Explain to Shane

What are the challenges of reallocating spectrum for commercial use, and how might the resulting “spectrum wars” hinder the rollout of new networks? Furthermore, how has the current Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approached this issue? On this episode, Nathan Leamer, Vice President of Public Affairs at the strategy firm Targeted Victory and former Policy Advisor to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, joins Shane to discuss spectrum reallocation, 5G, and how the current FCC has succeeded in a number of its policy endeavors.

Support for a federal privacy law is gaining bipartisan momentum, but policymakers must consider the burdens that excessive regulation can place on consumers, trademark owners, and even law enforcement. Existing privacy laws in California, Europe, and beyond have had mixed effects. How can they help inform the creation of federal privacy legislation in the US?On this episode, Shane is joined by Brian King, Director of Internet Policy and Industry Affairs at Clarivate and a representative of the Intellectual Property Constituency at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Together, they discuss how privacy regulations have created legal access challenges to the information that users of data need for compliance with trademark and intellectual property rules, public safety laws, and privacy policies.  

While sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are turning to online gaming for safe, virtual entertainment. As a result, the video game market has had exceptional success in recent months. Will the gaming industry continue to surge after the pandemic, and how will attention economy industry leaders navigate the change in viewing habits that come with more eyes on gaming content?On this episode, Shane and her research assistant William Rau discuss the future of online gaming with Lindsay Poss, Director of Communications at the Technology Policy Institute. Lindsay recently published her first academic paper titled “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Gaming Galaxy,” which explores the economics, politics, and culture of the gaming industry. She joins Shane and William to discuss how COVID-19 has permanently influenced the gaming industry, and why e-sports are more popular than ever before. 

Although more young people are getting engaged in politics, civic education is absent from the curriculums of many American high schools and universities. Still, learning about the founding fathers is crucial to understanding why the American political system is unique. As social media platforms take politics online, how can we use technology to educate young people on the United States’ founding principles? To honor Constitution Day, Shane welcomes three guests from Constituting America — a foundation that seeks to educate America’s youth on the enduring importance of the US constitution. Founder Janine Turner, Co-Chair Cathy Gillespie, and Youth Director Tova Love Kaplan discuss Constituting America’s mission, educational programs, and upcoming Constitution Day celebration on this special edition of “Explain to Shane.”

For the US rollout of 5G wireless to reach its full potential, network security needs to be a priority. What are the security risks of 5G, and how can the US win the global 5G race?On this episode, Shane sits down with Tommy Ross, Senior Policy Director at BSA – The Software Alliance and author of BSA’s most recent position paper titled “Securing 5G: A Call to Harness Software Innovation,” which discusses the transition from hardware-dominated networking to a software-centric model for 5G. Together, Shane and Tommy address the availability and importance of 5G network security tools.

Federal information technology (IT) is widely known to be outdated, but proposed legislation in Congress would fast-track federal IT modernization. If passed, the legislation would strengthen the government’s overall security by allowing departments and agencies to bring their systems into the digital innovation era with better cybersecurity and data collection mechanisms. Many agencies realize that upgraded legacy systems are crucial during the COVID-19 crisis. The government needs to change the procurement rules to allow for more emerging technologies that would enable more efficiency from both their IT systems and the employees who deliver their agencies’ services.On this episode, Jason Oxman, President and CEO of the Information Technology & Innovation Council (ITI) joins Shane to discuss why ITI has made federal IT modernization a priority. Jason’s insights on government investment in cybersecurity and privacy emphasize the extent to which the modernization of critical infrastructure (or lack thereof) will dictate the government’s ability to serve its citizens efficiently.

The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled a debate about contact tracing apps. Virginia recently rolled out an app that uses Google’s and Apple’s Bluetooth technology to notify users if they’ve been exposed to the virus. However, Australians began using contact tracing months ago, and have since debated the need to balance privacy with government regulation. Technology […] The post Contact tracing, data privacy, and ‘check-in culture’ (with Adrian Kinderis) appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

China claims it is tired of western-centric internet governance, and is now seeking to establish a less centralized global internet based on newer, native products that reflect China’s policy agenda. What would the success of China’s model mean for the future of internet governance? What would it mean for human rights? On this episode, Shane […] The post The battle for global internet governance (with Dominique Lazanski) appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

What will be the future of electronic payments? What are the advantages of a “digital dollar,” and how has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we distribute payments?  On this episode, Shane speaks with her colleague Jim Harper, a visiting fellow on AEI’s Technology Policy Studies team. They discuss the growth of digital payment technologies […] The post The potential of the digital dollar (with Jim Harper) appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

What is “internet governance?” Why does it need to be coordinated internationally? And who gets to participate in these discussions? On this episode, Shane speaks with two leading experts on international internet policy. Ambassador David Gross, the former US Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, and Dustin Loup, executive director of The Internet Society’s […] The post Global internet governance (with David Gross and Dustin Loup) appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.