The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

International Broadband Quality: How's that Policy Working?

admin — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:00 +0000

June 17, 2013

View multimedia on external website

Fixing the Post Office

kangstadt — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 04:00:00 +0000

June 6, 2013

In a segment for Federal News Radio Rob Atkinson argues the USPS should continue doing last-mile, door-to-door delivery, but the rest of the mail distribution network should be opened up to competition.

View multimedia on external website

Surveillance Cameras: Helpful or Harmful?

afearon — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

May 22, 2013

Supporters and opponents of surveillance technology will debate the pros and cons of video cameras and other related technologies.

State and local governments have invested millions of dollars in surveillance video technology to improve public safety. Privacy and civil libertarian groups have criticized these technologies as ineffective and inefficient, as well as an unjust intrusion on the privacy of law-abiding citizens. Supporters of these technologies argue that these technologies can support law enforcement activities and help make our cities safer. At this event, supporters and opponents of this technology will debate the pros and cons of surveillance video cameras and related technologies.

View multimedia on external website

India and the U.S. at a Crossroads: What It Means for Our Economy, Trade Agenda and Beyond

afearon — Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

May 9, 2013

Against the backdrop of ongoing TPP negotiations, the U.S. strategic “pivot” to Asia and renewed focus on growing American exports, the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) hosted a policy teleconference on Tuesday, May 14 regarding U.S. and India trade relations. This discussion previewed ITIF’s upcoming research on India, assessed IP and related threats to America’s trade agenda, and outlined possible avenues for the U.S. and other trading partners to take near-term action.

View multimedia on external website

What's on the Agenda for the New FCC?

afearon — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

April 25, 2013

A panel of experts and stakeholders examine the issues and offer their recommendations for the next Chairman's agenda.

With the departure of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and Commissioner Robert McDowell, the agency will be resetting its goals for this year and the next, settling open issues, and possibly opening new inquiries. Key issues that remain unresolved include the phase-out of the public switched telephone network and the transition to all-IP broadband networks, spectrum reassignment and interference, high speed broadband deployment and adoption, universal service for both wired and mobile broadband, content retransmission rules, and net neutrality.

View multimedia on external website

Accessible Voting Technology Initiative

afearon — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

April 24, 2013

Daniel Castro is interviewed by BFM on the Accessible Voting Technology Initiative.

With poling day approaching very soon, many still are unregistered and some who are registered may not even be able to attend. Citizens that are dealing with disabilities face a variety of barriers to cast their vote. Daniel Castro, Senior Analyst for Information Technology & Innovation Foundation speaks to BFM radio about the Accessible Voting Technology Initiative.

View multimedia on external website

Book Presentation: The Need for Speed

afearon — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

April 11, 2013

ITIF host "The Need for Speed: A New Framework for Telecommunications Policy for the 21st Century" book launch.

The twenty-first-century telecommunications landscape is radically different from the one that prevailed as recently as the last decade of the twentieth century. In their new eBook, The Need for Speed: A New Framework for Telecommunications Policy for the 21^st Century, Robert Litan and Hal Singer argue that the Federal Communications Commission’s outdated policies and rules are inhi

View multimedia on external website

The Social and Economic Case for Autonomous Vehicles

afearon — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

April 10, 2013

Exploring the social and economic case for welcoming the arrival of autonomous vehicles and explaining how they will deliver a range of benefits.

The advent of autonomous vehicles is poised to transform the automobile industry as profoundly as the introduction of automated manufacturing assembly lines did nearly a century ago. This event will explore the social and economic case for welcoming the arrival of autonomous vehicles and explaining how they will deliver a range of benefits.

View multimedia on external website

A Policymaker’s Guide to Internet Tax

afearon — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

March 19, 2013

IPI and ITIF hosted a lunch briefing to untangle Internet tax policy.

Ever wonder what the difference is between the Internet tax moratorium and the Main Street Internet Tax Fairness Act? If so, you aren’t alone. In fact, the Internet and telecommunications are subject to a variety of taxes at different levels of government. At least four different tax proposals are either in Congress or about to be introduced that would reduce tax discrimination in the e-commerce, telecom and Internet space. They sound similar but have very different intents and outcomes.

View multimedia on external website

Manufacturing Revival Radio: Rob Atkinson

afearon — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000

February 21, 2013

Rob Atkinson was interviewed by Manufacturing Revival Radio on U.S. manufacturing and competitiveness.

Rob Atkinson was interviewed by Manufacturing Revival Radio on a variety of topics related to competitiveness and American manufacturing. He touched on the National Network of Manufacturing Institutes, strengthening our traded sector, and the importance of proper government investment in research and development.

View multimedia on external website

Making America Competitive Again: Restoring U.S. Innovation Leadership

afearon — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000

February 14, 2013

An event that will explore the causes, evidence, and consequences of faltering U.S. competitiveness.

In the last six months, three major books or reports have been released that raise serious concerns about the faltering state of U.S. innovation and competitiveness. These works share four critical themes: 1) The U.S.

View multimedia on external website

The Whole Picture: Where America’s Broadband Networks Really Stand

afearon — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000

February 12, 2013

Examining the state of international broadband comparisons.

Where do America’s broadband networks really stand in relation to those in other countries? This topic has been hotly debated since the dawn of broadband and commercialization of the Internet, but a great deal of confusion still exists. Much of the popular analysis is out-of-date, poorly-focused, or analytically deficient. In fact, many international broadband reports appear to cherry-pick the data in order to reach a foreordained conclusion.

View multimedia on external website

In Depth Interviews: "The Declaration of the Interdependence of Cyberspace"

afearon — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000

February 9, 2013

A formative document in cyber policy and opinion is getting an overhaul.

A formative document in cyber policy and opinion is getting an overhaul. Daniel Castro is senior analyst at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and main author of "The Declaration of the Interdependence of Cyberspace." He joined In Depth on Federal News Radio to discuss why now is the time for an update.

View multimedia on external website

Perspectives on Global Enterprises, Corporate Location Decisions, and U.S. Policy Challenges

afearon — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 05:00:00 +0000

February 4, 2013

ITIF and a distinguished panel explore issues impacting U.S. innovation and competitive advantage.

The future of the U.S. economy will be determined in significant part on whether the United States can win the “race for global innovation advantage.” Each day our competitor nations are seeking to grow and attract technology-based firms to their borders. What factors determine where global companies, particularly IT companies, locate facilities around the world? What are other nations doing to attract those facilities? What is the impact on the United States? And what should the United States be doing?

View multimedia on external website

Data Innovation in Government

afearon — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

January 24, 2013

A panel discussion on how government agencies are using data.

As part of Data Innovation Day, ITIF hosted a panel discussion on how government agencies are using data to make government work more effectively and efficiently. This panel discussed recent examples of data innovation in the federal government, including efforts to open government data sets and collaborate with the private sector. Join us for a conversation with experts from the public and private sectors who are leading these changes.

Follow the Data Innovation Day conversation with #datainnovation.

View multimedia on external website

Data Innovation in the U.S. Economy

afearon — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

January 24, 2013

A discussion highlighting interesting examples of how data innovation is transforming different sectors of the economy.

As part of Data Innovation Day, ITIF hosted a panel discussion highlighting interesting examples of how data innovation is transforming different sectors of the economy. Panelists dicussed the technologies behind the current era of big data, notable uses of data innovation in action, and opportunities to better leverage data in industries such as health care, energy, finance, and transportation.

View multimedia on external website

Chased by the Dragon: Competition and Innovation in China and the United States

afearon — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

January 17, 2013

Does competition and trade with China increase innovation and productivity?

Does trade with China increase or decrease innovation and productivity in the United States? Understanding the answer to this question is critical to future U.S. growth, and not surprisingly there has been strong debate. Some, like Stanford’s Nick Bloom, have argued (PDF) (LINK) that competition from China is spurs innovation and growth in developed nations since it lead companies to be more efficient.

View multimedia on external website

The E-Gov Act at 10: A Discussion of the Past, Present and Future of Federal E-Government

afearon — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 05:00:00 +0000

December 17, 2012

Reflection on the history of e-government, its current state, and how it can be improved over the next ten years.

On December 17, 2002, Congress passed the E-Government Act to create a framework for federal agencies to better deliver services to citizens using IT and the Internet. Since then federal agencies have invested billions of dollars in IT systems to modernize government services, improve productivity, and make government more open. But along with these huge successes, these investments have also brought challenges including cybersecurity threats, privacy concerns, and projects that have gone over budget.

