Tag: Communications and Technology
Tag: Communications and Technology
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The EU’s Latest Tech Regulations Should Not be Imported to the US: Jake Morabito in The Orange Country Register
In his latest op-ed for The Orange Country Register, ALEC Communication and Technology Task Force Director, Jake Morabito details his new ALEC report, A Threat to American Tech…
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Sales and Use Tax Collection Protection Act
Model Policy {Title, enacting clause, etc.} Section 1. {Introduction} A proposal to amend the laws of {insert state} to adjudicate constitutional nexus issues relating to sales and use tax. Section…
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Nickel and Diming Innovation to Death
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is creating a new tax on Transportation Networking Companies (TNCs) to the tune of $0.20 per ride. Of the $0.20, five cents, or a full jitney nickel, will go to none other than the taxi industry itself.
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House Judiciary Committee Moves on Email Privacy Act
In a press release earlier today, the House Judiciary Chairman announced the Committee would move forward with the Email Privacy Act (H.R. 699). The Email Privacy Act would amend…
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Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Resolution
WHEREAS, the American Legislative Exchange Council (“ALEC”) has a foundational and principled history of fighting against excessive, multiple, discriminatory and inconsistent taxation while promoting private sector competitiveness and states’ rights…
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“Do Not Track” and Do Not Regulate
If you enable “Do Not Track” functions on your web browser, does that mean websites will not use cookies or other analytic devices to gather data about you and your…
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Uber and Lyft: Expanding Demand for Fare-Based Rides in Cities
Uber and Lyft both take business away from traditional taxis and increase overall demand for transportation-type companies. A study by the city of Portland, Oregon, as reported by…
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Electronic Data Privacy in California – ALEC Member Helps Lead the Way
The privacy of electronically stored and transmitted data is important in today’s technological world. Many privacy advocates have argued for stronger civil liberty protections, and in California—the hub of technology—they…
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Building a Better (Cyber) Wall
Perhaps Donald Trump is right. America needs to build a wall for better protection. The right type of wall, though, may not be physical. The wall needed is a “cyber” wall.
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Internet Essentials Program Benefits American Education
ALEC lauds the benefits of digital learning in American education, such as customized learning programs for struggling students and more time for “higher-level discussions.” Additionally, technology in the classroom…
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Message to States: Don’t Let High Pole Attachment Rates Become Barriers to Broadband
This article by Seth L. Cooper first appeared at the Free State Foundation on June 1, 2015. State and local governments have important policy roles to play in spurring…
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Arbitrary Pole Attachment Fees Can Limit the Spread of Broadband
The value of access to broadband is well-known, and discussions of how to increase the spread of broadband most effectively and efficiently are common. But, often not discussed are the…
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New House Bill Takes Major Strides in Overcoming Washington’s Wireless Regulatory Hurdles
On March 28, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed into law HB 2175, a significant step forward in promoting the Washington’s telecommunications competitiveness. HB 2175 was fashioned to alleviate regulatory restrictions…
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A Broadband Plan for the States
Today we are pleased to release a white paper entitled The States’ Broadband Plan, a set of three suggested policies designed to promote broadband connectivity in the states. This…
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The Perils and Promise of State Internet Policy
As state and local policymakers grapple with new digital trends, from Uber to Big Data, they’re increasingly coming into conflict with key federal limitations on their ability to regulate the…
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U.S. Broadband Success: the Proof is in the Piping
Last week, the New York Times published an article quoting Professor Susan Crawford claiming that “monopolists who resist innovation” currently dominate the broadband space. That same day, the FCC…
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Calling for Excessive Cell Phone Taxes? Please Press One
By Michael Lambert If you’re subscribing to a cell phone in Washington State, you might want to consider becoming an Oregonian, where lower cell phone taxes are markedly cheaper. According…
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Don’t Let Government Break the Internet
It’s great to hear just about anybody speak on Internet freedom, but U.S. Representative Steve Scalise did the topic justice at this year’s State of the Net Conference in Washington,…
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Susan Crawford’s flawed argument about broadband competition
Susan Crawford, a professor at Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, argues in her interesting and provocative new book Captive Audience: The Telecom Industry and Monopoly Power in the New Gilded…
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Is Broadband a Monopoly?
Broadband is often described as the “core” of the Internet ecosystem—little more than the basic infrastructure across which users interact, and subject to heavy-handed government regulations that reflect this assumption.