“Commercial-First Spectrum Policy and Military Modernization”
TPRC Summer Poolside Chat Series
June 23, 2026

Roslyn Layton, Strand Consult and Marcela Gomez, University of Pittsburgh discuss Roslyn’s forthcoming research on a commercial-first spectrum policy and what it could mean for U.S. military modernization. Explore how commercial wireless networks, 5G, AI, and emerging technologies are reshaping national security, spectrum management, and the future of defense communications.

“AI for Inclusion: New Tools for Disability Rights and Civic Participation”
TPRC Summer Poolside Chat Series
June 11, 2026

Live from the United Nations during the 19th Conference of States Parties (COSP-19) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), TPRC Board members Derrick Cogburn and Lara Marion discuss how AI, data analytics, and digital tools are advancing disability rights, civic engagement, and representation worldwide. Marking the 20th anniversary of the CRPD, the conversation explores innovative approaches to empowering communities through accessible, data-driven insights.

“Options for USF funding reform”
April 21, 2022

This webinar reflects on three proposals for Universal Service Fund (USF) funding reform. Over $9 billion in USF expenditure is funded through interstate and international revenues of telecommunications companies and the scope of its four programs has expanded to include broadband service for low-income Americans and those in high-cost areas. The contribution base has been shrinking while the services supported by it have been expanding.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) initiated a proceeding on the future of universal service in December 2021 there is a broad consensus that the contribution base is overburdened and iniquitous. The proposals for reform of the USF funding mechanism, include expanding the contribution base to

• broadband users,

• online advertisers, and

• streaming service providers (‘Big Tech’)

respectively. Our three participants will speak to these three options.

Moderator: David Reed, University of Colorado Boulder

Panelists:
Carol Mattey, Mattey Consulting LLC
Hal Singer, Econ One Research
Roslyn Layton, Strand Consult

“US Cybersecurity Policy for Data Breach, Ransomware and Supply Chain: What’s Working, What Isn’t, and How to Fix It”
June 17, 2021

This TPRC webinar explores the evolving cybersecurity landscape in light of recent data breaches, ransomware attacks, and supply chain security concerns. Featuring remarks from Carole House, Director of Cybersecurity and Secure Digital Innovation at the White House National Security Council, and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, the program examines current policy approaches, emerging challenges, and opportunities for improving cyber resilience.

Speakers:

Carole House, Director of Cybersecurity and Secure Digital Innovation, White House National Security Council (NSC)
Brendan Carr, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission   
Josephine Wolff, Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity
Thomas Vartanian, Financial Technology and Regulatory Expert
Karl Grindal, School of Public Policy, Georgia Tech University
Roslyn Layton, Program Chair, TPRC49
James A. Lewis, Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

“What Biden's First 100-Days and Proposed Infrastructure Plan Means for Broadband”
May 20, 2021

Moderator: David Reed, Scholar-in-Residence, University of Colorado-Boulder

Panelists:
Christopher Lewis, President and CEO, Public Knowledge
Randolph May, President and Founder, Free State Foundation
Nicol Turner Lee, Senior Fellow, and Director, Center for Technology Innovation, Brookings Institution

In his first 100-days in office, President Biden has presented an ambitious infrastructure plan that includes high-speed broadband as a critical infrastructure asset. As the pandemic has demonstrated the significance of online connectivity for everyday functions, how can the plans for expanded broadband infrastructure close the digital divide, expand workforce opportunities, and ensure that the internet is affordable for all citizens? How will the nation also accelerate rural broadband deployment among the nation's most under-served? In this TPRC webinar, hear from experts that will address these, and other questions as the White House works to gain political consensus on his broad infrastructure plans.

“International perspectives on data access, privacy, and cross-border data transfers”
February 3, 2021

Moderator: J. Scott Marcus, Bruegel
Panelists: Maximilian Schrems, NOYB – European Center for Digital Rights
Mosi Li, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics (SUIBE), China
Justin Sherman, American University Washington College of Law

This TPRC webinar explores the growing policy debates surrounding data access, privacy, and international data transfers. Panelists discuss efforts in the United States, Europe, and China to promote data-driven innovation while protecting personal information, as well as the implications of evolving regulations for businesses, governments, and the global digital economy.