View multimedia on external website

China's Indigenous Innovation Policy and the Semiconductor Industry

afearon — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 05:00:00 +0000

December 13, 2012

China’s semiconductor industry poses an interesting advanced manufacturing puzzle.

China’s semiconductor industry poses an interesting advanced manufacturing puzzle: Why is it that, despite massive government efforts to build indigenous innovation and production capabilities, Chinese firms still play a very limited role in semiconductor production, integrated circuit design, and innovation?

View multimedia on external website

Why America Needs a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation

afearon — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:00:00 +0000

December 11, 2012

America needs a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation.

In perhaps the boldest initiative to revitalize American manufacturing since the 1988 passage of the Omnibus Foreign Trade and Competitiveness Act, the Obama Administration has proposed investing $1 billion―to be matched by private and state funds―to create a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). The Institutes that make up the Network would each focus on a significant, industry-defined innovation challenge.

View multimedia on external website

The Impact of Cloud Computing on Developing Economies

afearon — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 05:00:00 +0000

November 8, 2012

A panel discussion with Peter Cowhey on the growth of cloud computing, its impact on developing economies, and the policies that governments should pursue to realize the benefits of cloud computing.

While there has been much discussion about the impact of cloud computing in developed countries, there has been little research on the impact that this will have on developing countries. In a new report, Peter F. Cowhey and Michael Kleeman (University of California San Diego) take an in-depth look at the impact that cloud computing will have on India, Mexico and South Africa given their respective policies, technologies, and resources.

View multimedia on external website

Revising COPPA: A Discussion of the FTC’s Proposals

afearon — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 04:00:00 +0000

October 25, 2012

A discussion with leading experts on the current state of COPPA.

The FTC has proposed a number of revisions to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). In comments recently filed with the FTC, a wide range of voices criticized these proposed changes as undermining the ability of operators to provide websites and services to children and raising First Amendment concerns. Join us for a discussion with leading experts on the current state of COPPA as we debate fundamental questions about whether COPPA is even effective, and how it should be reformed.

View multimedia on external website

Rob Atkinson on Money Radio 1510 "Business for Breakfast"

afearon — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 04:00:00 +0000

October 17, 2012

Rob Atkinson appears on Money Radio 1510 to discuss Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage.

Rob Atkinson appears on Money Radio 1510 "Business for Breakfast" with Ken Morgan & Julie Dougherty to discuss Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage.

View multimedia on external website

Stephen Ibaraki Interview Series: "Innovation Economics"

afearon — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 04:00:00 +0000

October 4, 2012

Stephen Ibaraki interviews Rob Atkinson on "Innovation Economics" for his podcast series.

Stephen Ibaraki interviews Rob Atkinson on Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage for his podcast series. Atkinson discussed the broader themes, recommendations, and current innovation and economic challenges as discussed in the book.

View multimedia on external website

Recommendations from the mHealth Task Force

afearon — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 04:00:00 +0000

September 24, 2012

A discussion of the opportunities, potential, and challenges of mHealth technology adoption in patient service industries.

Earlier this year, the FCC convened a summit with industry leaders to discuss opportunities to accelerate the adoption and use of mobile health care technologies. Since then, participants have formed the “mHealth Task Force” to develop recommendations for industry and government action to harness the potential of mobile devices to improve health outcomes and lower costs of care.

View multimedia on external website

Does the PCAST Report Move Spectrum Policy in the Right Direction?

afearon — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:00:00 +0000

September 21, 2012

Panel debate over the implications of the recent PCAST spectrum report.

The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) recently issued a controversial report on spectrum policy. The report declares the current system of spectrum reallocation "unsustainable" and recommends that the sharing of raw spectrum by multiple network operators should be the new norm. The panel will explore the report's many findings and recommendations in order to answer the following questions:

View multimedia on external website

Internet TV: What Must Congress Do About It? Television Regulations Coming To Your Laptop Soon?

afearon — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:00:00 +0000

September 21, 2012

Richard Bennett discusses "Internet TV: What Must Congress Do About It? Television Regulations Coming To Your Laptop Soon?"

Richard Bennett presented as part of The Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee's event "Internet TV: What Must Congress Do About It? Television Regulations Coming To Your Laptop Soon?"on Friday, September 21, 2012.

View multimedia on external website

Fifty Ways to Leave Your Competitiveness Woes Behind: A National Traded Sector Competitiveness Strategy

afearon — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 04:00:00 +0000

September 20, 2012

For the United States economy to thrive, its traded sectors, especially advanced manufacturing, must be globally competitive.

For the U.S. economy to thrive, its traded sectors, especially advanced manufacturing, must be globally competitive. Unfortunately, the opposite is true: the United States has seen virtually no growth in traded sector jobs since 1990 and has watched manufacturing output (when measured properly) fall by 11 percent over the past decade. The United States urgently needs to develop a comprehensive response. ITIF will host a Capitol Hill forum on September 20 presenting two reports offering key solutions.

View multimedia on external website

Eroding Our Foundation: Sequestration, R&D, Innovation and U.S. Economic Growth

afearon — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 04:00:00 +0000

September 20, 2012

The Budget Control Act would be a hard hit to federal R&D investments in life sciences, aerospace, defense and more, with significant long-term consequences to economic growth.

The Budget Control Act enacted in the summer of 2011 requires automatic cuts in discretionary spending to occur starting in January of 2013, commonly known as the sequestration, in order to achieve $1.2 trillion in savings through 2021. Among the areas that would be hardest hit are federal R&D investments in life sciences, aerospace, defense and more, with significant long-term consequences to economic growth. In an upcoming ITIF report, Eroding Our Foundation: Sequestration, R&D, Innovation, and U.S. Economic Growth, Drs.

View multimedia on external website

Washington Launch of "Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage"

afearon — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 04:00:00 +0000

September 13, 2012

Rob Atkinson and Stephen Ezell present the findings and conclusions from their new book on a panel moderate by David Leonhardt.

In Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage (Yale University Press), authors Rob Atkinson and Stephen Ezell present an alarming story of the United States' decline as an innovation leader as well as a range of practical yet creative ideas on how to step up the pace in today's economic race and win. They explain how a weak U.S. innovation economy not only contributed to the Great Recession but is delaying recovery. The book takes on the Washington Consensus and proposes an Innovation Consensus to prevent relatively lower U.S.

View multimedia on external website

Bloomberg Radio "Taking Stock:" "Innovation Economics"

afearon — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 04:00:00 +0000

September 11, 2012

Rob Atkinson discusses "Innovation Economics" with Pimm Fox on Bloomberg Radio "Taking Stock."

View multimedia on external website

At Promise Nation: "Innovation Economics"

afearon — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 04:00:00 +0000

September 10, 2012

"Innovation Economics" author Stephen Ezell breakdowns the innovation crisis our nation faces on "At Promise Nation."

Innovation Economics author Stephen Ezell breakdowns the innovation crisis our nation faces on "At Promise Nation."

View multimedia on external website

Ensuring the Trans-Pacific Partnership Becomes a Gold-Standard Trade Agreement

afearon — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 04:00:00 +0000

August 29, 2012

It's essential for negotiations toward the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement to conclude with a gold-standard trade agreement that sets the standard for future trade deals.

The fourteenth round of negotiations toward the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement begins in September 2012. The United States is doing the right thing in pursuing deeper economic and trade integration with key Asia-Pacific partners; but the effort will only be worth it if it concludes with a gold-standard trade agreement that sets the standard for future trade deals the United States enters into.

View multimedia on external website

New Age of Discovery: Government’s Role in Transformative Innovation

afearon — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:00:00 +0000

August 2, 2012

ITIF explores the character of early stage government innovation support in both military and energy applications.

From reaching for the stars to developing the information super-highway, government R&D has unlocked many doors and ignited human curiosity and discovery. A generation ago, research by the Defense Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) spurred some of the most transformative innovations in the modern era: the foundations of the internet, stealth technology, and GPS. One of today’s most promising frontiers and urgent challenges is the quest for sustainable energy.

View multimedia on external website

Powering the Mobile Revolution: Principles of Spectrum Allocation

afearon — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 04:00:00 +0000

July 31, 2012

ITIF and select experts discuss ITIF's new spectrum allocation report and the issues policymakers face going forward.

Advances in mobile technology have spurred new business models, created 1.5 million jobs and improved education, health care, and public safety in the United States. For the United States to stay in the lead on LTE adoption, we need advances in semiconductor technology, software, and spectrum reallocation. Unfortunately when it comes to spectrum reallocation, recent and pending public policy decisions on re-purposing spectrum for more innovative uses lack consistency.

