Barbara Wanner Archives

USCIB Foundation and OECD Partner on ICT Conference

Published on February 19, 2019

The USCIB Foundation, Inc., USCIB’s educational arm, is teaming up once again with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Business at OECD (BIAC), to host the 1st inaugural event of The Joseph H. Alhadeff Digital Economy Conference Series on March 25, 2019 at the AT&T Forum For Technology, Entertainment & Policy in Washington, D.C.

The digital transformation of the global economy has revealed exciting potential for a more prosperous, productive, inclusive, and socially beneficial world. We need an enabling policy environment for investment and innovation, however, in order to make the most of the potential for digital transformation to improve people’s lives and generate prosperity. At the same time, we must be prepared to address how the fruits of digital innovation can create challenges to privacy, security, and the future of work.

This conference – the fourth such collaboration between USCIB, BIAC, and the OECD – will explore the findings of the OECD’s Going Digital Project, an ambitious two-year examination of how digital transformation affects policymaking across a large spectrum of policy areas. We will draw upon the expertise of the OECD Secretariat on Science, Technology, and Innovation, senior U.S. government officials, and business experts from USCIB and BIAC member companies. In particular, speakers will consider how best to secure the digital economy from ever-more sophisticated cybersecurity threats. In addition, experts will delve into both the promise and challenges of tapping the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

Featured Speakers

  • David Redl
    Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Robert Strayer
    Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy, U.S. Department of State
  • Gail Slater
    Special Assistant to the President for Technology, Telecommunications and Cybersecurity Policy, National Economic Council, The White House
  • Andrew Wyckoff
    Director of the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)
  • Russel Mills
    Secretary General, Business at OECD
  • Anne Carblanc
    Head of the OECD Digital Economy Policy Division (CDEP)
  • Julie Brill
    Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Microsoft Corporation and Co-Chair, Business at OECD Committee on Digital Economy Policy (CDEP)
  • Laurent Bernat
    OECD Secretariat, OECD Global Forum on Digital Security for Prosperity
  • Molly Lesher
    OECD Secretariat, Going Digital Project

Sponsored by:

AT&T
Facebook
The Walt Disney Company
Verizon Communications
CenturyLink
Computer & Communications Industry Association

For more information, please visit the event website.

ICT Conference Registration

Published on February 13, 2019

Registration Information

Online Registration

If you received an email invitation from USCIB to one of our events, you already have an Events Portal Account. To activate your account, go to register online and click the “Forgot Password” link to receive your password via email. Then login and register.

If your e-mail address is not recognized, you will have to create an account with USCIB, by filling out the Online Events Registration Login Request form.

Click here to register online.

Please contact Erin Breitenbucher at 202-682-7465 or ebreitenbucher@uscib.org if you experience problems registering online. 

Registration Form

If you prefer register by fax, email or standard mail, please click here to fill out the registration form.

Confirmation emails are sent to registrants shortly after the registration has been processed.  If you think you have registered but have not received a confirmation email, please contact Ms. Erin Breitenbucher at 202-682-7465 or ebreitenbucher@uscib.org to confirm that your registration has been processed

 

Conference Website

USCIB Contributes Comments to UN on Digital Cooperation

Published on December 11, 2018
USCIB filed comments to the office of the United Nations Secretary General to identify good examples and propose modalities for working cooperatively across sectors, disciplines and borders to address challenges in the digital age.
USCIB’s comments noted that stakeholder inclusion can lower the risk of unintended consequences and increase legitimacy and adoption of policies.

 

USCIB filed comments to the office of the United Nations Secretary General on November 28 in his request for public comments “to identify good examples and propose modalities for working cooperatively across sectors, disciplines and borders to address challenges in the digital age.” The comments will be presented to the High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, which was established by the UN Secretary General in July 2018. The Panel will seek to conduct a broad engagement and consultation process, resulting in a final report with actionable recommendations in 2019.

To inform the HLPDC deliberations, the Secretariat launched a wide-ranging consultation process to gather the views of governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations, the technical and academic communities and other relevant stakeholders.

