All Publications
Commentaries and Op-Eds
The Future of Digital Communications Research and Policy
Over the past decade broadband has become nearly ubiquitously available to households and firms throughout the industrialized world. This rapid growth has spurred interest by policymakers and academics in understanding how public policies affect�and hopefully, encourage�investment and adoption. While such knowledge is useful, it is important to recognize that broadband investment and adoption are only inputs into societal well-being. We are ultimately interested in outputs: how does investment and use affect our standard of living and the economy more broadly?
Press Releases
Economic Impact of Broadband Difficult to Measure
While policymakers focus on driving residential broadband adoption as a key factor in economic recovery and growth, little research supports claims that such policies can have short-term economic effects, explains Scott Wallsten in “The Future of Digital Communications Research and Policy.” To assist policymakers, researchers should focus on the effects of broadband use in business to measure how the technology will impact productivity and, ultimately, in what ways it will shape the economy. The piece was first published in “The Future of Digital Communications: Policy Perspectives,” a collection of essays sponsored by Time Warner Cable, and will be published in the forthcoming volume of the Federal Communications Law Journal.
Press Releases
The Future of Privacy Online
From blogs to Facebook profiles to Twitter messages, individuals are increasingly choosing to share information about themselves online. More personal information online brings both risks and rewards. How are companies using this digital information and how do consumers benefits from increased data sharing? Do consumers have enough control over their personal information or is there a need for government regulators to step in? These issues will be discussed at “The Future of Privacy Online,” co-hosted by the Technology Policy Institute (TPI) and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF).
Press Releases
Smart Grid Issues Discussed at TPI Aspen Forum
The increased use of electronics in our daily lives has strained America’s electricity infrastructure. Can “Smart Grid” technologies and the modernization of the power infrastructure keep up with the increased demand for energy? Are incentives and other programs helping at the state and federal levels? Is Smart Grid a prudent investment that will benefit consumers, or an expensive boondoggle fraught with standards, control and gold plating issues? The Technology Policy Institute Aspen Forum will feature a breakout session on Smart Grid technologies, their implementation, and related issues for utility regulators. The session is one of three off-the-record discussions scheduled at the Forum, to be held August 22 – 24 at the St. Regis in Aspen, Colorado.