pictures from the event on our Flickr. Thank you to our panelists and all in attendance for today’s event!
Companies like Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb are high profile examples of the so-called sharing economy, in which ordinary people use online platforms to rent (rather than sell) products and services to each other. Also known as collaborative consumption, or peer to peer commerce, this new way of doing business uses the Internet to connect individual sellers and consumers and is changing the economy in many ways. Despite the successes of sharing economy pioneers, there is a growing backlash about circumvention of regulations and community standards, and displacement of workers – such as taxi drivers – in established industries. These debates are important because we might only be in the early stages of the sharing economy. In the future, a large number of industries could be disrupted by these new business models.
On November 6, 2014 our panel discussed sexual privacy concerns in the digital age after a major celebrity photo hack. Actress Jennifer Lawrence called the act a “sex crime” in Vanity Fair. Was it? Panelists discuss what the current legal protections are for individuals and debate what future action, if any, needs to be taken.
Speakers:
Mary Anne Franks, Associate Professor of Law, University of Miami School of Law (Bio)
Emma Llansó, Director, Free Expression Project, Center for Democracy and Technology (Bio)
In May, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Google and other search engines must consider requests by any EU citizen to delete information about them, under a policy known as “the right to be forgotten.” Google alone has processed more than 90,000 take down requests since May. Europe’s new privacy right clashes with other deeply held values such as freedom of expression and transparency. Many observers are concerned that the EU’s approach could even affect American Internet users. EU privacy regulators have suggested that the search engines must delete results not only within the EU, but globally, in spite of our First Amendment rights to publish and view the information. Even HBO comedian John Oliver has added to the commentary, suggesting the hashtag #mutuallyassuredhumiliation to highlight the futility of removing embarrassing information from the Internet, and to suggest a more realistic approach for our modern society. When an Internet policy issue makes it to TV comedy shows, its a sign that we need to pay attention here in Washington.
Is the right to be forgotten necessary to protect privacy, or does the EU rule go too far? Should the EU be able to limit access to information by American Internet users? Can the right to be forgotten be reconciled with the watchdog role of the press when public figures can use the new procedures to censor potentially embarrassing information? Join us as we discuss these interesting topics.
This widely attended educational briefing is hosted by the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee (ICAC), part of a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Congressional staff and members of the press welcome. The ICAC is a private sector organization comprised of public interest groups, trade associations, non-profits, and corporations. The ICAC takes no positions on legislation or regulation. Rather, it’s 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 ICAC is available at www.netcaucus.org.
Today the Co-Chairs of bipartisan Congressional Internet Caucus urged House and Senate leadership to act quickly to permanently extend the Internet Tax Freedom Act before the August recess. The joint letter signed by Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator John Thune, Congressman Bob Goodlatte and Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo is here:
Bipartisan Group Presses for Floor Action on Permanent Internet Access Tax Moratorium Bill
June 19, 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Co-Chairs of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Internet Caucus are urging House and Senate Leadership to pass bipartisan legislation before the August recess to permanently eliminate new state and local taxes on Internet access. In a letter from Reps. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), as well as Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), the members cite an impending November 1, 2014, expiration of current law that since 1998 has placed a moratorium on the ability of state and local governments to impose new taxes on Internet access.
“The moratorium’s expiration poses a threat to many of the current benefits of the Internet for American citizens,” they wrote in the letter.
With the expiration approaching, the House Judiciary Committee passed with overwhelming support yesterday a permanent extension of the Internet Tax Freedom Act.
A copy of the letter sent to House and Senate Leadership can be viewed here. The following is the text of the letter:
June 19, 2014
The Honorable John A. Boehner
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Minority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Speaker Boehner, Leader Reid, Leader McConnell, and Leader Pelosi,
We write to you as Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Internet Caucus to urge you to facilitate passage of a permanent extension of the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) prior to the August recess. First passed in 1998, ITFA placed a moratorium on the ability of state and local governments to impose new taxes on Internet access or to impose multiple or discriminatory taxes on e-commerce. The most recent extension in 2007, passed both houses unanimously.
The moratorium is in effect only through November 1, 2014, and all of us have sponsored or cosponsored bipartisan legislation to extend it permanently – H.R. 3086, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act in the House, and S. 1431, the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act in the Senate. The moratorium’s expiration poses a threat to many of the current benefits of the Internet for American citizens. The Internet ecosystem that has flourished under the moratorium currently provides:
Affordable access to the Internet for consumers and businesses;
A pathway to jobs, customers, and global commerce for citizens and “mom and pop” storeowners;
A foundation for innovation in every sector of the economy, including education, health care, manufacturing, news, and entertainment; and
A platform for citizen participation in civic affairs.
These benefits will all be imperiled by the expiration of ITFA and the potential imposition of thousands of new state and local taxes on Internet access, which would discourage broadband adoption and investment. We therefore urge you to support H.R. 3086 and S. 1431 and bring them to the floor as soon as possible to ensure passage of the bills prior to the August recess. This would ensure that millions of consumers do not receive notifications informing them that their Internet bills may increase in November. Extending ITFA permanently will provide much-needed certainty to consumers and businesses and will preserve the benefits of Internet access for all Americans.
Sincerely,
Co-Chairs of the Congressional Internet Caucus
Senator Patrick Leahy
Senator John Thune
Congressman Bob Goodlatte
Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo