While the European Union and the state of California have been devising comprehensive privacy protection systems within their regulatory borders, the United States government has chosen not to regulate, or to regulate only a limited number of data controllers. It is time for Congress to create a unified privacy law that applies to all players equally.
Op-eds
California’s Net Neutrality Adventure: Right Goal, Wrong Path
California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 822 that adopts a state-level net neutrality requirement for broadband providers operating in California. However well-intentioned this effort may be, it is deeply legally flawed. It also contains substantive provisions that would serve as a major barrier to broadband investment.
Accelerating 5G Will Be Good for America
The U.S. relies on the private sector rather than government for 5G-related investments, and that gives us flexibility to adapt to market conditions. But it also requires getting the policies and standards right to ensure early and broad deployment of 5G.
FCC’s New Frontier: Time to Auction 2.5 GHz Spectrum to Close Homework Gap
The majority of today’s teachers routinely make homework assignments with the expectation that students will go online to complete the work. But students don’t have equal access to high-speed broadband. One straightforward way increase access to high-speed broadband is a spectrum auction to repurpose a currently-underutilized spectrum band and open up more wireless capacity for everyone, including for educational use.
Privacy Topping Public Policy Priority List, At Last, With FTC Hearings
Protecting consumer privacy online and consumer data is not a flash in the pan. It will require constant vigilance — by the FTC, by all companies in the internet ecosystem and, of course, by consumers.
Congress Needs to Put the Net Neutrality Debate to Rest to Help Close the Digital Divide
The statutory designation of broadband as a Title I information service is one key to putting the net neutrality debate to rest, and it’s also essential to creating a regulatory climate appropriate for broadband investment in rural areas.
Congress Got This One Right – Retire Old Regulations
Virtually all American businesses have access to BDS. There is simply no justification for intrusive regulation in a market that, by the FCC’s own data, is working and competitive.
FCC Should Follow Signposts for Change With Mobile Broadband
A new survey shows just how fast the market for broadband is changing. Consumers no longer see mobile and fixed internet access alternatives as fundamentally different but use different types of broadband access in similar ways. In other words, mobile and fixed broadband are now functional substitutes.
Mississippi Has a Significant Stake in Outcome of Net Neutrality War
The door is open once again to large-scale broadband investment, but some in Congress are now urging a return of the heavy-handed regulatory treatment imposed on broadband in 2015. That would be a major mistake for the country at large and particularly punishing for broadband investment in our rural regions.
Falling Fiber Gap Further Supports FCC’s BDS Decision
Last year, the FCC reformed how it regulates the business data services market to better reflect the real competition that now exists in that sector — and their decision was correct.
It’s June 11, and the Internet Still Works
IIA Co-Chairwoman Kim Keenan discusses why rolling back net-neutrality rules is the right step forward.
How Congress Got Telecom Competition Right, 22 Years Ago
IIA Co-Chairman Bruce Mehlman discusses his support for the US Telecom Association’s petition requesting forbearance from certain regulations in the 1996 Telecom Act, now that competition is thriving in those areas.