On June 11, 2018, the Restoring Internet Freedom Order (RIFO) went into effect. The hysteria over its impact nearly rivaled the doomsday scenarios created around January 1, 2000, when wild claims were made that every computer system in the world would be unable to adjust to the new century. For example, implementation of the RIFO […]
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the risk online activities pose to privacy and data security following the Equifax data breach and Cambridge Analytica’s use of social media sites to collect information about potential voters. It is understandable that consumers are concerned about how private companies protect their information; what should be of greater concern […]
The ongoing saga of the AT&T/Time Warner merger, and the April 29, 2018 announcement by T-Mobile and Sprint that they would begin merger proceedings underpin the need for a streamlined, consistent merger application process. Federal regulators must provide companies with procedural certainty and clarity that will benefit not only the companies involved but also consumers. Currently, the […]
As the May 18 deadline for negotiating a modernized North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) looms, negotiators should consider closely how intellectual property (IP) rights will be treated between the countries involved. According to the Global Innovation Policy Center’s (GIPC) 2018 International IP Index, which measures 50 countries against 40 IP indicators, the U.S. ranked […]
The creative influence of women around the globe is of critical importance to innovation.
The recently released Farm Bill contained many of the same wasteful spending items found in past Farm Bills, but also held a few surprises that if not contained with transparency and appropriate oversight could lead to further wasteful spending. Among the new programs found in this year’s Farm Bill is a provision in Title VI, […]
Technological advances over the past several decades have dramatically changed the way everyone listens to music, but compensation for performers, producers, and songwriters remains in the dark ages. They do not receive just compensation for the intellectual property created by their hard work and ingenuity. For the past couple of years, House Judiciary Committee has […]
During the first week of April, 2018, a number of organizations filed amicus briefs with the Supreme Court with respect to the case of South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., Overstock.com, Inc., and NewEgg, Inc. The petitioner in the case seeks to overturn the physical nexus requirement specified by the Supreme Court in 1992, when it […]
The concept that federal information technology (IT) procurement should be technology and vendor neutral is among the best practices for federal government agencies. However, when a large federal agency issues an exceptionally large cloud contract to a predetermined vendor for a specific technology solution without competitive bidding, such a contract is neither technology nor vendor […]
There are several technologies being considered for developing the next generation of communications infrastructure. Among those being studied and deployed are the use of TV white spaces for rural broadband connectivity; wireless fixed broadband initiatives; satellite broadband, and the development of fifth generation (5G) technologies for mobile communications. According to a March 12, 2018 study […]
