Announcements

Journalist Rebecca Heilweil talks Space Internet with Project Kuiper's Darren Achord and R Street's Jonathan Cannon at SOTN on March 6, 2023
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ICYMI Watch “Internet From Space” Panel With Amazon Project Kuiper’s Darren Achord

Today news broke that Amazon is building a launch facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for its Project Kuiper Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) Internet satellites. For many Internet policy nerds the thought of space Internet was merely a dream. Now with Amazon on the cusp of joining SpaceX in the LEO high-speed Internet delivery business, it’s quickly becoming reality.

Back in March Project Kuiper’s Darren Achord spoke to a packed audience at State of the Net about the game-changing nature of LEO Space Internet. He was joined by award winning journalist Rebecca Heilweil and R Street’s Jonathan Cannon. In case you missed it, you can watch it below or read the transcript.

Audio / Transcript
Travis LeBlanc
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ICYMI Watch PCLOB’s Travis LeBlanc On 702 Reauthorization and Transatlantic Data Flows

Transatlantic data flows are in the headlines this week with the EDPB handing down a substantial fine on Meta. Of course, government surveillance is at the heart of that issue. At the same time, Congress is starting to look at reauthorizing the government’s 702 surveillance powers.

Back in March we were thrilled to have Travis LeBlanc of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board speak extensively with Amie Stepanovich about transatlantic data flows and 702 reauthorization. In case you missed it, you can watch it below.

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Diversity at State of the Net 2023

Last month we were thrilled to convene the Internet stakeholder community at the 19th annual State of the Net Conference, the nation’s most prominent Internet policy summit.

Speakers at SOTN reflect different perspectives on Internet policy issues. We have long curated the program to highlight differences of opinion among experts from across the spectrum of industry, government, academia, and civil society. 

We have made strides over the years to bring more diverse voices to the table at State of the Net. We’ve made great progress in some areas and have made incremental improvements in others. In other areas, we haven’t made much of a dent and we need to do better. In the interest of accountability, we’re publishing the below stats regarding speaker diversity at #SOTN2023.*

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There is always room for improvement and we will work harder. We will also continue our work to create a pipeline for talented Internet policy practitioners of color through the Internet Law & Policy Foundry. The Foundry, which we launched six years ago, is a professional development platform for early career professionals passionate about Internet law and policy. Diversity is a major goal in the Foundry admissions criteria for incoming fellows. We will also continue to inspire students of color to pursue careers in computer science and STEM through the Congressional App Challenge (CAC). Through the House’s official computer science competition for middle and high school students, which we administer, we work to ensure that student participation in the CAC reflects the diversity of the American people. (See impact/diversity).

* BIPOC Defined.
** Our survey of speakers at SOTN was passive. Our data is not a reflection of speakers’ attestation of identity.  

Agenda, Video
SOTN 2023 is over. Here are links to the program agenda, speakers, and videos.

Davidson Kanter Simington to Keynote
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Davidson, Kanter, & Simington Keynote State of the Net

On Monday, March 6th join us at the the State of the Net Conference. Here are just some of the government officials who will speak. Many more speaker will be added.

Alan Davidson
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Administrator
National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Jonathan Kanter
Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division
U.S. Department of Justice

Nathan Simington
Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission

Reserve your spot now. Registration is now open. Tickets are complimentary for government staff, the press, Foundry fellows, sponsors, and students. Remote participants will be able to join through livestream feeds.

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Get Ready. We’re back March 6 ’23 | State of the Net In DC

The State of the Net Conference returns on March 6, 2023 for its 19th annual Internet policy conference. Save the date, make some travel plans, and stay vaccinated.

Our conference crew is getting started building the agenda and responding to speaker requests. 

Please contact Pamela Strother at [email protected] for sponsorship details.

March 6, 2023

As always, State of the Net will be your first look at the new players and the new issues that will take center stage in 2023. This conference is unique for its diverse blend of perspectives and provocative thinkers. As policy debates become more polarized, State of the Net is the most important stakeholder gathering which brings together key players who disagree (respectfully). 

Past keynote speakers include Senators Ed Markey, John Thune, Roger Wicker, and Amy Klobuchar, White House CTOs Aneesh Chopra, Megan Smith, and Michael Kratsios, UBER Founder/CEO Travis Kalanick, advocate Max Schrems, Dropbox CEO Drew Houston, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, and many others. Want to know more? Find out more by looking at recent past speakers here and our 2022 recap here.

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Diversity At State of the Net 2022

Last month we were thrilled to convene the Internet stakeholder community at the 18th annual State of the Net Conference, the nation’s most prominent Internet policy summit.

