Tech Policy Podcast

The 1996 Telecom Act turned twenty today — and was obsolete even before the ink was dry. Congress has tried and failed to update it, leaving the FCC to struggle with outdated technological silos and try to “modernize” the Act on its own. Big questions surrounding FCC censorship, broadband competition, and Internet regulation remain unanswered. Berin and Evan discuss what the Act got right, what it got wrong, and what a #CommActUpdate should look like.

The swift rise of vaping has given many smokers a safer alternative to tobacco products, but regulations and taxes could slow this growth — or even put the industry out of business. Evan is joined by Paul Blair, State Affairs Manager for Americans for Tax Reform. They discuss the public health benefits of vaping and how governments are reacting to this disruptive technology.

With the success of the Internet in the United States, it’s easy to forget that 4 billion people around the world still lack access, including 80% of Africa. Evan is joined by Evelyn Smith, a research associate at the American Enterprise Institute and co-editor of TechPolicyDaily.com. They discuss mobile deployment in Africa, the role of regulation and censorship, and what net neutrality means to the developing world.

How private are your emails? The answer may surprise you, as the law that governs much of our electronic privacy was written in 1986! It’s so outdated that law enforcement and government agencies can often read your emails without a warrant, despite Constitutional protections. Evan is joined by Chris Calabrese, Vice President for Policy at CDT. They discuss email privacy reform, why it’s stalling in Congress despite widespread support, and what states are doing to reform surveillance in the absence of federal action.

Ever since 1998, Congress has banned state and local governments from taxing Internet access. The Internet Tax Freedom Act has been renewed six times, and there is widespread bipartisan support for making it permanent. But that effort has hit a roadblock, as the bill is being held hostage by Senators who want to impose online sales taxes. Evan is joined by Katie McAuliffe, Executive Director of Digital Liberty. They discuss the Internet tax hostage crisis, the problems with online sales taxes, and what the FCC’s “net neutrality” rules have to do with broadband fees.

In this episode, space law! -- yes, it's a thing. Berin is joined by long-time space lawyer Jim Dunstan. They discuss the history of space law, the first opening pitch of a baseball game in space, and the future of NASA.

The hot topic at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show was connected devices: our cars, our refrigerators, and even our coffee makers having Internet connections. This presents a unique challenge to cybersecurity, as criminals and foreign governments will have even more ways to hack into our information. Evan is joined by Shane Tews, a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. They discuss the “Internet of Things,” the “year of the hack,” and what 2016 will mean for cybersecurity.

Uber, Lyft, and other sharing-economy companies are facing lawsuits all over the world, especially over the way they classify their workers. While the independent contractor model has driven much of their early success, it may not be the way of the future. Evan is joined by Jared Meyer, a research fellow at the Manhattan Institute. They discuss Lyft’s recent court settlement, a “third way” labor model, and ongoing efforts to unionize the sharing economy.

Companies have many ways of enticing and incentivizing customers, including through coupons. At the grocery store, this practice is uncontroversial. But in the digital world, zero-rating, sponsored data, and “Internet coupons” have caused an uproar, as critics say they violate net neutrality. Evan is joined by Roslyn Layton, a Ph.D fellow at Aalborg University in Copenhagen. They discuss the debate over zero-rating, its impact on the world, and the prospects for regulation.

You might think that a company giving stuff away for free would be a cause for everyone to celebrate. But that isn’t the case with TMobile’s new unlimited video offering, “Binge On.” Evan and Berin discuss whether Binge On passes the “net neutrality” test, how TMobile landed in hot water with activists, and how this case will impact the future of sponsored data plans.