Nancy Pelosi famously said about the Affordable Care Act, “We have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it.” That would be a generous description of business-as-usual at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It can take weeks, and sometimes months, for the Commission to release an order they voted on. Even worse, the published and enforceable order is not what the commissioners voted on, but some version of it that hasn’t seen sunlight until the day it shows up in the Federal Register.
Miscellaneous
Aspen Panel: Innovation and Privacy in the Era of Big Data
Advances in the ability to collect and analyze massive amounts of data is revolutionizing the way data are used in both the both the public and private sectors. In the past year, both the White House and the Federal Trade Commission have released reports on this issue, both touting the benefits of big data while warning of possible consumer harms. Participants on the panel “Innovation and Privacy in the Era of Big Data” at this year’s TPI Aspen Forum will address questions related to big data.
Internet governance in transition: What’s the destination?
The U.S. government’s decision to relinquish its historic role in Internet governance has set in motion a transition with no clear resolution. The Department of Commerce has asked the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to “convene stakeholders across the global Internet community to craft an appropriate transition plan,” but where this will lead is anyone’s guess. What is clear is that the transition provides both the opportunity for, and the necessity of, undertaking a fundamental reevaluation of ICANN’s accountability mechanisms.
For Food Trucks, Social Media Matters
Despite the widespread use of social media by entrepreneurs and small businesses, little analysis has been performed regarding its effectiveness, state Technology Policy Institute’s Scott Wallsten and Corwin Rhyan in “Social Media and Entrepreneurship: The Case of Food Trucks.” To help shed light on this issue, the authors examine the relationship between the use of social media and internet services by mobile food truck operators and the truck’s ability to stay in business.
Event – The Evolving Media Landscape: What do the Data Show?
Digital channels for distribution create new opportunities for artists and content owners, but also new challenges in enforcing copyright and reducing piracy. How much of an impact does piracy have on the creative industries? Have past efforts to curb piracy been effective? This panel discussion will highlight findings from recent empirical research analyzing the impact of piracy on sales of copyrighted products and quantifying the effectiveness of both policy-based and market-based strategies for fighting piracy.
Registration Now Open for TPI Aspen Forum
Online registration is now open for the 2014 Technology Policy Institute Aspen Forum, scheduled this year for August 17 – 19. The TPI Aspen Forum brings together leaders from business, government, and academia to discuss key public policy issues affecting information and communications technology. This year’s theme is, “Tech in Transition: Policy Challenges.”
Event – The Future of Video Policy and Business Models
Traditional pay TV is beginning to lose subscribers. Wall Street analyst Craig Moffett called this past year pay TV’s “worst 12 month stretch ever.” At the same time, over-the-top providers, primarily Netflix, are growing quickly. Yet, not all analysts believe Netflix has the winning business model. New business models and threats to old business models dovetail with various efforts at policy reform in Washington, including debates over usage-based billing, Internet “signal importation,” and a la carte choices rather than bundles of channels. This conference will discuss these and other issues facing the video market.