View multimedia on external website

Making Voting More Accessible for Veterans with Disabilities

afearon — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 04:00:00 +0000

July 24, 2012

ITIF and its research partners will share the conclusions from a set of studies that outline the problems as well as technical and policy recommendations to make voting more accessible.

More than 40,000 American military personnel have been injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, and many of these Americans are undergoing lengthy recovery and rehabilitation treatments at hospitals far from home. Many barriers exist that may prevent these Americans from registering and voting in elections. Fortunately, if done right, technology can facilitate voting for these Americans and others who face barriers to participating in the electoral process. Sen.

View multimedia on external website

Land of Promise: An Economic History from Michael Lind

afearon — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 04:00:00 +0000

July 23, 2012

ITIF host Lind for a discussion of the remarkable people, innovations and tumult of our history and what it could tell us about the present and future.

In Land of Promise, bestselling author Michael Lind provides a sweeping and original work of economic history, recounting the epic story of America’s rise from a collection of weak economies to the world’s dominant economy and an industrial, financial, and military colossus.

View multimedia on external website

We’re #27: The United States Lags Far Behind in R&D Tax Incentive Generosity

afearon — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 04:00:00 +0000

July 19, 2012

The U.S. needs to retain the R&D tax credit for innovation-based global competitiveness.

At a time when Washington is desperate to find ways to spur economic growth and job creation, somehow one of the best tools at policymakers' disposal, the R&D tax credit, has been allowed to expire and its fate is far from certain. Against this backdrop, ITIF's forthcoming report ranks the United States 27th in terms of generosity in comparison with competing countries. This is putting U.S. firms at a major disadvantage in the global innovation race.

View multimedia on external website

Time to Start Thinking: A Conversation with Ed Luce

afearon — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 04:00:00 +0000

June 6, 2012

Exploring why America is sleepwalking into economic and geopolitical decline with Ed Luce.

America is sleepwalking into economic and geopolitical decline. That’s the central thesis of veteran Financial Times correspondent Ed Luce’s book Time to Start Thinking, which supports this thesis with interviews conducted with Bill Gates, Admiral Mike Mullen and other key players in politics and business.

View multimedia on external website

Leadership Under Threat: Assessing U.S. International Competitiveness in Biomedical Research

afearon — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

May 17, 2012

The U.S. needs to re-examine its competitiveness in the life sciences sector.

ITIF and United for Medical Research release a report benchmarking international competitiveness in biomedical research. The United States’ leadership position in biomedical research is no longer assured, especially as the governments of an increasing number of countries are investing more in life sciences research as a share of their GDP than the United States. This report documents the economic impact of public investment in life sciences R&D, quantifying its impact on innovation, employment, and export levels of the U.S.

View multimedia on external website

My Kingdom for a Hertz: Can Washington Keep the Mobile Revolution Going?

afearon — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

May 15, 2012

An expert panel searches for practical solutions to the spectrum crunch.

Two years ago, the National Broadband Plan recommended that the government allocate 300 MHz of new spectrum to mobile broadband networks within five years and an additional 200 MHz for various uses within ten years. Since the Plan was published, 20 MHz has been reserved for a Public Safety Network, 40 MHz has been reserved to protect GPS receivers, the Defense Department has asked for 10 years and $12 billion to relocate military applications in the 1755 – 1850 MHz band, Congress has constrained the FCC’s repacking power, and demand for mobile network capacity has continued to grow.

View multimedia on external website

Can Wealthy Countries Stay Rich? Manufacturing and ICT-enabled Services in a Changing Global Economy

afearon — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

May 9, 2012

Wealthy countries must escape the commodity trap; they cannot compete on the basis of price alone. How has the problem changed?

Sustaining the growth of employment and productivity to ensure expanding real incomes of citizens is a classic policy problem and political necessity for all governments. To stay wealthy, the advanced countries must find ways to produce high-valued-added goods and services with a high-wage, high-skill workforce. Wealthy countries must escape the commodity trap; they cannot compete on the basis of price alone. How has the problem changed? Information technology has transformed both manufacturing and services—but the task of building on the past and imagining the future remains.

View multimedia on external website

Stephen Ibaraki Interview Series: IFIP World Computer Congress

afearon — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

May 9, 2012

Atkinson stresses the importance of ICT and how nations must support IT if they want to remain prosperous and see job growth.

Stephen Ibaraki, vice chair of IFIP World CIO Forum and recipient of Microsoft's Most Valuable Professional Award, interviews ITIF president Rob Atkinson for another episode in his Outstand Professionals Series. This episode discusses the upcoming IFIP World Computer Congress 2012 taking place in the Netherlands.

Atkinson stresses the importance of ICT and how nations must support IT if they want to remain prosperous and see job growth.

View multimedia on external website

Innovation Thought Leaders' Podcast Series: G-Zero World

afearon — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

April 30, 2012

Vinny Catalano host Ian Bremmer on the Innovation Podcast Series.

As part of the Innovation Podcast Series, Vinny Catalano interviews Eurasia Group's Ian Bremmer on what competitiveness and innovation will mean in the "G-Zero" world, as discussed in Bremmer's book Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World.

View multimedia on external website

Innovation Thought Leaders' Podcast Series: Innovation Ecosystem

afearon — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

April 27, 2012

Atkinson appears on the innovation podcast series.

Rob Atkinson appeared on the inaugural episode of the Innovation Podcast series with Vinny Catalano. This episode discussed and debated the innovation ecosystem and what Atkinson hopes to accomplish in upcoming travels to China, Geneva, and the MEP dialogue in Orlando, Florida.

View multimedia on external website

Resolved: U.S. Ex-Im Bank Financing is a Vital Component of U.S. Competitiveness

afearon — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

April 24, 2012

ITIF host a debate on the reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank.

Since 1945, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has played a vital role in boosting U.S. exports and competitiveness by providing over $500 billion in financing and insurance for export transactions. In 2010 alone, the Ex-Im Bank provided $24.5 billion worth of export credit financing which backed $34.4 billion worth of U.S. exports, supporting 227,000 jobs at 3,300 U.S. companies.

View multimedia on external website

Taking Stock Podcast - Bloomberg Radio

afearon — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

April 23, 2012

Rob Atkinson appears on "Taking Stock" to discuss innovation and competitiveness.

Rob Atkinson and Vinny Catalano appear on "Taking Stock" to discuss innovation and competitiveness. After ITIF's Innovation Consensus Conference, they reflect on the evident need for policies that advance R&D efforts, reform STEM education, and provide considerable investments for start-ups.

View multimedia on external website

Stephen Ibaraki Interview Series: Driving Innovation and Investment

afearon — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

April 23, 2012

Stephen Ibaraki interviews ITIF president Rob Atkinson on driving innovation.

Stephen Ibaraki, vice chair of IFIP World CIO Forum and recipient of Microsoft's Most Valuable Professional Award, interviews ITIF president Rob Atkinson on driving innovation, IT investment, and institutional accountability to the innovation economy.

View multimedia on external website

Internet Platform Competition and Market Convergence

afearon — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

April 18, 2012

How does competition work in the mobile Internet economy?

How does competition work in the mobile Internet economy? Traditional anti-trust analysis stove-pipes the players in this dynamic ecosystem in a way that fails to capture the complex interplay of networks, apps, handsets, services, and content. Jonathan Sallet has developed an analysis that more fully portrays competition and cooperation in our new world, the "value circle" concept. Sallet shows that the enablers of mobile apps play multiple roles, often acting as both users and suppliers of services.

View multimedia on external website

Grand Innovation Challenges of the 21st Century

afearon — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

April 12, 2012

ITIF hosted Tom Kalil, OSTP's Deputy Director for Policy, as he made the case for an "all hands on deck" effort to set and meet Grand Challenges that involves government, the private sector, philanthropists, and research universities.

Technology has given new meaning to Napoleon Hill's famous quote, "Whatever the mind and conceive and believe it can achieve." This summer, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) will convene a conference on Grand Challenges - ambitious goals that are achieved by advancing science, technology and innovation.

View multimedia on external website

Transforming Higher Education with IT

afearon — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:00:00 +0000

March 28, 2012

Exploring what can be done at multiple levels to improve productivity in higher education.