“USCIB believes that the multistakeholder model for Internet governance continues to be the best method to enable the whole-of-society/whole-of-government consideration of digital economy issues,” said Barbara Wanner, who leads USCIB work on ICT policy. “Given the rapid pace of technological change, governments need the perspectives provided by business, technical community, and civil society to better understand what policies are commercially viable, technically feasible, and offer adequate personal privacy protections. The inputs of all stakeholders produce a flexible policy environment critical to empowering the rapidly evolving digital economy.”

USCIB’s comments also noted that stakeholder inclusion can lower the risk of unintended consequences and increase legitimacy and adoption of policies. Top-down government-imposed policies and regulations often cannot keep pace with technological breakthroughs and can serve as a drag on development and innovation, and potentially infringe upon human rights.

 

G20 Highlights 2019 Priority Issues in Leaders Declaration

Published on December 5, 2018

As Japan prepares to assume the role of host of the G20/B20 in 2019, G20 leaders issued a Declaration on December 1, outlining items needed to build consensus for fair and sustainable development.

According to USCIB Vice President for ICT Policy Barbara Wanner, there is noteworthy focus in the Declaration on the digital economy. “Of the 31 points, at least three of the top ten focus on the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation,” noted Wanner. “Points 6-7 focus primarily on potential job displacement and the need for reskilling and vocational training while point 9 draws upon the work of the G20 Digital Task Force. This underscores the importance of bridging the gender digital divide, securing the use of ICTs, and ensuring the free flow of information, ideas, and knowledge ‘while respecting applicable legal frameworks and working to build consumer trust, privacy, data protection, and intellectual property rights protections.’” Point 9 of the Declaration also calls for the establishment of a G20 Repository of Digital Policies to share and promote adoption of innovative digital economy business models.

Beyond the digital economy, G20 leaders pointed out other critical areas of work, such as international trade and investment, which serve as engines of growth, productivity, innovation, job creation and development. However, the group added that the multilateral trading system has fallen short on some objectives and voiced continued support for the necessary reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to improve its functioning. The Group also reaffirmed its commitment towards preventing and fighting corruption.

On sustainable development, leaders emphasized commitment to leading the transformation towards sustainable development and support for the United Nations 2030 Development Agenda as the framework for advancing the G20 Action Plan. Regarding the role of energy, the G20 leaders recognize the opportunities for innovation, growth, and job creation, while acknowledging the role of all energy sources and technologies in the energy mix and different national paths to achieve cleaner energy systems.

The G20 focused this year on infrastructure for development, the future of work, and a sustainable food future and a gender mainstreaming strategy across the G20 agenda.

Mixed Messages at Recent Meetings on Global ICT Policy

Published on November 19, 2018
Barbara Wanner, was present at both events, alongside USCIB members, joining global business colleagues under the aegis of ICC-BASIS at the IGF and as part of the Business at OECD (BIAC) delegation to CDEP.
The two meetings could not have provided more different messages about the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation of the economy and how to address them.

 

The 13th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and meetings of the OECD Committee on Digital Economy Policy (CDEP) and its Working Parties met in Paris, France the week of November 12. According to Barbara Wanner, who leads USCIB’s work on ICT policy, the two meetings could not have provided more different messages about the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation of the economy and how to address them.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who opened the three-day IGF on November 12 at UNESCO, depicted a digital economy fraught with danger from cyber-attacks, the proliferation of hate speech, and anti-democratic forces requiring development of a “better model” featuring regulation of the Internet and its actors. The OECD CDEP, in contrast, proceeded in a workman-like, measured manner to move its Going Digital Project toward completion as well as advance work on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Going Digital (GD) is an ambitious horizontal endeavor involving 14 OECD committees that takes a largely evidence-based and holistic approach to considering both the economic and societal benefits and the challenges of the evolving digital ecosystem.

Wanner, was present at both events, alongside USCIB members, joining global business colleagues under the aegis of ICC-BASIS at the IGF and as part of the Business at OECD (BIAC) delegation to CDEP.

“Our messages, as IGF workshop speakers and BIAC interveners, generally emphasized the commercial and developmental benefits that can be realized through the creation of a pro-innovation policy environment, the effectiveness of business-informed, risk-based approaches to privacy and security, and the importance of the multistakeholder model in considering the complexity of digital economy issues,” noted Wanner.

