Economists have long recognized that technological innovation and enhanced communication increase productivity and reduce friction in economic activity. And never before has technology’s impact on economic growth been as evident as it is today.
At IPI, we focus on technology and communications policy not only because it’s critical to economic growth, but also because government’s inherent tendency to regulate prospectively poses an active threat to the economic gains and lifestyle enhancements made possible by technological innovation.
The communications and technology industries are among the country’s most competitive and the biggest capital investors in the U.S. economy, and are thus prime engines of economic growth and job creation. It is critical that public policy encourages continued innovation and investment in the tech sector, and that we don’t limit the innovation upside with counterproductive taxes and regulations.
Domain Names
There is "every reason to believe" that the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions "will be consumed" by the ITU, said IPI's Bartlett Cleland.
Are We Destined To Surf The UN-Net?
There is intense international pressure to have a UN-type organization take control of Internet governance, fundamentally changing ICANN into an international governmental regulatory agency.
Chattanooga Plays Part in FCC's Desire to Trump State Law on Government Internet
"Its tendency to overreach its authority has been magnified by the Obama administration’s general contempt for limits on federal authority,” according to the Institute for Policy Innovation. “So we can most likely expect the FCC to once again divert time and effort to a quixotic and almost certainly futile legal battle.
Muni Broadband Debate Focuses on Section 706 Authority
IPI comments opposed both petitions because a state has a constitutional right to use its prerogative as a state to restrict municipal broadband.
Muni Broadband Pre-emption More Partisan at Federal Than State Level
North Carolina and Tennessee are most likely to be the states where petitions could become a campaign issue because their laws are under FCC scrutiny, but there's not evidence it's a significant issue in state campaigns, said Bartlett Cleland.
Dear FCC: The Power to Regulate State Affairs Belongs to the State
The FCC has no authority to sweep aside state law in order to promote municipally owned broadband networks.
Sales Tax Plan the Death of Many Online Shops?
Bartlett Cleland calls it "The horribly Ill-Named Marketplace Fairness Act."
No Relief Amid Many Proceedings as Muni Broadband Comment Extension Denied
No relief is coming to communications attorneys who say they've been working longer hours and during vacations and have had to back off on weighing in on some FCC issues because of the torrent of proceedings there.
Comments to the FCC Opposing Federal Preemption of State Municipal Broadband Limitation
It would be unconstitutional for the FCC to preempt prudent state laws restricting municipal broadband projects, which have largely been wastes of taxpayer dollars,