Monthly Archives: February 2013

February 27, 2013 | News, Press Releases

The Internet Association Hosts Panel Discussion on Capitol Hill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Christin Fernandez 202-789-4365
DATE: Wednesday, February 27, 2013

PANEL SERIES TO FOCUS ON FUTURE OF THE INTERNET ECONOMY

 

WASHINGTON, D. C. – The Internet Association, the unified voice of the online economy, representing the interests of leading Internet companies, will host a series of panel discussions entitled, “The Internet, the Economy, and the Future,” Tuesday, March 5 on Capitol Hill. The panel will examine a variety of topics including privacy, trade and the cloud, patent reform, as well as the Internet’s positive impact on Main Street.

The Internet Association’s President and CEO Michael Beckerman, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will kick off the discussion at 9:30AM. The three panels will be moderated by Mashable Political Editor Alex Fitzpatrick, The Huffington Post Political Editor Ryan Grim, and Bloomberg National Technology and Regulatory Reporter Todd Shields.

Date: Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Location: Rayburn House Office Building 2247, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Webcast Link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/internetassociation
Social Media: Submit your questions via Twitter @InternetAssn using #IApolicyDiscuss

9:30 – 10:00AM | Opening Remarks
· The Internet Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman
· Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
· Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
10:00 – 11:00AM | Internet Policy Across the Pond
· House Chief Deputy Whip Roskam (R-IL)
· FTC Commissioner Julie Brill
· Monster Worldwide Vice President of Compliance and Fraud Gretchen Herault
· salesforce.com Assistant General Counsel, Global Privacy Lindsey Finch
· Yahoo! Senior Director for International Privacy Justin Weiss
11:10 – 12:30AM | Patent Trolls and their Impact on the Economy
· House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
· Yahoo! Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of IP Kevin Kramer
· LinkedIn Senior Director of Litigation Blake Lawit
· Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
12:20 – 1:20PM | The Internet on Main Street: Success Stories in Unexpected Places
· House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA)
· Representative Jared Polis (D-CO)
· FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel
· ebay Deputy General Counsel and Vice President of Government Relations Tod Cohen
· The Internet Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman

The event is open to staff and press. Please RSVP to News@InternetAssociation.org. For press inquiries please contact Christin Fernandez cfernandez@hdmk.org or 202-789-4365 by Monday, March 4 at noon EDT.

About The Internet Association: The Internet Association is the unified voice of the Internet economy representing the interests of the leading Internet companies including Airbnb, Amazon.com, AOL, ebay, Expedia, Facebook, Google, IAC, LinkedIn, Monster Worldwide, Rackspace, salesforce.com, TripAdvisor, Yahoo!, and Zynga. The Internet Association is dedicated to advancing public policy solutions to strengthen and protect Internet freedom, foster innovation and economic development, and empower users. The Internet Association is headquartered in Washington, D.C. www.internetassociation.org

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February 25, 2013 | News, Press Releases, Videos

VIDEO RELEASE: Dupont Circle Small Business Internet Crawl

FILM DOCUMENTS THE POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE INTERNET AT FIVE LOCAL BUSINESSES IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Internet Association, the unified voice of America’s online economy, representing the interests of leading global Internet companies including Airbnb, Amazon.com, AOL, eBay, Expedia, Facebook, Google, IAC, LinkedIn, Monster Worldwide, Rackspace, salesforce.com, TripAdvisor, Yahoo!, and Zynga, hosted a small business crawl during D.C. Social Media week in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, D.C.  The tour highlighted the profound impacts of the Internet on local jobs, economic growth, and innovation.

“Businesses that make use of the web are expected to grow 40 percent faster and are nearly twice as likely to create jobs,” said Internet Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman. “Lawmakers must understand that innovation fosters economic growth for small businesses, and that the Internet is a remarkable growth engine for small businesses, creating jobs in every sector of the economy.”