According to Wanner, by the week’s close, members agreed that the “watershed” moment at the IGF created by President Macron’s remarks will require further internal discussion about what business wants and needs from the IGF and strategies to tackle likely new challenges at the United Nation’s General Assembly and other multilateral organizations. Concerning CDEP’s leadership of the Going Digital Project, members generally were encouraged that the final product – to be issued at a special forum on March 11-12, 2019 – would reflect business inputs and provide a practical guide to tap the potential of digital transformation.

USCIB Urges Free Data Flows to Achieve Economic Growth

Published on November 13, 2018

USCIB filed comments on November 11 in response to a Federal Register notice from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regarding a proposed approach to consumer data privacy. NTIA’s proposal is designed to provide high levels of protection for individuals, while giving organizations legal clarity and the flexibility to innovate.

USCIB’s comments highlighted the view that the free flow of data and information is critical for economic development and growth, citing a recent study that the increase in GDP from data flows was an estimated $2.8 trillion.

“Business realizes that the benefits of technology innovation enabled by data flows will only be realized and embraced by consumers, businesses, and governments who trust the online environment and feel confident that the privacy of their personal data will be respected,” stated the letter. “USCIB members are committed to complying with applicable privacy regulations and recognize their responsibility to adopt recognized best practices to ensure that personal data and information is appropriately secured as technology and services evolve.”

However countries such as China, India, Malaysia, Panama and South Korea have proposed restrictive data protection laws that could significantly harm U.S. companies while also undermining efforts to enhance global interoperability.

“These countries’ approaches range from quite onerous data localization requirements to national privacy frameworks that are administratively burdensome and complex, all of which end up imposing economic costs on the country by undermining their attractiveness as destinations for jobs-creating investment and innovation,” warned Barbara Wanner, USCIB’s vice president for ICT policy. “They also create an increasingly fragmented regulatory landscape, which imposes added compliance costs on business that hampers continued innovation.”

The comments also highlighted an example of a proposal made by India that would establish an alarming global precedent and could significantly impede the growth of innovation, investment, entrepreneurship, and industrial growth through strict data localization requirements, restrictions on the cross-border data flows, and extraterritorial application.

“It is vital that the U.S. continue to exercise global leadership in pushing back against this type of protective approach to personal data protection,” said Wanner.

NTIA’s initiative runs parallel to the efforts of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop a voluntary privacy framework and the efforts of the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration to increase global regulatory harmony.

To read USCIB’s comments, please visit our website.

 

 

ICANN Focuses on Policy Priorities for Domain Names

Published on October 30, 2018

ICANN 63’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) wrapped up on October 25 in Barcelona, Spain, marking the 20th anniversary of ICANN. The AGM brought together roughly 3,000 participants from business, government, civil society, and the technical community from across the world to focus on policy priorities for the domain name system (DNS).

The meeting was dominated by ICANN stakeholder efforts to develop a formal policy to replace the Temporary Specification for gTLD Registration Data (Temp Spec).

“The Temp Spec was designed to ensure that ICANN and the industry of more than 1,000 generic top-level domain (gTLD) registries and registrars meet existing ICANN contractual requirements concerning the collection of registration data, as well as comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),” reflected USCIB Vice President for ICT Policy Barbara Wanner. “A special group of ICANN’s policy-making body spent most of the meeting focused on moving forward the ‘expedited policy development process’ (EPDP) that must replace the Temp Spec by May 25, 2019.”

ICANN’s proposed Draft Framework for a Possible Unified Access Model for Continued Access to Full WHOIS Data (UAM) was also in the spotlight. At ICANN 63, the Business Constituency (BC), of which USCIB is a member, continued to press ICANN to undertake work to implement the UAM concurrent with the EPDP. In addition, the BC urged emergency interim measures to enable third-party access to WHOIS data, citing already extraordinary economic and security costs stemming from spikes in cybersecurity attacks, cybercrime, and brand and IP infringement.

Wanner participated in the October 20-25 meetings in her capacity as the BC’s representative to the Commercial Stakeholder Group (CSG), a position that has enabled greater input to policy discussions at the CSG executive committee-level on behalf of USCIB members and facilitated important meetings with senior ICANN officials and other key constituencies. At ICANN 63, in particular, this entailed coordinating with CSG partners to support the election of USCIB member Keith Drazek (VeriSign) to GNSO Council Chair, a position that will be key to shepherding work on the EPDP and third-party data access.

