Announcements

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🔥 Early Bird Pricing Is Live – Register Before Prices Increase

State of the Net is coming — and Early Bird tickets are live until December 19. If you know you’re joining us on February 9, 2026, now is the time to secure your spot before prices increase.

This year’s theme, More Than Meets the AI, reflects the rapidly evolving landscape of technology policy. SOTN will highlight the voices and issues shaping 2026 and beyond.

Why register now?

  • Early Bird pricing is still very low (until Dec. 19 — then it jumps)

  • Complimentary tickets for government staff, press, sponsors & selected students

  • Free livestream access for remote attendees

  • The most diverse, cross-perspective policy audience in Washington

Sponsorship opportunities will heighten your profile and your engagement at the conference. Contact Pamela Strother at [email protected] or 202-486-5990 for more details. 

REGISTER IN PERSON
REGISTER LIVESTREAM
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⚡Call for Lightning Talk Proposals at SOTN26

Present Your Lightning Talk

call for proposals

State of the Net will again feature “lightning talks” when it returns February 9, 2026.  Since their introduction in 2024, lightning talks have become one of the most popular features of the conference — short, dynamic presentations that showcase fresh perspectives in tech policy.

Last year’s talks were fascinating. 

If you have a compelling idea, research insight, or policy takeaway to share, we invite you to submit a Lightning Talk proposal. These five-minute presentations bring new voices into the conversation and spotlight innovative thinking across the Internet policy landscape.

Successful proposals will inform and inspire policymakers working on technology issues in Congress, state legislatures, and international governance fora.

Submit your proposal by Monday, December 1, 2025 COB.

For inspiration, look to the lightning talks from the 2025 conference. 

Use the submission form below to send in your proposal.

Submit Your Proposal
View 2025 Lightning Talks
Questions? Contact the State of the Net team at [email protected].
 
Conference registration is now open. Register here.
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📅 Registration Open! Save Your Spot. More Than Meets The AI 🎟️

Registration is now open for State of the Net! Join us on February 9, 2026, because technology policy today is More Than Meets the AI. As the nation’s premier tech policy conference, State of the Net convenes the most influential voices from Congress, the administration, industry, and civil society to map the policy landscape for the year ahead. Save the date, plan your travel, and budget accordingly — this is the event that will set the tone for 2026.

REGISTER IN PERSON
REGISTER LIVESTREAM

In its 22nd year, SOTN will be the place to hear from the top policymakers in technology and engage with the key players from industry, government, media, and NGOs.

Registration is now open! Register today to secure your place at the nation’s premier Internet policy conference, and don’t miss your chance to be at the center of the conversation shaping the future of the Internet.

Sponsorship opportunities will heighten your profile and your engagement at the conference. Contact Pamela Strother at [email protected] or 202-486-5990 for more details. 

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

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✨ Save the Date. SOTN Returns. More Than Meets The AI 👁️

MORE THAN MEETS THE AI - 1

State of the Net is back on February 9, 2026 — and this year, it’s More Than Meets the AI. As the nation’s premier tech policy conference, State of the Net convenes the most influential voices from Congress, the administration, industry, and civil society to map the policy landscape for the year ahead. Save the date, plan your travel, and budget accordingly — this is the event that will set the tone for 2026.

In its 22nd year, SOTN will be the place to hear from the top policymakers in technology and engage with the key players from industry, government, media, and NGOs.

Registration will open in early fall. In the meantime you can join our pre-registration list to get updates as the program comes together.

Sponsorship opportunities will heighten your profile and your engagement at the conference. Contact Pamela Strother at [email protected] or 202-486-5990 for more details.

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

Where: Convene, 601 14th Street NW, Washington, District of Columbia
When: Monday, February 09, 2026, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm

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📺 Watch Members of Congress Speak at State of the Net

As the internet and AI continue to advance, members of Congress are taking steps to address new developments. At State of the Net, Senator Marsha Blackburn delivered a keynote address calling for increased children’s safety protections online and for investments in cybersecurity. Senator Edward Markey’s keynote discussed the importance of consumer choice, and a free, open internet. 

Additionally, Representative Kat Cammack advocated against regulation of technology companies, concerned with the potential to stifle innovation. At the same time, in a fireside chat with Maria Curi, Representative Jay Obernolte discussed a report from the bi-partisan House Task Force on AI which recommended numerous regulations to Congress. 