President Obama recently announced a new initiative to address the question of higher education affordability. For decades, the cost of college has been growing faster than inflation, putting college out of reach for an increasing number of American families. However, if we are going to keep college cost increases down, information technology will have to play a key role, just as it has in a host of other industries.

View multimedia on external website

Worse Than the Great Depression: What the Experts Are Missing About American Manufacturing Decline

afearon — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 04:00:00 +0000

March 21, 2012

ITIF releases a comprehensive report that reveals the truth about the troubling state of U.S. manufacturing.

Here’s an ugly and overlooked fact: Not only did America lose nearly six million manufacturing jobs in the last decade but the decline as a share of total manufacturing jobs (33 percent) exceeded the rate of loss in the Great Depression. Despite this unprecedented negative performance, most economists, pundits and elected officials are remarkably blasé, largely because they attribute this job loss to superior productivity performance of U.S. manufacturers.

View multimedia on external website

Boosting Exports, Jobs, and Economic Growth by Expanding the Information Technology Agreement

afearon — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:00:00 +0000

March 15, 2012

ITIF finds that ITA expansion would benefit the U.S. in many sectors.

Think of the technology used in 1996. The proliferation of innovative new products has been astounding. Remarkably, the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), which fully eliminates tariffs on covered information and communications technology (ICT) products, has not really been updated in 15 years, and even then did not cover everyday consumer electronic products, such as audio speakers, DVD players, and video cameras. The ITA, with its 73 participating member nations, has been one of the most successful trade agreements ever undertaken.

View multimedia on external website

The Global Innovation Policy Index

afearon — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 05:00:00 +0000

March 8, 2012

Release of a new report that benchmarks the competitiveness of the innovation and trade policies of 55 nations.

The Global Innovation Policy Index, produced by ITIF in conjunction with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, assesses the effectiveness of the innovation policies of 55 countries using 84 indicators grouped into seven core innovation policy areas: 1) trade and foreign direct investment; 2) science and R&D; 3) domestic market competition; 4) intellectual property rights; 5) information and communications technology; 6) government procurement; and 7) high-skill immigration.

View multimedia on external website

Enough is Enough: Confronting Chinese Innovation Mercantilism

afearon — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

February 28, 2012

It is time for policymakers in the United States and other countries to wake up to the facts on Chinese trade policies and begin responding to today’s reality.

America’s trade relationship with China has entered into a perilous stage in the last five years. With China’s shift to an “indigenous innovation” strategy based on forced IP transfer, standards manipulation, discriminatory regulatory and tax policies, and favoritism towards state owned enterprises, China is unabashedly seeking to favor Chinese-owned firms in order to dominate practically all sectors, especially the higher value-added, innovation-based sectors. Yet, the Washington consensus response can be summed up in one word: patience.

View multimedia on external website

Eddie Lazarus Reflects on a Dramatic Tenure as Chief of Staff of the FCC

afearon — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

February 23, 2012

ITIF hosted Eddie Lazarus for reflections and a discussion about what's ahead for the FCC.

Eddie Lazarus spent the last two and a half years as chief of staff of the Federal Communications Commission, a tenure rightly described by The Washington Post's Cecilia Kang as, "marked by brutal battles over Internet access rules and the reviews of two massive mergers." Indeed, Lazarus was in the center of high-stakes, politically-charged battles over the soul of Internet and the shape of the communications marketplace. As he leaves public service, ITIF is pleased to host him for some reflections on his experience and discussion about what's ahead for issues before the FCC.

View multimedia on external website

Applying the DARPA Concepts to Energy Innovation: The Emerging ARPA-E Model

afearon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

February 3, 2012

ITIF is holding a forum on applying the DARPA concepts to energy innovation.

Driving growth through innovation isn’t just about boosting science funding and hoping for the best. Institutions – and their management models – matter. In the past, public agencies like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) helped develop and spur economy-changing innovations, most notably the Internet. It's high-risk/high-reward bets created new industries and yielded massive economy-wide returns on initial investment – some of the best “bang for the buck” imaginable.

View multimedia on external website

Debate: Progressive Economics and the Great Recession

afearon — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

February 1, 2012

The Great Recession has given way to a less-than-great recovery and the pressure is on for Washington to respond. ITIF President Rob Atkinson and Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, will debate progressive economic policies.

The Great Recession has given way to a less-than-great recovery and the pressure is on for Washington to respond. ITIF President Rob Atkinson has taken on traditional Keynesians for pushing for additional public pump priming and for what he sees as their focus on distribution of the economic pie rather than the growth of the pie. But Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, rejects Atkinson's critique.

View multimedia on external website

Restoring the Innovation Edge

afearon — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

January 24, 2012

In his new book, Restoring the Innovation Edge (Stanford Business Books), Jerald Hage, Director of the Center for Innovation at the University of Maryland, explores remedies to this growing problem, looking at eight key obstacles that the U.S. faces in restoring its innovative edge.

Only those in deep denial believe the United States remains the unchallenged leader when it comes to innovation-based competitiveness. As other nations adopt public-private innovation strategies, the U.S. is going in the opposite direction, failing to adapt to the competitive environment generated by the evolution of science and technology.

View multimedia on external website

Bricks and Bits: Transforming the Construction Industry Through Innovation

afearon — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

January 18, 2012

With its vast holdings, the government has learned a thing or two about procurement and coordinating construction management and it plays a critical role in setting standards and undertaking industry-related R&D.

Notwithstanding the current surplus in housing, over the next quarter century the U.S. will need to invest trillions of dollars in construction to meet the demands of a growing population and to refurbish aging infrastructure. Doing this efficiently will be critical to America’s economic future. However, when benchmarked against America’s leading industries, the construction industry is anything but efficient. Indeed, measured growth in construction industry productivity has actually declined over the last two decades.

View multimedia on external website

Benefits and Limitations of Industry Self-Regulation for Online Behavioral Advertising

afearon — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

December 13, 2011

Self-regulation, as opposed to government regulation, is the preferred norm in industries as diverse as health care, higher education, fashion, advertising, mining, marine fishing, professional sports, and nuclear power. The private sector relies on self-regulation to establishing industry standards, professional codes of ethic, and establish consumer confidence. Unfortunately, when it comes to protecting consumer privacy online, many policymakers are skeptical of self-regulation and seem to think the risks of under-regulation outweigh the risks of over-regulation.

View multimedia on external website

Explaining Anemic U.S. Job Growth: The Role of Faltering U.S. Competitiveness

afearon — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

December 5, 2011

Recent analysis of the economic crisis fails to consider the loss of manufacturing jobs and lack of innovation in the U.S.

The Great Recession officially ended more than two years ago but the recovery is barely perceptible and anxious policymakers are running out of options. Washington cannot seem to agree on what caused the Recession in the first place or how to create robust job growth. One camp argues for revving up consumer demand through fiscal and monetary policy. The other says the financial system got out of control and we just have to wait for our books to get back into balance.

View multimedia on external website

UK and U.S. IP Enforcement: Views from the Top

afearon — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0000

November 7, 2011

In today's economy, few assets are more valuable than intellectual property.

In today's economy, few assets are more valuable than intellectual property. Tens of billions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of jobs, and national competitiveness are on the line. ITIF, working with the British Embassy, is pleased to host two of the world's chief IP officials, David Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and John Alty, Chief Executive of the United Kingdom's Intellectual Property Office, for a rare joint appearance.

View multimedia on external website

Health Care Innovation in a Time of Fiscal Austerity

afearon — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0000

November 2, 2011

An international forum discussing the future of health care innovation in times of financial crisis.

In both America and Europe increasing fiscal pressures are requiring a rethinking of many policy areas, including health care. And yet historically, America and Europe's leadership in life sciences innovation was linked in part to adequate expenditures on health care. Today that link is being challenged. As a result, policy makers who seek to control costs while enabling the needed advances in life sciences innovation must address new critical questions: How can healthcare benefit from the innovation which is typical of a free market economy?

View multimedia on external website

Boosting Competitiveness by Connecting Science and Industry: Insights from Germany's Innovation Model

afearon — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0000

October 18, 2011

Analyzing what lessons the U.S. can learn from Germany’s high-tech and innovation strategy.

Germany has emerged from the global downturn as one of the world's strongest economies. What's the secret behind Germany's economic strength? The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Washington, the German Center for Research & Innovation, and ITIF held an event that featured presentations on Germany's High-Tech Strategy from Engelbert Beyer, Head of the Directorate Innovation Strategies, and Dr. Jan Wessels, Division for Innovation Policy Issues, from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and on its Fraunhofer System from Dr.

