Tech Policy Podcast

In the future, what will the Internet look like? One playwright imagines The NETHER: a network of virtual reality realms that allow users to log in and indulge in their deepest, darkest desires. These immersive, sensory experiences include behavior that, in the real world, is almost universally regarded as repugnant and illegal. Could virtual reality create an outlet for people to blow off steam?...

Backpage, the second largest classified ads website after Craigslist, has been embroiled in controversy and legal battles over allegations that its “adult” section facilitates sex trafficking and prostitution. Just yesterday, the Senate voted unanimously to hold Backpage in contempt for not cooperating with a committee’s months-long investigation into sex trafficking. Evan is joined by Randal Meye...

Ever notice those fees on your cell phone or landline telephone bill? The FCC collects them to fund programs like Lifeline, which subsidizes communications service for those can’t afford it. But is Lifeline effective? Critics have long argued that the program is fraught with waste, fraud, and abuse. A government report suggested that the vast majority who receive subsidies don’t need them. Evan is...

Do toy drones endanger the national airspace? The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) seems to think so. Right before Christmas, the FAA rushed through rules requiring basically every kid who got a drone from Santa to register with the agency for $5. Will a government database of drone users actually make us safer? Is the agency just buying time to figure out what to do about drones? Evan is joi...

The FCC is set to issue new regulations on how Internet access providers collect and use consumer data. On Thursday, March 11, the agency released a fact sheet indicating that it will require broadband companies to get consent from their customers for certain advertising and data practices. The Internet wasn’t invented yesterday, so why is the agency doing this now?  Evan and Berin discuss the FCC...

If 2015 was the “year of the hack,” what will 2016 mean for cybersecurity? Will Congress’s hastily-passed cyber bill (CISA) do anything to stop the onslaught of hacking? Evan is joined by Morgan Wright, a cybersecurity expert. They discuss the state of the “War on Hacking” and whether private and public sector efforts to combat cyber attacks will be effective. See more of Morgan’s work on  his web...

Consumers have never had more ways to watch video, but traditional cable and satellite subscriptions still require set-top boxes, which typically cost 15-20 dollars a month to rent. The FCC is looking to disrupt this market by forcing cable, telephone, and satellite companies to make their equipment interoperable with third-party set-top boxes made by other companies. It sounds good in theory, but...

When it comes to the sharing economy, most of the focus is on companies like Uber, Lyft and Airbnb. But skilled professionals like handymen, mechanics, and personal trainers are taking advantage of online platforms like Thumbtack to find customers. Evan is joined by Jared Meyer, a research fellow at the Manhattan Institute. They discuss Thumbtack’s new report , released today, about skilled worker...

Spectrum is everywhere, and we’re interacting with it almost constantly. Whether we’re using smartphones, tablets, bluetooth speakers, AM/FM radios or basically any WiFi device, we're relying on spectrum to send and receive information. Evan is joined by Brent Skorup, a research fellow at the Mercatus Center, a research center based at George Mason University. They discuss the history of spectrum...

ISIS and other terrorist groups are using social media to recruit members to their causes. Tech companies like Twitter and Facebook are working to take down extremist propaganda, and even hacktivist groups like Anonymous are joining the fight. But is this a losing battle? Evan is joined by Morgan Wright, a cybersecurity analyst for major media outlets and a senior fellow at the Center for Digital...

Demand for mobile data is exploding, begging the question: is there enough available wireless spectrum to meet this demand? As wireless carriers prepare for 5G, the future of wireless, lawmakers are grappling with how to make mobile broadband deployment easier. Today, the Senate Commerce Committee approved the MOBILE NOW Act. Evan and Berin are joined by Tom Struble, TechFreedom’s policy counsel....

On Wednesday, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler refused to commit to step down following the election of the next president, breaking with a century of tradition for independent regulatory agencies. Evan and Berin discuss the reasoning behind Wheeler’s controversial decision and the possible implications for the future of the Commission. For more, read Berin’s op-ed in Medium .