Finally, in a fireside chat with Kelcee Griffis, Representative Suhas Subramanyam discussed how he believes federal agencies can be effectively modernized to ensure competitiveness, emphasizing his disagreement with the policies of the Department of Government Efficiency. 

Senator Blackburn delivers Keynote at State of the Net

Senator Marsha Blackburn discusses protections for children online and the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). She discusses the disconnect between legal protections for children offline and the lack of any similar protections on the internet. Senator Blackburn also discusses cybersecurity, and the threat posed by routers developed by Chinese companies. In response to this potential threat, the Senator has introduced the ROUTERS Act, which would require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to conduct a study investigating the national security implications of foreign adversary controlled technology being used by American consumers. 

Senator Markey delivers Keynote at State of the Net

Senator Edward Markey advocates for increased competition online, more choice for consumers, and for net neutrality. The Senator raises concern over the how the relationships between owners of technology companies and the Trump administration will effect consumer choice and potential government regulations on social media companies. He specifically discusses Elon Musk’s current government role and expresses concern over the power that Musk has obtained in reshaping the federal bureaucracy. The Senator also attacks the White House agenda surrounding content moderation on social media platforms and places importance on preserving a free and open internet which places the benefits of consumers over corporate profits. 

Representative Obernolte joins Maria Curi for a Fireside Chat at State of the Net.

Representative Jay Obernolte discusses a report released by the bi-partisan House Task Force on AI in a fireside chat with Axios reporter Maria Curi. In a 270 page report, the task force, which Representative Obernulte Co-Chairs, detailed 80 recommendations to Congress for regulations on artificial intelligence. This fireside chat compares open source and closed source AI models, discusses licensing for the use of AI in certain technology, and emphasizes the importance of federal regulation rather than regulation implemented on a state by state basis. 

Senator Cammack delivers Keynote at State of the Net

Representative Kat Cammack calls for fewer regulations on technology companies and emphasizes the importance of building relationships between industry and members of Congress. She expresses concern regarding the potential for regulation to stifle innovation by technology companies and calls for the passage of the REINS Act, which would require Congressional approval for any major rule proposed by a federal agency. 

Representative Subramanyam joins Kelcee Griffis for a Fireside Chat at State of the Net.

Representative Suhas Subramanyam discusses his plans for technology policy in the 119th Congress and his work on technology in the Obama White House in a fireside chat with Bloomberg reporter Kelcee Griffis. Representative Subramanyam emphasizes the importance modernizing of government agencies, but states his disagreement with the current Department of Government Efficiency’s firing of federal workings and cuts to research funding. Instead, the Representative advocates for increased funding to research and retention of talent as a means of securing United States competitiveness in the technology space. 
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📣 More Panels: 🧑‍💻 Emerging Tech, 📶 Broadband Competition, and 🪪 Deepfakes

We are so close to State of the Net, and we are excited to announce our final set of speakers and panels. You can learn more about our panels here, and checkout the panelists below.

State of the Net is on Tuesday, February 11th. Register now!

Emerging Tech Under Trump

Diane_Rinaldo


Diane Rinaldo

Executive Director
Open RAN

John_Mitchell

 

John Mitchell

Senior Manager, Government Affairs
CTA

Kristin_Smith

 

Kristin Smith

Chief Executive Officer
Blockchain Association
Matt_Perault

 

Matt Perault

Head of AI Policy
A16Z
Miranda_Nazzaro

 

Miranda Nazzaro

Technology Reporter
The Hill
 
 

Revisiting Broadband Competition: Is New Federal Framework Needed?

Nathan_Leamer

 

Nathan Leamer

Chief Executive Officer
Fixed Gear Strategies
Michael_O'Rielly

 

Michael O’Rielly

Strategic Advisor & Advocate
MPORielly

Angie_Kronenberg

 

Angie Kronenberg

President & CEO
Sligo Solutions LLC
Kathryn_DeWit

 

Kathryn de Wit

Project Director, Broadband Access Initiative
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Kelcee_Griffis

 

Kelcee Griffis

Telecom Reporter
Bloomberg News

 Deepfakes and the Digital Self: Legislation, Innovation, Or Cooperation?