View multimedia on external website

A Time For Change: The Case for Reforming Universal Service Now

afearon — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0000

October 6, 2011

An important discussion of the urgency and best approaches to USF reform.

Efforts to modernize the Universal Service Fund have been underway in Washington nearly as long as the Fund has been in effect. Very little progress has been made on this issue, despite the almost universal agreement that the United States should place higher priority on broadband service than traditional telephone service. However, the stars seem to be finally aligning around the need for fundamental reform.

View multimedia on external website

Patent Boxes: Innovation in Tax Policy and Tax Policy for Innovation

afearon — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0000

October 4, 2011

A patent box reduces corporate tax rate on revenue from qualifying IP, based in part on corresponding R&D and production conducted domestically.

One of the most interesting policy developments in the global innovation race is known as a patent box, which provides preferential tax treatment for corporate income that comes from patented products. The goal is to encourage commercialization of R&D.

View multimedia on external website

Are Investment Incentives Necessary in Corporate Tax Reform?

afearon — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0000

September 27, 2011

There is growing interest in corporate tax reform as a way to boost U.S. international competitiveness.

There is growing interest in the issue of corporate tax reform as a way to boost economic growth and U.S. international competitiveness. While any comprehensive tax reform involves a multitude of issues, one important issue is the extent to which a reformed tax code should include, or even stress, specific incentives to shape corporate behavior. The American Action Forum, the Tax Policy Center, and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation held an important debate on the key issues facing policy makers.

View multimedia on external website

Measuring Broadband Performance

afearon — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0000

September 23, 2011

The FCC recently released a report that contradicts previous speculation that American ISPs deliver much less broadband performance than advertised.

The FCC recently released a report that contradicts previous speculation that American ISPs deliver much less broadband performance than advertised. This event examined the report, highlighting methodological improvements over previous studies and examined the stresses and strains on the broadband ecosystem.

View multimedia on external website

Explaining International IT Application Leadership: Electronic Identification Systems

afearon — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0000

September 15, 2011

Discussing a report assessing national e-ID systems and what the U.S. can learn from early adopters.

It has been more than a decade since President Clinton signed the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN), but little has been done since then to create an electronic ID system. Are we ever going to have the ability to securely sign electronic documents and authenticate to online services? Countries around the world are implementing electronic ID systems to enable their citizens to benefit more from the digital economy, to vote via the Internet and to combat identity theft. But the United States lags woefully behind.

View multimedia on external website

International Benchmarking of Countries’ Policies and Programs Supporting SME Manufacturers

afearon — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0000

September 14, 2011

An assessment of international approaches to SME manufacturing and competitiveness.

U.S. manufacturing is in trouble, having lost one-third of its jobs in the last decade. Robust jobs recovery will be difficult without a manufacturing renewal. But renewal will not be possible if the nation's 245,000 small and mid-sized manufacturers (SMEs) collectively do not become more productive, innovative and competitive. Other nations fully recognize the key role of their SME manufacturers and that's why many have rolled out well funded and smartly designed programs to help them.

View multimedia on external website

Spectrum Policy for Innovation

afearon — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0000

September 13, 2011

Video and audio from the event.

ITIF unveils a report that advocates a set of policies that will make more spectrum available to innovative uses. It proposes to accelerate the re-assignment of spectrum from legacy single-purpose networks such as over-the-air TV to high-demand, multi-purpose networks such as mobile broadband. Incentive auctions, a second DTV transition, clear spectrum rights, and reassignment of government spectrum to public use are key recommendations.

View multimedia on external website

An App Store for Energy: eKNOW and Data-Driven Innovation for Smart Buildings

lstewart — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 04:00:00 +0000

July 20, 2011

Video and audio from the event.

The Administration's new smart grid policy framework is premised on empowering electricity consumers and on unlocking the potential for innovation in the electric sector. So too the e-KNOW Act (S1029) introduced by Senators Mark Udall and Scott Brown. Will there be real innovation in this area? Will we get an app store for electricity?

Download Audio

View multimedia on external website

The Atlantic Century 2011: Benchmarking U.S. and EU Innovation and Competitiveness

lstewart — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 04:00:00 +0000

July 19, 2011

Video and audio from the event.

Two years ago, ITIF published The Atlantic Century: Benchmarking U.S. and EU Innovation and Competitiveness. The report’s conclusion that the United States was rapidly losing ground in today’s global, innovation-driven economy stunned many people. Leading public officials, CEOs and journalists began citing the report in their call for a renewal of U.S. innovation and new strategies for competing.

View multimedia on external website

What Would Pro-Growth Corporate Tax Reform Look Like?

lstewart — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 04:00:00 +0000

July 19, 2011

Video and audio from the event.

There is a growing consensus in Washington that now is the time for comprehensive corporate tax reform. Such reform, if enacted, could easily be the most important economic policy decision Washington makes over the course of the next few years and its effects would likely have long term and important implications for the future health of U.S. economy. In this event, American Action Forum and ITIF host a discussion of how corporate tax reform can help drive U.S.

View multimedia on external website

Understanding the Importance of Export Credit Financing to U.S. Competitiveness

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0000

June 22, 2011

Audio and video from event.

Export credit financing is a vital component of U.S. international competitiveness and a key ingredient for many successful U.S. exporters. But now, more and more foreign countries are adopting this tool and the competition in export credit financing has become increasingly formidable. For example, both China and India have increased their levels of export credit financing by over 200 percent since 2005. With the reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank upon us, ITIF introduces a new report highlighting the importance of export credit financing to the U.S.

View multimedia on external website

Governments Should Neither Subsidize nor Operate Broadband Networks to Compete with Commercial Ones

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0000

June 1, 2011

Audio and video from the event.

NCTA, the industry association of America's cable companies, claims that the U.S. Rural Utility Service mistakenly funded projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in areas that were already served by one or more broadband providers. RUS maintains the grants are defensible because existing broadband services in the areas were inadequate to support rural economic development.

View multimedia on external website

Gold-Standard or WTO-Lite?: Shaping the Trans-Pacific Partnership

Wed, 25 May 2011 04:00:00 +0000

May 25, 2011

Audio and video from event.

The Administration is currently negotiating U.S. entrance into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a new vehicle for trade and economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region including Australia, Chile, Peru, New Zealand, Vietnam, and others. It is imperative that in the TPP the U.S. negotiates a strong, comprehensive accession agreement that includes the highest standards of intellectual property protection, eliminates non-tariff barriers such as standards manipulation, achieves transparency on government procurement provisions, and ensures that U.S.

View multimedia on external website

Waves of Innovation: Spectrum Allocation in the Age of the Mobile Internet

Tue, 17 May 2011 04:00:00 +0000

May 17, 2011

Audio and video from the event.

For many of us the term "spectrum policy" has to do with allocating relatively small parts of the radio frequency space to specific applications such as AM and FM radio, television, and public safety. It is a notion more apt for a time when we watched TV over the air and made phone calls over a wireline network. Today these patterns of usage are reversed, and we live in a world where mobile broadband has emerged as a general-purpose technology that can support a wide range of applications.

View multimedia on external website

Competition in the Internet Ecosystem

Tue, 10 May 2011 04:00:00 +0000

May 10, 2011

Audio and video from the event.

Consumers have seen vast changes in the way they use the Internet. Mobile broadband, the explosion of apps, video over the Internet are just some examples. A key question therefore is: how are changes in the Internet marketplace translating into new business models and/or industry structures? To consider this question, ITIF invites a series of panelists to offer their observations on the changing marketplace.

View multimedia on external website

Medical Data Innovation: Building the Foundations of a Health Information Economy

lstewart — Tue, 03 May 2011 04:00:00 +0000

May 3, 2011

Video and audio from the event.

On April 26, 2011, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in IMS Health v. Sorrell, a case that will decide whether state laws that restrict the use of prescriber-identified data violate the First Amendment protections of free speech. This case will have important implications for how health data will be used for medical research, patient education, marketing, and health care reform. Do laws that burden or ban the use of de-identified data for marketing purposes also impede medical research?

View multimedia on external website

China is Not Simply the Latest Paper Tiger

lstewart — Mon, 02 May 2011 04:00:00 +0000

May 2, 2011

Audio and video from the event.

"Made in China" has been a fact of life for years. But when it comes to creating an innovation-based economy, can China really hold a candle to the U.S.? Dr. Adam Segal, the Ira A.