Speakers at SOTN reflect different perspectives on Internet policy issues. We have long curated the program to highlight differences of opinion among experts from across the spectrum of industry, government, academia, and civil society. 

We have made strides over the years to bring more diverse voices to the table at State of the Net. We’ve made great progress in some areas and have made incremental improvements in others. In other areas, we haven’t made much of a dent and we need to do better. In the interest of accountability, we’re publishing the below stats regarding speaker diversity at #SOTN2022.*

2022 sotn bipoc keynote diversity
2022 sotn bipoc speaker diversity
2022 sotn keynote gender diversity
2022 sotn speaker gender diversity

There is always room for improvement and will work harder. We will also continue our work to create a pipeline for talented Internet policy practitioners of color through the Internet Law & Policy Foundry. The Foundry, which we launched six years ago, is a professional development platform for early career professionals passionate about Internet law and policy. Diversity is a major goal in the Foundry admissions criteria for incoming fellows. We will also continue to inspire students of color to pursue careers in computer science and STEM through the Congressional App Challenge (CAC). Through the House’s official computer science competition for middle and high school students, which we administer, we work to ensure that student participation in the CAC reflects the diversity of the American people. (See impact/diversity).

* BIPOC Defined.
** Our survey of speakers at SOTN was passive. Our data is not a reflection speakers’ attestation of identity.  

Agenda, Video
SOTN 2022 is over. Here are links to the program agenda, speakers, videos.

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ICYMI: SOTN Web3 Discussions Harbinger of Biden Crypto Order

Today the Biden Administration issued a sweeping executive order on cryptocurrencies. The Order suggests a more innovation driven and holistic approach to the emerging decentralized Web, beyond cryptocurrencies. Last week’s State of the Net Conference heralded many of the elements in the Biden EO by featuring a keynote by Rep Jake Auchincloss and a panel discussion on decentralized Web issues. In case you missed it, the video and transcripts from those talks are below.

Keynote with Rep. Jake Auchincloss

Web3, Metaverse, The Decentralized Web: Is The New Internet Coming?

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Senate’s Edward J. Markey, White House’s Denice Ross to Keynote State of the Net

We are thrilled to announce Senator Ed Markey and U.S Chief Data Scientist, Denice Ross are joining this year’s list of keynoters at the 18th State of the Net Conference in Downtown DC on February 28.

Senator Markey is a consumer champion, a leader on energy, environmental protection and telecommunications policy, and has a prolific legislative record on major issues across the policy spectrum. Denice Ross is a leading figure at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy focusing on tech an data issues.

Come and join them Monday, February 28.

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🚸 Kids, Cashless Apps, & COPPA: Who’s Protecting Kids’ Fintech Privacy?

The pandemic dramatically accelerated the use of cashless apps among American kids. Postmates snacks and Panera muffins became a swipe away with payment-enabled apps. Who’s protecting kids‘ fintech privacy given that our financial and privacy laws never imagined a world where kids could buy almost anything with a wave of a smartphone? Join us at State of the Net Conference in downtown DC on February 28th to hear our expert panel figure this out.

SPEAKERS

Jamie Susskind
Tech Policy Advisor
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn

Syd Terry
Chief of Staff
Rep Jan Schakowsky

Jessica Rich
Of Counsel
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Rick Lane
CEO
Iggy Ventures

ABOUT THE PANEL

The pandemic dramatically accelerated the use of cashless apps among American kids. During COVID parents discovered the anxiety-reducing benefits of their kids‘ smartphones. Kids could now order a Postmates snack during remote school or pay for a Panera muffin with a swipe of their phones — all with fintech enabled apps. Reports have detailed just how much personal data the market-leading debit card apps collect on children – everything from purchase history to GPS location – and how that data is used to micro-target advertisements. Who’s protecting kids‘ fintech transactions? Probably not COPPA. And the 1999 Gramm-Leach-Bliley law was written at a time when holding a credit card was practically proof of adulthood. Congress wrote GLB for adults making financial transactions, not for kids. This panel will discuss what role policymakers and fintech companies should have to protect a child’s financial data in a cashless society.

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📢 Congressman Michael McCaul & Comcast’s Broderick Johnson To Keynote

We’re thrilled to welcome back the Internet policy community at the 18th State of the Net Conference in downtown DC on February 28th.

We have two exciting keynote speakers to announce. The new co-chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), will join us in person. Congressman McCaul has long been a leader on technology issues in Congress and is currently the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

We’ll also be joined by Broderick Johnson, Executive Vice President, Public Policy & Executive Vice President, Digital Equity at Comcast. Mr. Johnson has served two U.S. Presidents in the White House and has presided as chief counsel of several House committees.

Come and join them on Monday, February 28th.

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