Rick_Lane

Rick Lane

Chief Executive Officer
Iggy Ventures, LLC
Jeremy_Grant

Jeremy Grant

Coordinator
Better Identity Coalition
Shoshana_Weissmann

 

Shoshana Weissmann

Director of Policy Engagement
Carnegie Mellon University
1718327662904

 

Jamie Susskind

Legislative Director
Office of Sen. Blackburn
Natalie_Alms

 

Natalie Alms

Staff Reporter
Nextgov/FCW
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📣 More Keynotes for #SOTN25: Sen. Markey, Sen. Blackburn, Congresswoman Cammack, and Shira Perlmutter!

New Keynotes for #SOTN25: Sen. Markey, Sen. Blackburn, Congresswoman Cammack, and Shira Perlmutter!

The countdown to #SOTN2025 is on, and we can’t wait to welcome you to Washington, DC, for a day of cutting-edge discussions on tech policy. With a powerhouse lineup of keynotes – including newly announced speakers Senators Marsha Blackburn and Ed Markey, Rep. Kat Cammack, and Shira Perlmutter of the U.S. Copyright Office – plus panels, lightning talks, and salons featuring top voices in the field, this year’s conference will tackle the most pressing issues shaping our digital future. Register online by 12:00 PM ET on February 9th or sign up onsite!

Marsha Blackburn Official photo_v2_PhotoGallery

The Honorable Marsha Blackburn

The Senator from Tennessee
US Senate
Edward_Markey,_official_portrait,_114th_Congress

The Honorable Edward Markey

The Senator from Massachusetts
US Senate
Rep._Kat_Cammack_official_photo,_117th_Congress

The Honorable Kat Cammack

Representative of Florida’s 3rd Congressional District
U.S. House of Representatives
Shira_Perlmutter

Shira Perlmutter

Director and Register of Copyrights
U.S. Copyright Office
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3 New Panels: 📣 AI Policy 🌐 Geopolitics 🚸 Kids Safety on Tap

We are days away from State of the Net, and we are excited to announce three new panels featuring amazing speakers. You can learn more about our panels here, and checkout the panelists below.

State of the Net is on Tuesday, February 11th. Register now!

The Geopolitics of the Internet: How Will Trump Reframe the New World Order

Fiona_Alexander


Fiona Alexander

Distinguished Fellow at Internet Governance Lab
American University 

Luke_Hogg

 

Luke Hogg

Director of Policy and Outreach
Foundation for American Innovation

Milton Mueller

 

Milton Mueller

Professor of Public Policy
Georgia Tech
James_Lewis

 

James Lewis

Senior Vice President
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Maggie_Miller

 

Maggie Miller

Cybersecurity Reporter
POLITICO
 
 

AI Governance: Will the USG Lead A New Policy Framework?

Chip_Pickering

 

Chip Pickering

CEO
INCOMPAS
Neil_Chilson

 

Neil Chilson

Head of AI Policy
Abundance Institute

Olivia_Zhu

 

Olivia Zhu

Former Assistant Director for AI Policy
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Samir_Jain

 

Samir Jain

Vice President of Policy
Center for Democracy & Technology
Mohar_Chatterjee

 

Mohar Chatterjee

Computational Journalist
POLITICO

The Future of Online Safety for Kids: Legislative Changes on the Horizon

Maureen_Flatley

Maureen Flatley

Stop Child Predators Advisor
Shae_Gardner

Shae Gardner

Director of Policy & Research
LGBT Tech
Margaret_McGill

 

Margaret McGill

Director of Policy Engagement
Carnegie Mellon University
Andrew_Zack

 

Andrew Zack

Policy Manager
Family Online Safety Institute
 
8634ab2d04bd6ccc12cd65b6fc7f6d86185908dc-427x427

 

Amina Fazlullah

Head of Tech Policy Advocacy
Common Sense Media

 
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Speech, Competition, and the AI Charge: First 3 Panels for #SOTN2025

We are one week away from State of the Net, and we are excited to announce three of our panels featuring an amazing slate of speakers. You can learn more about our panels here, and checkout the amazing panelists below.

State of the Net is on Tuesday, February 11th. Register now!