View multimedia on external website

The Case for a National Manufacturing Strategy

lstewart — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:00:00 +0000

April 26, 2011

Video and audio from the event.

U.S. manufacturing is in crisis, with almost 6 million jobs lost and 42,000 factories closed over the last decade. Even worse, we are losing know-how and ultimately control over our future. While the U.S. retains important strengths, U.S. manufacturing competitiveness is slipping rapidly. There is no reason to resign ourselves to defeat or to sugarcoat the challenges we face. We possess the tools, talent, and resources to revive manufacturing. But to do so we need a national strategy for manufacturing renewal.

View multimedia on external website

Operation Energy Innovation: A Stronger, Smarter Fighting Force

lstewart — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:00:00 +0000

March 31, 2011

Multimedia from the event.

There are many obvious sources of clean energy innovation. But lately the clean energy community has begun paying attention to one not-so-obvious source: the Department of Defense. With a massive energy footprint and a mission-driven need to reduce fossil energy consumption, DOD can play a prime role accelerating cleantech development and is already seeking to become a test bed for innovative technologies.

View multimedia on external website

Debate on "The Great Stagnation"

lstewart — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 04:00:00 +0000

March 21, 2011

Multimedia from the debate between Rob Atkinson and Tyler Cowen.

Tyler Cowen's recent e-book, The Great Stagnation, has attracted praise and generated intense discussion about the changing nature of the modern U.S. economy. The provocative premise is that median household income growth has stagnated since the 1970s because innovation is no longer the key driver of economic growth.

View multimedia on external website

Economic Doctrines and Approaches to Antitrust

lstewart — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 05:00:00 +0000

January 28, 2011

Audio and video from the event, "Economic Doctrines and Approaches to Antitrust."

There is considerable disagreement on optimal antitrust policy both within the United States and between the United States and some other nations and regions. These fundamental disagreements over the right approach to competition don’t stem principally from politics, rather they stem from doctrine – the overarching view of antitrust held by regulators and other policy makers.

View multimedia on external website

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Innovation Policy

lstewart — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 05:00:00 +0000

November 22, 2010

Multimedia from the event "Innovation Mercantilism: The Bad, The Ugly, and The Self-Destructive."

An increasing number of countries think achieving economic growth through technology exports is preferable to doing so by raising domestic productivity levels through innovation, particularly by leveraging information technology. These nations, of which China is only the most prominent, are not so much focused on innovation as on technology mercantilism, specifically the manipulation of currency, markets, standards, IP rights, etc., to gain an unfair advantage favoring their technology exports in international trade.

View multimedia on external website

The 2010 State New Economy Index

lstewart — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 05:00:00 +0000

November 18, 2010

Multimedia from the event "The 2010 State New Economy Index."

Many jobs lost in the recession are never coming back and job creation is expected to be sluggish for years. This has created an imperative to develop new jobs, business models and industries. The states are on the front line of this effort and it more important than ever for them to embrace innovation and the New Economy. ITIF will unveil the latest data on how the states are doing in efforts to be competitive in the global, entrepreneurial, innovation- and knowledge-based New Economy.

View multimedia on external website

The Unfinished Radio Revolution: New Approaches to Handling Wireless Interference

lstewart — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 05:00:00 +0000

November 12, 2010

Multimedia from the Silicon-Flatirons event, "The Unfinished Radio Revolution: New Approaches to Handling Wireless Interference."

Change is in the air: there are likely to be significant new spectrum allocations as a result of the National Broadband Plan, and the march of technology keeps offering new ways to increase the capacity of wireless systems.

View multimedia on external website

Economic Doctrines and Approaches to Climate Change

lstewart — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 04:00:00 +0000

October 19, 2010

Audio and video from the event "Economic Doctrines and Approaches to Climate Change."

The economic philosophies of public officials have a significant impact on the kinds of policies they embrace, from welfare or taxation to foreign affairs. What about climate change? With climate change and major energy legislation stalled, maybe it is time to put aside fixed philosophical notions and take a practical look on ways to address climate change in an economically feasible way.

View multimedia on external website

Who's Who in Internet Politics: A Taxonomy of Information Technology Policy Perspectives

lstewart — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 04:00:00 +0000

October 5, 2010

Audio and video from the event "Who's Who in Internet Politics: A Taxonomy of Information Technology Policy Perspectives."

The debate about the future of the Internet is more politically charged than ever. Internet policy issues are becoming more central. All groups involved in Internet policy share a goal of a robust Internet ecosystem but have sometimes vastly different definitions of robust and different views on how to achieve that goal.

View multimedia on external website

Role of Managed Services on Broadband Networks

lstewart — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 04:00:00 +0000

October 1, 2010

Audio and video from the event "Role of Managed Services on Broadband Networks."

Does the spirit of open networking embedded in the design philosophy of the Internet permit network operators to provide enhanced service tiers for a fee? This has been one of the central questions in the net neutrality debate in Congress since 2006. An open inquiry at the FCC seeks comment on this question, and a recent spate of stories in the media over FCC filings by Free Press, AT&T, and others highlights its contentious nature.

View multimedia on external website

The Next Generation of IP Protection: Enhancing Global Economic Growth and Prosperity Event

lstewart — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000

September 28, 2010

Audio and Video from the event "The Next Generation of IP Protection: Enhancing Global Economic Growth and Prosperity Event."

Intellectual property theft costs the United States billions of dollars every year and hurts American workers. What can be done to increase enforcement against nations that systematically steal, extort or otherwise gain U.S. IP without paying for it? And what can be done to step up enforcement of IP rights here in the United States?

View multimedia on external website

Future of Privacy Forum to Host Expert Panel: “Do Not Track” Demystified

lstewart — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000

September 27, 2010

Audio and video from the event "The Future of Privacy Online."

From blogs to Facebook profiles to Twitter messages, individuals are increasingly choosing to share information about themselves online. More personal information online brings both risks and rewards. How are companies using this digital information and how do consumers benefit from increased data sharing? Perhaps more importantly, do consumers have enough control over their personal information or is there a need for government regulators to step in?

View multimedia on external website

Leading Innovations in Healthcare Technology

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0000

July 22, 2010

Join ITIF for a conversation with Dr. Rob Epstein, the Chief Medical Officer of Medco to learn more about the latest innovations in healthcare technology.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will offer remarks at the start of a conversation about innovations in health care. As implementation of the landmark health care reform law gets under way, an equally revolutionary change is shaping health care. Technologies are emerging that will radically change how we monitor and diagnose diseases, redefine our relationships to our doctors, make us healthier and extend our lives. The era of more precise, data-driven and effective health care has just begun and there are many questions to think about.

View multimedia on external website

Open Forum on U.S. and OECD Innovation Policy

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0000

July 21, 2010

Join ITIF for a discussion on innovation policy both in the United States and the OECD with U.S. CTO Aneesh Chopra, Andrew Wyckoff, Karen Kornbluh, Robert Atkinson and others.

Around the globe and here at home policymakers are increasingly recognizing the critical importance of innovation and innovation policy. Not only has innovation become vitally important—for companies and countries alike—in gaining or retaining competitive advantage, innovation is key to solving a host of pressing societal challenges. Moreover, innovation policy is evolving to reflect changes in the innovation system and the increasingly sophisticated approaches of its practitioners.

View multimedia on external website

Using IT to Create a More Sustainable World

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0000

July 13, 2010

From telepresence to smart meters, information technology (IT) is rapidly helping push the economy toward a more efficient, low-carbon future. But these tools are only the beginning. Join ITIF for a panel discussion with Dr. Bill Tomlinson, author of the recently published book from MIT Press Greening through IT: Information Technology for Environmental Sustainability to discuss specific examples of “green” uses of IT and how IT can be used to create more sustainable communities. Also participating on the panel will be John A.

View multimedia on external website

Book Discussion with Clyde Prestowitz: "The Betrayal of American Prosperity"

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:00:00 +0000

June 30, 2010

Please join ITIF on Wednesday, June 30 as Clyde Prestowitz, President of the Economic Strategy Institute, discusses his latest book, “The Betrayal of American Prosperity: Free Market Delusions, America’s Decline, and How We Must Compete in the Post-Dollar Era.”

View multimedia on external website

Where Does the U.S. Really Stand in Broadband and Why?

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 04:00:00 +0000

June 21, 2010

Resolved: The US is lagging seriously behind other countries on broadband access and this is due primarily to a failure of U.S.

