Technology, Telecommunications, and E-Commerce
Policy Priorities for 2012
Broadband
- Oppose applying old monopoly telephone rules to new broadband networks.
- Support public-private partnerships to spur broadband deployment and adoption across the United States.
- Support the use of auctions—without any restrictions that may deter potential bidders—to allocate wireless spectrum for mobile broadband.
- Support efforts to streamline zoning laws for broadband infrastructure, including cell towers and antennas.
Broadcasting and Mass Media
- Advocate for federal policies that keep government regulation of broadcasting and other mass media to a minimum, recognize the highly competitive nature of the industry, and promote market-based solutions.
ICANN
- Urge the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to delay its plans to dramatically increase the number of generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) names (e.g., the suffixes that go after the dot, such as .com and .org) until sufficient protections are added for trademark and brand owners. Beyond the costs associated with defensive registrations, there are strong concerns that these new gTLDs could lead to brand confusion, brand dilution, fraud, identity theft, data breaches and other cyber crimes, consumer privacy violations, and other abuses.
Privacy and Data Security
- Advocate for policies recognizing that self-regulation and best business practices that are technology-neutral serve as the preferred framework for enhancing innovation, investment, and competition while protecting consumers’ privacy.
- Support enactment of meaningful federal data security legislation that would implement national data security standards and establish requirements to notify consumers when a significant risk to them may result from a data security breach; simultaneously ensure that any legislation in this area does not hinder innovation or the beneficial uses of data.
Spectrum Allocation and Management
- Develop a comprehensive, unified national spectrum management strategy designed to reduce the artificial scarcity of spectrum and increase the flexibility in allocating spectrum.
Telecommunications Reform
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Advocate for updated federal telecommunications laws and seek the elimination of federal policies that hinder investment in technology.
Related Links
- Technology and E-Commerce
- Tom Donohue announces U.S. Chamber of Commerce sponsorship of the 2005 World Expo in Aichi, Japan
- Computer Associates Global Forum - Address by Thomas J. Donohue
- The Global Potential of RFID - opening remarks by Thomas J. Donohue
- Senate Urged to Pass CAN SPAM and Criminal Spam Acts
- Letter on H.R. 4061, the "Cyber Security Enhancement Act of 2009"
- Letter supporting H.R. 4962, the "International Cybercrime Reporting and Cooperation Act"
- Chamber urges House to oppose H.R. 3261 "Database and Collections of Information Misappropriation Act"