The Frontiers For Free Speech In The Trump Era: The Content Moderator’s Dilemma

Jacob_Mchangama

Jacob Mchangama

Executive Director
The Future of Free Speech Project

Joel_Thayer (1)

Joel Thayer

President
Digital Progress Institute

Ari_Cohen

Ari Cohen

Lead Counsel of Tech Policy
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Yael_

Yael Eisenstat

Senior Fellow
Cybersecurity for Democracy
OMA

Oma Seddiq

Tech Policy Reporter
Bloomberg Government
 
 

Tech Competition Policy: From Hipster To Trumpster Antitrust

Svetlana_Gans

Svetlana Gans

Partner
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Avery_Gardiner

Avery Gardiner

Global Competition Policy 
Spotify

Jenn_Hodges

Jenn Taylor Hodges

Director of US Public Policy & Government Relations
Mozilla
Jennifer_

Jennifer Huddleston

Senior Fellow in Technology Policy
Cato Institute
Leah_Nylen (1)

Leah Nylen

Antitrust Reporter
Bloomberg News

AI at Work: Making the Digital Transformation Work for Everyone

Speech, Competition, and the AI Charge: First 3 Panels for #SOTN2025

Amber Ezzell

Policy Counsel
Future of Privacy Forum
Brent_orrell

Brent Orrell

Senior Fellow
American Enterprise Institute
Athina_Kanioura

Dr. Athina Kanioura

Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer
PepsiCo
Steven_Overly

Steven Overly

Host and Producer
POLITICO Tech
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Lightning Talks⚡: Look Who’s Presenting

We’re excited to publish the slate of Lightning Talks at State of the Net 2025. These 16 expert talks were chosen from close to 100 proposals. Check out the talks below. 

State of the Net is on Tuesday, February 11th. Register now!

1713827217475-2

AI in Cybersecurity: A Sword or Shield?

Reema Moussa
Associate Attorney
Goodwin Law
1671484228916

Free Flow of Information Shapes the Internet. What Happens if Information is Restricted? 

Taylor Downs
Federal Policy Manager, ACT
The App Association
72eec53c-0f95-1211-75eb-a833d16bb1ef

Legislating Protections Against Unauthorized Digital Replicas

Andrew Foglia
Deputy Director of Policy and International Affairs
U.S. Copyright Office
1690632612753

Regulating Public Sector AI in States: How Policymakers Should Move in 2025

Maddy Dwyer
Policy Analyst, Equity in Civic Technology
Center for Democracy and Technology
96007cfb-3c81-bed7-fa29-b35a3acb9a18

Covenants Without the Sword

Vaibhav Garg
Executive Director
Comcast
04d66969-c025-eb9b-db0a-bd6b04f69974

Safety By Design: What Role Should AI Play in User Safety?

Matt Kaufman
Chief Safety Officer
Roblox
ab8d3c00-05d1-d6e5-3b58-1977328a3ec4

Community Notes: An Internet-Scale Approach to Addressing Misleading Information, Found Helpful Across the Political Spectrum

Keith Coleman
VP of Product
X
1576500c-ca85-2e24-9560-c6f1e93797bf

Differentiated, Personalized, and Transparent Online Search

Joseph Jerome
Senior Public Policy Manager
DuckDuckGo
439c1416-8002-07fa-4ad9-c910e8c17f39

Exploring Preference Signals for AI with Creative Commons

Shanna Hollich
Learning and Training Manager
Creative Commons
d87b23b7-6a27-6050-6d5e-7a03e86b4ad4

FTC Authority over AI: Looking Back at 2024

Andy Jung
Associate Counsel
TechFreedom
1738263862396

Beyond the Algorithm: Safeguarding Children in the Age of Character AI

Danielle Davis
Director of Technology Policy
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Nick_Reese

LunaNet to MarsLink: Building the First Internet Infrastructure in Space

Nick Reese
Cofounder and COO
Frontier Foundry
Michael_Kende

Fiber vs LEO Satellite: The Most Economically Efficient Way to Deliver Quality Broadband for All

Michael Kende
Senior Advisor
Analysys Mason
 
osman
Shahan Osman
Manager, TMT Strategy & Policy
Analysys Mason
Juan_Ortiz

Beyond Fragmentation: Re-networking Internet Infrastructure to Achieve Strategic Autonomy

Juan Ortiz Freuler
Phd Candidate
University of Southern California
 
Tricia_McLeary

Link Taxes and the Online Information Ecosystem: What’s at Stake?

Tricia McCleary
Media Advocacy Manager
Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)
 
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