View multimedia on external website

Why Countries Need a Sectoral-Based Approach to Economic Growth

Mon, 24 May 2010 04:00:00 +0000

May 24, 2010

Why does sector competitiveness vary so widely even within developed economies? Does it just happen or is it a result of specific government policies?

View multimedia on external website

Embracing the Self-Service Economy

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

April 14, 2010

From check-in kiosks in airports to tax preparation software, self-service technology has generated a wide range of benefits and savings for consumers, businesses and government. Over the long term, self-service technology will likely be a major force for growth in productivity and improved quality of life. And yet, policymakers and government leaders often fail to see this. At this event, ITIF will release a new report "Embracing the Self-Service Economy" that gives an overview of the benefits of self-service technology and the current trends in the field.

View multimedia on external website

The U.S. Can and Should Pick Winners

admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:46:46 +0000

April 8, 2010

Video from the ITIF debate "The U.S. Can and Should Pick Winners."

View multimedia on external website

Health IT: Key Facilitator for Health Care Reform?

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0000

March 26, 2010

After President Obama signed into law landmark health care legislation ITIF and the House of Sweden hosted an event to discuss health IT in the U.S. and around the world.

View multimedia on external website

Event with FCC Broadband Strategy Director Blair Levin & National Purpose Team

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000

March 11, 2010

Video from the ITIF event "FCC Broadband Strategy Director Blair Levin & National Purpose Team."

View multimedia on external website

The Impact of Offshore Manufacturing on Technology Innovation: Implications for U.S. Policy

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0000

February 3, 2010

At this event Carnegie Mellon Professor Erica Fuchs examines the impact of offshore manufacturing on innovation, using the photonics and automobile industries as case studies.

Economists have long focused on how offshoring manufacturing can result in lower prices, as low wage nations are able to produce products more cheaply than in the United States. But until now, very little effort has been made to understand the impact of offshoring on innovation. However a new study by Carnegie Mellon Professor Erica Fuchs examines the impact of offshore manufacturing on innovation, using the photonics and automobile industries as case studies.

View multimedia on external website

Explaining International IT Application Leadership: Intelligent Transportation Systems

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0000

January 27, 2010

A new ITIF report to offer a set of policy recommendations for how federal and state governments can take steps to accelerate the deployment of intelligent transportation systems.

Until now, most advances in transportation relied on physical materials—more cement and steel. But going forward significant progress in surface transportation will depend increasingly on making the system more intelligent, through the use of sensors, computers and communication technology. In short, IT can play a key role in the safety, efficiency and convenience of transportation, including for cars, trucks and mass transit.

View multimedia on external website

Info-Communism: A Progressive Path Forward or a Political and Intellectual Dead End?

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0000

January 26, 2010

Please join ITIF for a presentation by Syracuse University Professor Milton Mueller over the movement to challenge exclusive property rights over informational goods and promote the concept of openness in communication-information policy.

In the last decade, an intellectual and political movement has emerged both here in the United States and Europe to challenge exclusive property rights over informational goods and promote the concept of openness in communication-information policy. The movement goes by various labels: the “commons” movement; “free culture”; the “openness movement”. Among the goals of the movement include: free software, creative commons and other forms of resistance to copyright; opposition to software patents; and (in some cases) publicly-owned broadband networks and extreme net neutrality proposals.

View multimedia on external website

Steal These Policies: Strategies for Combating Digital Piracy

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0000

December 15, 2009

Video and audio from the event "Steal These Policies: Strategies for Combating Digital Piracy."

In this event, participants discuss a new report documenting the current state of digital piracy and describing how innovative technology such as content identification can be used to reduce piracy. The report also outlines strategies for policymakers to combat this problem and call for more proactive government involvement in reducing piracy.

View multimedia on external website

Comparing UK and U.S. Innovation Policy: A Discussion with Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0000

December 14, 2009

A discussion with Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, UK Business Ambassador and former Minister, UK Trade & Investment.

Over the last decade in particular the UK has put in place an array of innovative policies to boost national innovation and competitiveness, including the Science and Innovation Framework, a 10-year strategy launched in 2004 aimed at increasing R&D as a percentage of GDP. The Framework laid the groundwork for a series of initiatives, programs and funding schemes to support innovation throughout the UK.

View multimedia on external website

Targeted Online Advertising: The Savior of the Web or Fundamental Threat to Privacy?

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0000

December 9, 2009

Video from the event "Targeted Online Advertising: The Savior of the Web or Fundamental Threat to Privacy?"

Behavioral advertising is seen as by some as the fuel that will power the next cycle of innovation for the Internet and by others as intrusive tracking of private citizens that should be severely restricted by government. As Congress considers legislation that would impact online advertising, a clear understanding of both sides of this issue is needed to enact positive reforms that both encourage innovation and protect consumers.

View multimedia on external website

Is the U.S. Losing the Clean Tech Race?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

November 18, 2009

A new report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and the Breakthrough Institute, Rising Tigers, Sleeping Giant, is the first to thoroughly benchmark the clean energy competitiveness in four nations: China, Japan, South Korea and the United States.

View multimedia on external website

Explaining International Mobile Payments Leadership

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

November 17, 2009

Video and audio from the event "Explaining International Mobile Payments Leadership."

In this event ITIF released a new report, Explaining International Mobile Payments Leadership that identifes the leading nations in mobile payments, explains why the United States lags so far behind, and offer a set of policy recommendations for how the federal government can take steps to speed the arrival and adoption of more sophisticated forms of mobile commerce transactions, better leveraging these increasingly powerful mobile communications devices.

View multimedia on external website

Policies to Increase Broadband Adoption at Home

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

November 5, 2009

If the United States is to achieve the promise of the broadband revolution it will need to ensure that a much larger share of Americans are subscribers. And while policies to spur the deployment of broadband networks are important in achieving that goal, policies to spur adoption are even more important. In this event ITIF discusses the findings of a new study Demand-Side Programs to Stimulate Adoption of Broadband: What Works? by Professors Janice Hauge and James E. Prieger.

View multimedia on external website

What Will the Internet of the Future Look Like?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

November 2, 2009

Internet regulations pending in the United States can either facilitate or impede Internet evolution depending on detailed definitions of packet discrimination, traffic shaping, network management, and carrier business models. A panel of distinguished engineers share their views on the changes that must be made to Internet service to support such applications as pervasive networking, video-conferencing, immersive gaming, and telemedicine. This event discusses the tension between regulation and innovation in the Internet context.

View multimedia on external website

WIRED for Innovation

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

October 16, 2009

View multimedia on external website

The Role of Information Technology in Creating New Kinds of American High Schools

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

October 7, 2009

American universities play an important role in spurring technological innovation, job creation and U.S. economic competitiveness. But they can do more, especially if the federal government makes a more concerted effort to help universities commercialize and transfer new technologies. In this event ITIF discusses the issue with a panel of experts, including the presentation of a policy proposal by Krisztina Holly, Vice Provost for Innovation at USC.

View multimedia on external website

The Race to Innovate

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

October 6, 2009

The United States is losing ground quickly in the innovation sweepstakes to Japan, Denmark and other nations. There’s nothing mysterious about why: these and other nations have designed and funded federal policies to spur innovation, and we have not. The Fall, 2009 issue of Democracy: A Journal of Ideas features a symposium on “The Race to Innovate,” and examines what we should be doing in areas like finance, manufacturing, education, and creating new institutions that will help the private sector move forward.

View multimedia on external website

Benchmarking Leading Countries’ National Innovation Policies

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

October 6, 2009

ITIF Senior Analyst Stephen Ezell presents findings from the report, "Benchmarking Leading Countries’ National Innovation Policies", appearing in September’s Democracy Journal benchmarking national innovation policies and analyzing what the United States can learn from the worlds’ ten most innovation-forward countries.

View multimedia on external website

Designed for Change: End-to-End Arguments, Internet Innovation, and the Net Neutrality Debate

dcastro — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:00:00 +0000

September 25, 2009

Video and audio from the "Designed for Change: Report Release" event.

Many advocates of strict net neutrality regulation argue that the Internet has always been a “dumb pipe” and that Congress should require that it remains so. A new report by ITIF Research Fellow Richard Bennett reviews the historical development of the Internet architecture and finds that contrary to such claims, an extraordinarily high degree of intelligence is embedded in the network core.

View multimedia on external website

Driving a Digital Recovery: IT Investments in the G-20 Stimulus Plans

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:00:00 +0000

September 21, 2009

In this new report, ITIF describes current G-20 stimulus investments in IT and lays out how IT can lead to short-term job creation as well as long-term benefits. This event contains a panel of international experts to discuss the role of IT in supporting global economic recovery.

