Event Summary
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about cyberspace in the year ahead — new advances in wireless Internet technology, the Federal Communication Commission’s upcoming spectrum auction, continued innovation in virtual reality and drones — but there is cause for caution as well. And caution dominated the discussion at Thursday’s conference, which kicked off with a keynote from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI).
The senator emphasized the importance of educating the public about cyber threats, because legislative progress on cybersecurity will be impossible without public understanding and political pressure. A panel followed on global challenges to Internet freedom, during which the panelists emphasized the importance of multistakeholder — not multilateral — models of Internet governance. A subsequent panel on domestic telecommunications policy in 2016 focused on problems caused by the FCC’s Open Internet order. Finally, scholars ended the event with a “cyber-issues smorgasbord,” which touched on computer science education, stagnation in the US tech economy, and upcoming copyright issues.
The event brought together a diverse set of voices with a diverse set of concerns, and it set the stage for an exciting — if tumultuous — year in tech policy.
–Evelyn Smith
Event Description
As we kick off 2016, a variety of important cyberpolicy issues are vying for attention. Will this be the year we finally put the net neutrality debate behind us? Will the Federal Communications Commission’s spectrum incentive auction be a success? What will 2016 hold for cybersecurity, online freedom, and Internet governance? And what other global and domestic Internet policy issues should be at the top of the agenda in 2016 and beyond?
Join AEI for a keynote with Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) on the coming year in cybersecurity. AEI and outside scholars will also discuss what lies ahead for domestic and international cyberspace policy in 2016.
Join the conversation on social media with @AEItech and #JohnsonatAEI.
