ICT Committee
Who We are
USCIB believes that ICTs are more than just communications and networking phenomena. The Internet is a platform for voice and data communications, computing, dissemination of video information, social networking and an incubator for emerging business models. Applications and data are shifting from the desktop to the global system of interconnected servers, networks, storage systems, personal computers, mobile phones, and other devices.
USCIB’s ICT Committee advocates for a policy and regulatory environment that promotes ICTs and allows businesses to seize their benefits must reject unnecessary, harmful or inconsistent regulation. We advocate sound international policy frameworks, characterized by free and fair competition, minimal government intervention, free information flows and a user orientation, that ensure the continued growth of ICTs and extend their benefits around the world. We increase awareness of the potential impact of policies, laws, and regulations related to ICTs and e-business.
Membership of the ICT Policy Committee includes representatives from a broad spectrum of U.S. industry: telecommunications, financial services, technology, pharmaceutical, consumer products and entertainment companies.
Our U.S. and Global Presence: The ICT Committee positions are the basis for our advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. business, both through direct representations to U.S. and foreign governments, and through our engagement in international rules-setting bodies dealing with ICT issues including the ICC, OECD
and APEC. Our job is to ensure that USCIB positions are well reflected in the positions adopted by businesses internationally by promoting and defending our members’ views in the consensus building process that takes place in the ICC and BIAC. When we succeed, USCIB positions form the heart of international business positions and are reflected in the views expressed by the national business organizations to their own governments.
How We Operate
Close to Our Members:
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Chair
David Gross
Partner
Wiley Rein LLP
Vice Chair
Joe Alhadeff
Vice President, Global Public Policy & Chief Privacy Officer
Oracle Corporation
Leslie Martinkovics
Director, International Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs
Verizon
Staff Contacts
Barbara Wanner
Vice President, ICT Policy
bwanner@uscib.org
202-617-3155
Kira Yevtukhova
Program Assistant
kyevtukhova@uscib.org
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USCIB is a member-driven organization. Through the ICT Committee, information is disseminated and the issues are debated to reach consensus positions.
Key Policy Issues
Internet Governance: The ICT Committee believes that any shift away from the multi-stakeholder model for Internet governance towards a more government-dominated approach would be harmful to business as it risks the fragmentation of the global Internet into many separate networks and will slow the pace of innovation, essentially eliminating the benefits that global companies rely on. This is why we track key organizations and initiatives such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and ICANN in order to prepare policy statements, background papers, and external communications on these strategic issues to ensure that the multi-stakeholder model is upheld. In addition, we support continued private sector leadership of the technical management of the Domain Name System. This is why we are active participants in the relevant organizations, including ICANN’s Business User Constituency where we address issues relevant to the technical management of the Internet ranging from technical issues like the introduction of new gTLDs and IDNs to related policy concerns.
Privacy and Security: USCIB’s ICT Committee believes that continued transborder flows of information are necessary to conduct global business in a way that is cost-efficient and best serves customers. This is why we support policies that enhance user trust and promote privacy while enabling global information flows as they are vital to ensure continued innovation and development of emerging technologies and we provide a forum for members to exchange information and discuss privacy and security legislation and other developments globally. In addition, we support self-regulation and the application of existing global privacy guidelines to ensure responsible and accountable implementation of new technologies and applications such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) and social networking. In this regard, we track and respond to emerging threats to security or user trust by providing substantive input in relevant forums such as the OECD, APEC, the Council of Europe and the EU, and develop proactive industry tools. This is why we have been instrumental in shaping the implementation of the APEC Privacy Framework, and continue to discuss interoperability across privacy systems.
Convergence: As governments access communications regulations in light of new technology, they should not extend traditional regulations to the Internet without consideration of the possible extraterritorial impact and its affect on the flow of information. The ICT Committee seeks a competitive environment for evolving services resulting from the convergence of the telecommunications, media and information technology industries, including a business user perspective. This is why we follow and provide balanced input on the debate and discussion regarding VoIP, network interoperability, digital content issues and the deployment of NGNs at the ICC, OECD, ITU and other relevant organizations.
Trade Position: We work with the U.S. Government to obtain more and better commitments in various multilateral, regional and bilateral trade negotiations and to develop negotiating methodologies that will promote maximum liberalization of telecommunications services, computer-related services and digital products in light of the convergence of technologies and services and the frequency with which new technologies and services are introduced.
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