View multimedia on external website

Effective Corporate Tax Reform in the Global Innovation Economy

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:00:00 +0000

July 23, 2009

View multimedia on external website

Structuring an Energy Technology Revolution

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:00:00 +0000

July 20, 2009

View multimedia on external website

How IT Can Enable 21st Century Schools

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:00:00 +0000

July 16, 2009

This event discusses a new ITIF report, How IT Can Enable 21st Century Schools with the report author, Tim McDonald and with Curtis Johnson of the Education|Evolving, a Minnesota- based group of thought leaders in education reform.

View multimedia on external website

Structuring U.S. Innovation Policy: Creating a White House Office of Innovation Policy

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:00:00 +0000

June 24, 2009

In an ITIF report to be released, Duke Law School professors Stuart Benjamin and Arti Rai propose that the Obama administration (or Congress, if Congress is willing) create an Office of Innovation Policy that would draw upon, and feed into, existing regulatory review processes but would have the specific mission of being the “innovation champion” within these processes.

View multimedia on external website

The Cost of Privacy: A Debate on the Impact of Privacy Laws on Health IT Adoption

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:00:00 +0000

June 22, 2009

As the Obama Administration moves forward with plans to modernize health care by encouraging the use of electronic medical records (EMR), some parties continue to raise concerns about privacy. Strong privacy laws may help protect confidential patient information and encourage user acceptance. But strict privacy laws can also impose additional burdens on health care providers and may slow technology adoption.

View multimedia on external website

Is Cap and Trade Enough? Why Reducing Emissions Depends on Technology Innovation

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:00:00 +0000

June 10, 2009

As the House considers climate legislation, many have come to believe that regulations alone will result in a reduction of emissions. But energy and technology experts say a more explicit federal investment in technology is needed. Please join the Brookings Institution, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, and the Breakthrough Institute to discuss the need for an explicit innovation policy to address the challenge of global climate change.

View multimedia on external website

“Fiber to the Library”: Next-Generation Broadband for Next-Generation Libraries

Thu, 21 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000

May 21, 2009

ITIF discusses how “Fiber to the Library” (FTTL), as a national spearhead deployment project, could quickly deliver access to next-generation broadband. Is FTTL the biggest broadband bang for the stimulus buck? Don Means, originator of the 2-year-old FTTL campaign to provide next-generation broadband to every library, presents his proposal.

View multimedia on external website

Smart Roads, Smart Cars: How IT is Transforming Transportation

Thu, 14 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000

May 14, 2009

ITIF President Rob Atkinson discusses the findings from ITIF’s recent report Digital Quality of Life: Transportation that explores the impact of IT on transportation. In addition, ITIF will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss policies Congress and the Administration can consider to drive the use of IT to enhance mobility, increase transportation safety and make a positive impact on the environment.

View multimedia on external website

Progress and Innovation: Can We Restore Faith in the Future?

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:00:00 +0000

April 30, 2009

Most civilizations have looked back to a golden age when things were better. In contrast, America has emphasized self-improvement aimed at a vague, but much better tomorrow. Are we reverting to the older view of time? One that resists innovation and the notion of progress? Or can a “frontier” mentality and America’s innovation leadership be restored?

During this event award-winning scientist and science fiction writer David Brin to explore the issue.

View multimedia on external website

in silico: How IT is Changing Medical Research

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:00:00 +0000

March 17, 2009

Please join ITIF for a conversation with a distinguished panel of experts from some of the leading projects in this field to discuss how IT is shaping medical research. In addition, this event explores possible national strategies to advance these technologies for the benefit of all Americans.

View multimedia on external website

The Need for Speed: The Importance of Next-Generation Broadband Networks

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:00:00 +0000

March 5, 2009

ITIF releases a report on the need for next-generation broadband in the United States. The report will document how the transformative functionalities that next-generation broadband enables will unlock a wave of innovative new Web applications, delivering benefits to consumers, society, businesses, and the economy.

View multimedia on external website

The Atlantic Century: Benchmarking U.S. and EU Innovation and Competitiveness

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:00:00 +0000

February 25, 2009

Find out which countries are leading, and which are lagging, in the increasingly internationally-competitive, knowledge- and innovation-based global economy, in this event with ITIF releasing its findings from a new report, The Atlantic Century: Benchmarking U.S. and EU Innovation and Competitiveness.

View multimedia on external website

The Korean Strategy for Green Technology Development and Role of IT

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:00:00 +0000

February 11, 2009

Korea recently declared its ambitious vision for Low-Carbon Green Growth in order to deal with the climate change issue and create a new development paradigm.

Dr. Suk Joon Kim, President of the Korean Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), discusses the new Korean low-carbon, green innovation strategy with a particular focus on the role of information and communications technology (IT) in the strategy. He will be joined by Dr. Jung Hyup, Senior Researcher, STEPI.

View multimedia on external website

Stimulus and Investment Effects of Temporary Reduced Taxes on Repatriation

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

January 30, 2009

View multimedia on external website

Globalization and Technology Standards: The Case for Expanded U.S. Leadership

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

January 13, 2009

View multimedia on external website

Digital Quality of Life: Understanding the Benefits of the IT Revolution

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:00:00 +0000

October 2, 2008

Please join us on October 2, 2008 for a special event to release this report featuring remarks from Craig Mundie, Chief Research and Strategy Officer for Microsoft and a briefing on the report from Rob Atkinson, President, ITIF.

View multimedia on external website

The Technology Imperative and The Role of Technology Policy In Driving Economic Growth

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:00:00 +0000

September 30, 2008

Dr.

View multimedia on external website

Is the U.S. Falling Behind in Science & Technology or Not?

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:00:00 +0000

September 10, 2008

Over the last several years a number of reports – headlined by Rising Above the Gathering Storm – have raised the alarm over the deteriorating state of U.S. science and technology (S&T) competitiveness and documented how the country is falling behind in key building blocks of the S&T base.

View multimedia on external website

Time for a Post-Partisan Broadband Debate

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:00:00 +0000

September 9, 2008

ITIF calls for an end, or at least a serious de-escalation, of the conflict.

In recent years, the debate over broadband policy has become a partisan war that makes it extremely difficult to have any sensible and analytically-based discussion of the critical issues in this policy area. In a new report, “Moving to a Post-Partisan Broadband Policy World,” ITIF calls for an end, or at least a serious de-escalation, of the conflict. Please join us for a release of the report and a discussion by panelists on all sides of the issue.

View multimedia on external website

Transformative Technologies in the Past, Present and Future: Implications for the U.S. Economy and Economic Policy

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:00:00 +0000

July 15, 2008

ITIF hosted a forum with noted economist Dr. Richard Lipsey, Professor Emeritus of Economics at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Lipsey discussed the findings from his the award winning 2006 book, Economic Transformations: General Purpose Technologies and Long Term Growth. , arguing that growth is powered principally by “evolutionary change” driven by technological revolutions that have regularly transformed our economic, social and political landscapes.

View multimedia on external website

William Lewis, Unleashing the Power of Productivity at Home and Abroad

Tue, 06 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000

May 6, 2008

Despite the fact that most economists agree that increasing productivity is the most important goal for economic policy, few scholars have actually focused on what drives productivity and what governments can do. An exception to this is Bill Lewis, founding director of the McKinsey Global Institute and former partner at McKinsey & Company.

View multimedia on external website

Explaining International Broadband Leadership

Thu, 01 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000

May 1, 2008

Rob Atkinson presents the report "Explaining International Broadband Leadership," which examines OECD nations through in-depth case studies and statistical analysis.

It’s hard to follow broadband policy without hearing almost weekly that the U.S. ranks 15th out of 30 OECD nations in broadband penetration. But understanding why the U.S. is behind is much harder. In this event, Rob Atkinson presents Explaining International Broadband Leadership, which examines OECD nations through in-depth case studies and statistical analysis. The report answers key questions, including:

View multimedia on external website

Services Sciences – A Key Driver of 21st Century Prosperity

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000

April 9, 2008

If the U.S. economy and workers' wages are to grow robustly over the next several decades, the key will be to find better ways to enable innovation and achieve higher productivity gains in services sector, which accounts for 80 percent of the economy. Yet, even though services are central to our future, neither our technology and economic policies nor our higher education practices have kept up with the reality of continued growth in services, much of it in information-intensive and health-care related services.

View multimedia on external website