Bartlett D. Cleland is a research fellow with the Institute for Policy Innovation.
Cleland represented IPI as a member of the Internet Safety Technical Task Force and contributed to its final report, released in January 2009. The Task Force was created in February 2008 at the request of 49 state attorneys general to identify effective tools and technologies to keep kids safe online.
He currently serves as private sector co-chair of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Telecommunications & Information Technology Task Force. Cleland also serves on the Internet Education Foundation Board of Directors, which involves working closely with the Internet Caucus and such projects as GetNetWise, a project to assist parents in understanding the Internet and how to protect children on-line.
Cleland began his professional career in the human resources field with Lee Hecht Harrison as a consultant for executive outplacement. He went to
The Back Room Sales Pitch to Raise Your Taxes on the Internet
Last week state elected officials swarmed Capitol Hill to pressure Congress to support the so-called Marketplace Fairness Act. Congress owes the country an open, recorded debate before risking the United of our United States.
The Fight Is Just Beginning for International Control of the Internet
The U.S. will need to hang tough in the global debate about who controls the Internet, stay committed to its fundamental principles, and perhaps convince the members of the ITU that only a unanimous vote will change the rules so that a block of repressive regimes cannot force a change. If not the only option may be a disconnecting from the global Internet.
Antitrust Troubling in an Innovation Economy
Just as competitors lobbied to have the government restrict Microsoft in the 1990s others are now lobbying to harm Google by trying to convince the iron hand of government to squeeze the company and limit its competitive abilities.
Tech Issue Voting
Let’s start to put “tech” issues front and center in our national policy debates.
Tax and Loot Policies
Governor Haslam of Tennessee was “surprised” to hear he had a failing fiscal grade and has argued that his tax increases were for the kids. When a politician uses kids as defense, grab your liberties and your wallet, as you are about to lose at least one. In this case, in the Main Street Fairness Act, politicians have found a way to take both.
Tax and Loot Policies
Governor Haslam of Tennessee was “surprised” to hear he had a failing fiscal grade and has argued that his tax increases were for the kids. When a politician uses kids as defense, grab your liberties and your wallet, as you are about to lose at least one. In this case, in the Main Street Fairness Act, politicians have found a way to take both.
Who's the Best Candidate for the Technology Industry?
What is driving the tech boom is an entrepreneurial, can-do spirit, relentless innovation, and in many of the most dynamic areas, a light-touch regulatory approach, not the occupant of the White House.
Market Certainty Serves the Public Interest
Markets abhor uncertainty and regulatory uncertainty results in reduced investment, innovation, opportunity and benefit to consumers.
This Cop on the Beat Is No Officer Friendly!
The dynamic communications market needs a good cop, one who works with the community rather than an FCC which works against it.
Psychology of Abundant Government Meddling
Much has been said about FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s comment, including his seeming flip-flopping, that he is concerned about one innovative business model—data caps on broadband. He said, “We should all be concerned with anything that is incompatible with the psychology of abundance.” But what has not been said is that the chairman sets up an injudicious measuring stick—broadband abundance, whatever that means.