Upcoming event

Agenda

9 - 9:45 a.m. Registration and Breakfast

9:45 a.m. Welcome Remarks and Address by the Hon. Ajit Pai, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Panel Discussions

Members will explore the effects of the Internet of Things (IoT) and its application to the manufacturing sector. These devices can help increase efficiency for manufacturers. For example, IoT connected machines can communicate the need for more raw materials, when they need replacing, and provide information about productivity.

Witnesses

Mr. Thomas D. Bianculli 
Chief Technology Officer, Zebra Technologies Corporation

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s BroadbandUSA Program, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, will host a Broadband Summit about ‘‘Creating Partnerships to Ensure Access for All’’ on March 20, 2018. Speakers and attendees from Tennessee, federal agencies, and across the country will come together to explore ways to increase broadband deployment and improve broadband adoption to advance their overarching business, social, economic, and community goals.

Free speech has long been a cornerstone of American democracy, but the ubiquity and intimacy of online content is now challenging our society’s once-unshakable belief in the appeal of unfettered speech. In this age of hacks, trolls, fake news, and digital hate speech, lawmakers, citizens, and the tech companies that control our access to the Internet and social media are rethinking how much we should police online content for veracity and for its potential to do harm.

The federal government has made significant strides toward making vast amounts of government data freely available to the public, and businesses, researchers, civil society groups, journalists, and many others have put open data to good use. But recent events suggest that some open government data may be at risk.

The Nomination of Brendan Carr, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for a term of five years from July 1, 2018 will be considered by the Senate Commerce Committee.

The hearing will examine the steps social media platforms are taking to combat the spread of extremist propaganda over the Internet.

Witnesses:

• Ms. Monika Bickert, Head of Global Policy Management, Facebook
• Ms. Juniper Downs, Global Head of Public Policy and Government Relations, YouTube
• Mr. Carlos Monje, Director, Public Policy and Philanthropy, Twitter

Just as broadband access plays a critical role in our lives, access to broadband has become critically essential in community development—education and workforce development, health, housing, small business development and access to financial services. The ability to access the internet is an important tool for workers to use to find and keep jobs in both urban and rural markets. Broadband access lags in many population segments, including low-income and rural communities.