When it comes to technology, is Washington failing America's young? Young people disproportionately use and rely on technology, yet the lawmakers who decide tech policy are often clueless as to how to regulate the Internet, drones, and other new gadgets. Evan is joined by Jared Meyer, a research fellow at the Manhattan Institute and co-author of "Disinherited: How Washington is betraying America's...

Congress actually passed an asteroid mining bill last year. Did they get it right? In Part III of our Space Law series, TF Adjunct Fellow Jim Dunstan and Berin discuss the details of the bill, next steps for Congress, and the economics of tapping the resources of the solar system. Check out Episode 13 for an intro to Jim and his 30+ year career in commercial space law, and Episode 28 for an introd...

While Apple’s recent refusal to comply with the FBI’s demand to unlock the iPhone of a San Bernardino attacker may have pushed privacy and encryption to the forefront of public debate, a bipartisan plan to examine the impact of encryption on law enforcement has been in the works for months. Today, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced legislation to establish a commissi...

When it comes to tech startups and innovation, the European Union has largely lagged behind the United States and China. In an effort to reverse this trend, the European Commission is working to create a Digital Single Market (DSM) to harmonize technology regulations across its member states. It’s a nice idea, in theory, but it poses serious concerns for competition and differentiation among EU na...

This time last year, the FCC voted 3-2 to reclassify broadband under Title II of the 1934 Communications Act, utility rules designed for railroads and telephone monopolies — all in the name of “net neutrality.” Special guest FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, who voted against the Open Internet Order, joins us to give his one-year progress report for the FCC’s Internet regulations. Has the Order protected...

Bitcoin, a once-geeky novelty, has grown into a legitimate currency that disrupts financial markets — especially in the developing world. Bitcoin can be an alternative to failing currencies, offering an escape from oppressive regimes and hyperinflation. Evan is joined by Caleb Watney, a graduate research fellow at the Mercatus Center. They discuss Bitcoin’s presence in developing nations — from ba...

Can you own part of space? Or stuff you find there? In Part II of our Space Law series, TF Adjunct Fellow Jim Dunstan and Berin explore the basics of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, what’s good and bad about federal asteroid mining legislation enacted last year, and what’s on the horizon for space property rights. Check out Episode 13 for an intro to Jim and his 30+ year career in commercial space la...

While the US has enjoyed well over $1 trillion in broadband investment since the mid-90s, connecting Native American reservations to the Internet has proven difficult. 41 percent of residents on tribal land still lack access to a broadband connection, compared to only 10 percent in the US as a whole. Evan and Berin are joined by Jim Dunstan, founder of Mobius Legal Group and longtime representativ...

Justice Scalia’s death sparked a flurry of speculation about who will replace him. Sri Srinivasan tops most lists of potential successors. But he's also one of three appellate judges set to rule on the FCC’s Internet regulations. How might that decision affect his nomination, and the president’s decision about whether to pick him? Might the intersection of the looming court decision and his nomina...

Media coverage of drones often focuses on near-misses with airplanes or bombings in the Middle East. But there’s another side to drones that doesn’t get enough attention: humanitarianism. While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) fumbles around with how to regulate drones in the US, the international community is embracing drones for the purposes of disaster response and humanitarian assista...

Apple made headlines today by refusing to comply with a federal judge’s order to unlock the iPhone of Syed Rizwan Farook, one of the San Bernardino attackers. In an open letter to customers, Apple CEO Tim Cook explained the importance of strong data security and the dangerous precedent that would set by forcing the company to unlock the phone. Evan and Berin discuss the 1789 All Writs Act, which t...

Online free speech is critical to companies like Yelp and TripAdvisor whose business models depend on consumer reviews. But companies often don’t like what they see on those sites, and can use strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) to discourage people from sharing their opinions online. Without anti-SLAPP laws, consumers might end up spending huge sums on legal fees to defend th...

This week, India shut the door on Free Basics, a Facebook program that offers free, limited Internet access to people in the developing world. While some activists are hailing the decision as a victory for net neutrality, proponents of zero-rating programs like Free Basics note that 80% of Indians still lack Internet access, and shutting down Facebook’s offering won’t help get them online. Evan an...