Five thriving brick and mortar businesses – Tranquil Space Yoga Studio, Lou Lou Boutiques, Hello Cupcake Bakery, PoliTemps Staffing Agency, and Proper Topper Boutique shared unique stories of how the Internet has propelled people to their storefronts in Dupont Circle. Local leaders including the Mayor’s office, the DC Chamber, and the small business community also spoke about the positive impact the Internet has had on the local community and how they have harnessed innovative web technologies. The Internet Association filmed the interviews and has packaged them into a video playlist spotlighting the success stories of Internet on Main Street USA.

Beckerman continued, “The Internet isn’t just Silicon Valley; it’s every city, every district, and every state in America. We will continue to go to cities across the country to share more stories like these merchants in Dupont Circle. We believe these stories will help lawmakers and stakeholders understand why we must protect the freedom and innovation of the Internet, one of the greatest engines for economic growth the world has ever known.”

To view our video playlist and explore how the Internet impacts small businesses in Dupont circle, click here.

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February 21, 2013 | ICYMI, News

ICYMI- Internet Association Showcases Local Biz in #SMWWDC Dupont Circle Small Business Crawl

Famous DC
Internet Association Showcases Local Biz in #SMWWDC Dupont Circle Small Business Crawl
Posted: February 21, 2013 08:56

Yoga, cupcakes, fashion, and the interminable DC job search were brought together Tuesday evening during The Internet Association’s (IA) Dupont Circle Small Business Crawl highlighting the profound impact of the internet on jobs, economic growth, and innovation on Main Street. The Internet Association represents the interests of some of the leading internet companies in the world, including Google, Airbnb, Amazon.com, eBay, LinkedIn, Yahoo!, and Facebook.

In the spirit of DC Social Media Week, IA facilitated a walking tour through some of the most successful independent businesses in Dupont circle. The event was attended by several local leaders including representatives from the Mayor’s office, the DC Chamber and the small business community.

The tour took participants to Tranquil Space Yoga Studio, Lou Lou Boutique, Hello Cupcake Bakery, PoliTemps Staffing Agency, and Proper Topper Boutique where each local merchant welcomed the group with stories of how the internet and social media has positively impacted their business. With help from Twitter, Facebook, and general blogging, these independently owned businesses have been able to grow their presence in Washington, for free.

While each merchant represented entirely different aspects of the small business world, their organizations have flourished as a result of sharable, digital media. The spike in business resulting from digital outreach made it possible for Lou Lou to open more locations and employ more people throughout the DMV area. Hello Cupcake was able to branch out to Barracks Row, from where they will also be shipping their treats throughout the United States.  PoliTemps staffing agency is now able to connect a broader range of jobseekers and employers, and Tranquil Space Yoga was able to increase class participants by offering Groupons and Living Social deals. All of this growth represents more jobs for more people and overall economic growth—all thanks to a savvy use of digital media tools like Facebook and Twitter.

The IA Small Business Crawl was a great opportunity for local leaders to see how policies promoting the free flow of information via the internet are directly related to economic growth. Every one of the merchants we met on Tuesday said that their business has shown measurable growth due to the positive impact of digital media, which is helping them stay competitive with large, better funded corporations.

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February 17, 2013 | News, Statements

The Internet Association’s Statement On Chairman Mike Rogers and Ranking Member Dutch Ruppersberger’s Cyber-Security Bill (CISPA)

“The Internet Association recognizes the need for effective cyber-security legislation that encourages sharing of actionable cyber threat information to protect our networks, while still safeguarding the privacy of our users’ information.  It is important that these policies and protections be technology-neutral to ensure that the Internet remains free from government regulation.  We appreciate Chairman Rogers’ and Ranking Member Ruppersberger’s continued attention to this important issue, and we look forward to continuing to work with them and others in the House and Senate on legislation that safeguards users’ private information as this issue moves forward.”

February 13, 2013 | News, Press Releases

The Internet Association Welcomes Airbnb as Newest Member

THE INTERNET ASSOCIATION ADDS POPULAR TRAVEL SITE TO ITS MEMBERSHIP ROSTER

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Internet Association, the Washington voice of America’s online economy, announces the addition of Airbnb, a popular online travel booking service, to its growing membership roster.