“Preparing for a Research Future during Covid-19”

The pandemic is impacting on the career paths of PhD students and Postdocs who face disruption and uncertainty about their academic / other professional careers. 

This Panel will discuss what advice and support students and Postdocs can expect from their advisers on career advancement and research opportunities in communications, information and internet policy fields.

Moderator:Robin Mansell, Professor, Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics and Political Science

Panel: Marjory Blumenthal, Senior Policy Researcher, RAND Corporation
Derrick Cogburn, Professor, International Communication and Development, School of International Service, and Professor, Information Technology & Analytics, Kogod School of Business, American University
Martin Weiss, Professor, School of Computing and Information, University of Pittsburgh

“COVID-19's LESSONS FOR ICT POLICY”
July,

Moderator:
Mark Jamison,  Director, Public Utility Research Center, University of Florida and Visiting Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
Panelists: 
Scott Wallsten,  President and Senior Fellow at the Technology Policy Institute
Roslyn Layton, Aalborg University
Eli Noam, Director, Columbia University Institute for Tele-Information

This panel will consider what the COVID-19 pandemic and the responses to it have taught us about ICT policy in the US and elsewhere. How did existing policies fare during the pandemic? What weaknesses and strengths emerged? How did regulations contribute to or relieve network stress? What did we learn about the value of ICT and the impacts of the digital divide? What regulatory actions best assisted people that might be consider unserved or under-served? How did sector and competition regulators respond to the pandemic and what were the apparent effects? How has the pandemic changed the ICT sectors?

ANTI-TRUST AND PLATFORM REGULATION

Moderator, Scott Wallsten, President and Senior Fellow at the Technology Policy Institute

Panelists:
Johannes Bauer, Chairperson, Department of Media and Information, Michigan State University
Joe Kennedy, Senior Fellow, ITIF
Chris Lewis, President and CEO, Public Knowledge
Christopher Yoo, Professor of Law, Communication, and Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania Law School, and the founding director of the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Competition.
Shane Tews, Visiting Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

FACIAL RECOGNITION, LAW ENFORCEMENT & MASS SURVEILLANCE: Ethical or Unjust?
SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

Emerging technologies, including facial recognition, have been accessed by law enforcement to solve crimes, improve efficiency and save internal resources. Yet, arguments abound around the extent to which the appropriate guardrails are being deployed in their use. What are the questions that law enforcement should be asking when deciding to use facial recognition technologies (FRT)? How can these technologies impact citizens, especially people of color who are disproportionately targeted by the police? How can policymakers, civil society and engineers work together to bring some accountability to the design, performance and implementation of FRT? These questions will be the subject of a panel discussion among experts from a variety of disciplines. Panelists will answer these questions, while debating the implications of its use. The panel will be comprised of a diverse group of scholars from a variety of disciplines, including sociology, engineering and law. The panel will also have an industry scientist who works on these products and services. The topic will be relevant to the TPRC community due to its interdisciplinary approach to the conversation. It will also share how the technical design of FRT can impact its effectiveness. The panel will also share a balance of use cases for the technology, particularly those instances where FRT can mitigate levels of harm for individuals and communities. Recognizing some of the challenges associated with data representation and FRT’s use in a fractured criminal justice system, the panel will touch upon a range of issues that confront the issues around ethics, fairness, diversity and equality in this technology.

Nicol Turner Lee, Ph.D., Fellow, Center for Technology Innovation, Brookings Institution (moderator)

Panelists:

Fay Cobb Payton, Ph.D., Professor of IT/Analytics and University Faculty Scholar, North Carolina State University

Rashawn Ray, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology and Executive Director, Lab for Applied Social Science Research (LASSR), University of Maryland-College Park; David Rubenstein Fellow, Brookings Institution

Nashlie Sephus, Ph.D., Applied Science Manager, Amazon Web Services, Founder, The BeanPath.org