This week in Washington: the FTC holds a workshop on privacy, The FCC gets a new wireless chief, and legislators hold a hearing on internet governance.
Open Internet
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a hearing Thursday May 31 on international proposals for internet regulation. Officials from the Federal Communications Commission, State Department, Internet Society, and Google will provide information to Congress on issues including domain name system management. Find a background memo on the hearing here.
Privacy
On Wednesday the Federal Trade Commission holds a workshop on privacy called “In Short: Advertising & Disclosures in a Digital World.” The event comes as the FTC seeks to update guidelines set for online advertising in 2000 with special consideration of the challenges for disclosures on mobile devices. Privacy has been a major focus of regulators this year with the commission posting a three-part blog series on its recent settlement with MySpace and its meaning for small businesses.
Spectrum
The Federal Communications Commission announced May 30 that Ruth Milkman will replace Rick Kaplan as the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief. Milkman preceded Kaplan as chief from August 2009 to June 2011. The bureau will face major wireless issues in the coming years that may dramatically alter the connectivity landscape in the U.S including new auctions, unlicensed spectrum including television white spaces, and spectrum sharing.