“Airbnb is helping to lead a growing sharing economy that is changing the way people live in incredible new ways, and helping to boost our economy in the process. Half of the users we have surveyed say they depend on the extra income they get from renting out their homes on Airbnb to pay their own rent mortgage, and countless local businesses have been given a boost in a down economy. We are excited to join the Internet Association and its member companies because all of these companies are helping people survive and thrive in the 21st century, and there is a lot of work yet to be done in imparting that message to policymakers here and abroad” said David Hantman, Head of Global Policy at Airbnb.

“Airbnb is the poster child for how great ideas can thrive thanks to the Internet and we are delighted to welcome Airbnb to The Internet Association,” said Michael Beckerman, President and CEO of The Internet Association. “Their story is a reminder of the constant innovation in our growing Internet economy. We welcome Airbnb’s engagement on important issues of Internet freedom, economic growth and user empowerment. The story of the ‘sharing economy’ is a fascinating one. Lawmakers and regulators at every level need to take notice because companies like Airbnb are creating enormous value for their constituents.”

Founded in 2008, Airbnb is one of the most trusted online community marketplaces for users to list, discover, and book unique short-term accommodations worldwide. Over 4 million total guests have traveled on Airbnb in over 34,000 cities around the world.

Airbnb will be joining The Internet Association’s member companies Amazon.com, AOL, eBay, Expedia, Facebook, Google, IAC, LinkedIn, Monster Worldwide, Rackspace, salesforce.com, TripAdvisor, Yahoo!, and Zynga.

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February 12, 2013 | Op-Eds

On the Day of the 2013 State of the Union Address, Here’s the State of the Internet

The Next Web
On the day of the 2013 State of the Union address, here’s the State of the Internet
Posted: 2/12/2013 17:30:00

Eitor’s note: This is a guest post by Michael Beckerman, President and CEO of the Internet Association, which represents the interests of many of America’s leading Internet companies, including Google, Facebook, Amazon, Yahoo, LinkedIn and eBay. In the run-up to tonight’s State of the Union address, the association approached us to ask if we would publish their take on the State of the Internet. You can find our own assessment of it here.

Today, President Barack Obama will deliver his fifth State of the Union address to the American people.  Since that first address in 2009, the Internet has become an even more ubiquitous part of American life.  An estimated 244 million Americans used the Internet in 2012 – 78 percent of the total population – growing more than 10 percent in those four years. So what is the State of the Internet in 2013, as the President embarks on his second term in office?

In a remarkably short time, the Internet has become one of the greatest engines for economic growth, freedom and prosperity the world has ever known. Indeed, in only 15 years, the Internet increased per capita GDP by $500, as much as the Industrial Revolution did in its first 50 years. It is the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy, representing 15 percent of U.S. GDP growth in the past five years.  In short, the State of the Internet has never been stronger.

Virtually all net new job growth is attributable to firms younger than five years.  “Internet jobs” are not just in Silicon Valley anymore, they have moved to Main Street, heartland farms, and small brick and mortar businesses nationwide.  Because of the Internet, every economic sector of the economy has benefited.

Yet many challenges remain.  The United States is only a year removed from an unprecedented effort in Congress to censor web content and fundamentally alter the Internet’s DNA.  While millions of Americans registered their protest with elected representatives and defeated this misguided measure, threats to Internet freedom are still apparent.  There are international challenges, as well.  In December, the United Nations attempted to adversely alter the multi-stakeholder framework under which the Internet has thrived.

beckerman 220x128 On the day of the 2013 State of the Union address, heres the State of the Internet

Michael Beckerman, President and CEO of the Internet Association.

In Washington, D.C., state capitals, and city halls across America, politicians continue to struggle with the rapid pace of technological change.  There are scores of laws and policies on the books today governing the Internet that were enacted before its birth.  The Internet continues to challenge entrenched special interests and the established order.  While its constructive disruption leads to economic growth, social progress, and jobs, too often, our laws and regulations cannot keep up – sometimes with harmful results.  Legislating at the speed of ideas and innovation simply cannot be done.  A fundamental principle is at stake: our nation’s laws – and the governing philosophy behind them – must be flexible enough for the Internet era.