USCIB Outlines AI Policy Priorities

Published on October 23, 2018
Digital technologies and the online environment enabled by them present unprecedented opportunity to raise productivity and generate economic growth.
Close cooperation with business can ensure that regulatory approaches create a holistic framework that enables business investment.

In response to a Federal Register request for information concerning the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research and Development Strategic Plan, USCIB submitted comments outlining AI policy priorities.

“USCIB members believe that digital technologies and the online environment enabled by them present unprecedented opportunity to raise productivity, foster creativity and innovation, generate economic growth, build trust, and enhance social prosperity,” said USCIB Vice President for ICT Policy Barbara Wanner. “Key to realizing these social and economic benefits, however, are policies that ensure an open, safe, secure, stable, interoperable, seamless, and sustainable Internet.”

The comments submitted by USCIB emphasized that serving as essential complements are policies that encourage both private investment and public-private partnerships in the R&D needed to drive innovation and realize the potential of AI and other emerging technologies. Such policies are most effectively developed when informed by stakeholder engagement.

“Government policymakers can benefit from close cooperation with business, academia and other stakeholders to ensure that the legal, policy, and regulatory approaches implemented create a holistic framework that enables sustainable business investment in infrastructure and product innovation, includes technically feasible solutions, and offers appropriate privacy and human rights protections,” added Wanner. “The participation of a full complement of stakeholders best ensures that decisions concerning R&D and related policies avoid unintended consequences or outcomes that fall short of expectations. Importantly, a multistakeholder approach will help to build trust and dispel fears that could undermine realization of AI’s economic and societal benefits.”

USCIB Urges Nomination of Ombudsperson for Privacy Shield

Published on August 21, 2018

U.S.-EU Privacy Shield Framework facilities trans-Atlantic data transfers and is essential to almost every U.S. industry.
Software contributes more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy and supports more than 10 million U.S. jobs.

 

USCIB joined with BSA, The Software Alliance and other industry leaders in sending a multi-industry letter to U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on August 20 urging him to put forward a qualified candidate to serve as the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.

In addition to advocating for open markets and fair trade policies, the Under Secretary plays a critical role as Ombudsperson for the U.S.-EU Privacy Shield Framework, which facilities trans-Atlantic data transfers and is essential to almost every U.S. industry. Businesses must be able to move data freely around the world in order to realize the benefits of software, which contributes more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy and supports more than 10 million U.S. jobs.

“Through your distinguished leadership, U.S. companies look to the Under Secretary to advocate open markets and fair trade policies and negotiate international agreements with economic impact,” states the letter.

US and Japan Commit to Open, Reliable and Secure Internet

Published on July 31, 2018

At a recent policy cooperation dialogue on the internet economy between the United States and Japan, the two nations emphasized their continued commitment to an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure Internet. This dialogue served as the ninth meeting of the U.S.-Japan with regards to the internet economy and took place in Washington, DC, on July 23 and 24. The dialogue included discussions with private sector representatives from both countries on fifth generation mobile technologies (5G) and secure future Internet infrastructure, promoting cross-border data flows, international harmonization of regulatory frameworks and privacy, as well as ICT policy issues related to trending technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).

USCIB Vice President for ICT Policy Barbara Wanner spoke on a panel on the Prospect for Future Internet Policy Issues, alongside representatives from the Information Technology Industry Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Access Partnership. “U.S. and Japanese business and government have much in common with respect to opportunities and challenges in the digital economy, so collaborative approaches are very important going forward to ensure that we all reap the extraordinary economic, commercial, and societal benefits,” said Wanner.

Wanner also emphasized the need to work together in multilateral organizations and multistakeholder organizations especially in light of several countries continuing to press for government regulation of the internet by bringing Internet governance and digital economy issues under the UN or its specialized agencies. “This is not the best approach given the dynamic nature of technology development,” warned Wanner. “Heavy-handed regulations could damper this dynamism. Additionally this may open the door to efforts by some countries to use the Internet for surveillance of their citizens and possibly even censorship.”