The unique nature of the Internet, free from government’s harness, has unleashed unprecedented entrepreneurialism, creativity and innovation, far beyond imagination. Innovation is unpredictable.  The Internet’s decentralized and open model has been the catalyst powering this revolution.  These principles must be embodied in our nation’s laws and in our elected leaders’ approach to technology policy.

As the Internet continues to challenge the established order, there are many issues currently under debate.  Policymakers must promote trade policies that facilitate the free flow of information across borders, consistent with the global nature of the Internet. “Patent trolls” continue to stifle innovation and economic growth.  Abuse of the patent system is a hidden tax on job creators and a drag on our economy.  Our government must recognize cybersecurity threats as some of the most serious national security challenges we face.  Ensuring that our financial, transportation, energy, and public safety networks meet minimum, cybersecurity standards is essential.  However, the government must understand that the Internet cannot be regulated in the same way a power plant or brick and mortar industries are regulated. There are fundamental differences; thus the laws must be different.

Lawmakers must address the question of broadband – both in terms of access and adoption.  The digital divide between Internet haves and have-nots is a persistent barrier.  President Obama promised to bring “true broadband [to] every community in America.”  But progress on this front has been too slow.  Inexpensive Internet-enabled smartphones and tablet computers have markedly increased on-line access; yet the price of broadband remains out of reach for too many Americans.  In many parts of rural America, high-speed Internet is still unavailable, at any price.  Policymakers must consider Internet access as important as freedom of speech and expression.  The United States must find a way to bring that freedom to the 120 million Americans who are currently left behind.

While the State of the Internet is strong, more must be done.  Laws need to keep pace with technology and written to facilitate progress, not impede it.  Lawmakers must embrace technology.  Most importantly, Internet access must be considered a basic human right, all of us must redouble our efforts to bridge the digital divide and protect the freedom and innovation of the Internet; America’s future depends on it.

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February 11, 2013 | News, Press Releases

The Internet Association Lauds Inaugural Software Patent Reform Roundtable

Encourages clear software patent standards

 

WASHINGTON, D. C. – The Internet Association, the D.C. based trade organization representing the interests of leading Internet companies issued the following statement on the U.S. Patent and Trademark office’s software patent reform roundtable:

“The Internet Association applauds the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s initiative in partnering with the software industry by hosting a roundtable on software patent reform.  Many software patents suffer from a lack of specificity, with claims that are often vague and overbroad.  This uncertainty fuels the existence of opportunistic and costly patent litigation that burdens large companies and start-ups alike.  The establishment of clear boundaries for patent claims is critical to promoting creativity and innovation in the Internet industry, leading to continued job growth.  We hope that today’s inaugural roundtable will encourage a fruitful discussion that ultimately yields clear standards for software patents.”

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February 5, 2013 | Letters, News, Other

The Internet Association Letter on Protecting Global Internet Freedom

Excerpt: We at The Internet Association believe that maintaining a free and innovative Internet is critical to the platform’s continued growth and development and will ultimately lead to global economic success, technological innovation, and democratic discourse. We commend Congress for unanimously passing resolutions in support of the Internet’s current bottom-up, decentralized, and multi-stakeholder model and urge the U.S. government to continue its unified stance…The Internet’s open and decentralized governance framework should not be challenged by some states’ top-down assertion of control over aspects of Internet governance and their desire to use the ITU as a mechanism for asserting such control. The Internet Association stands ready to work with Congress and the Executive Branch to ensure that the current, successful Internet governance framework is respected and preserved.

To read the Internet Association’s letter, click here

 

February 5, 2013 | Letters, News, Other

The Internet Association Letter on Protecting Global Internet Freedom

Excerpt: Thank you for the opportunity to submit this letter to your Subcommittees on the important issue of global Internet governance and the continued growth of the Internet economy. We commend Congress for unanimously passing resolutions in support of the Internet’s current bottom-up, decentralized, and multi-stakeholder model and urge the U.S. government to continue its unified stance. The Internet Association stands ready to work with Congress and the Executive Branch to ensure that the current, successful Internet governance framework is respected and preserved.

To read the letter The Internet Association signed today, click here.

 

 

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