Post Internet Freedom Hearing Includes Rare Moment of Congressional Consensus

In today’s political climate, it is rare to

hear a unified voice from Congress, especially one pertaining to regulation. In

today’s House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology’s hearing on

“Fighting for Internet Freedom: Dubai and Beyond” one such voice was heard. The

overall consensus from member participants was a clear demand to keep the

Internet open and free. Held jointly with the Subcommittee on Terrorism,

Nonproliferation and Trade and the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health,

Global Human Rights and International Organizations. The hearing focused on

last December’s World Conference on International Telecommunications convened

by the ITU in

Dubai.

Public Knowledge’s Harold Feld testified

on behalf of civil society. As an advisory member to the US delegation to

Dubai, Harold was positioned to give a first hand account of both the successes

and difficulties of working within a multi-stakeholder approach. While Public

Knowledge considers the inclusion of civil society within the US delegation an

important step

forward, there were limitations to which civil society was able to

participate. It is also important to recognize the difficulties this approach

presents to stakeholders from developing nations that cannot participate to the

degree in which other delegations can. This creates both an opportunity and

challenge for the US, both domestically and abroad.

As revealed in the testimony, there was a

clear line drawn in the sand between the US and allies and those countries that

sought to ensure that Internet governance was included within ITR’s; regulations that are an opportunity to tackle

many other issues at the convergence of business and government. Although efforts were made by countries

such as China, Saudi Arabia and Russia to push proposals

that would drastically change the open nature of the Internet, many were successfully rebuffed.

However this very attempt, as stated by panelist

FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, is proof of the incremental behavior and

commitment of the governments of countries like China to move forward with an

agenda of censorship. The active inclusion of language by member states that

attempt to expand government control over free expression caused the United

States, along with 53 other countries, to refuse to sign the

ITR’s. However, the very attempt was the cause of much concern for the

members of all committees, many of which emphasized the importance of opposing

efforts to diminish the open framework of the Internet.

Panelists and members discussed opportunities

to oppose these efforts, through supporting a resolution

maintaining US support for a global Internet free from government control and

the continuation of a multi-stakeholder model that governs the Internet. Other

options lie in fostering our relationships with delegations in developing

nations. Nations that view the United States a global Internet leader, many of

which are successfully engaged by organizations such as the Internet Society.

Going

forward, it is clear that the subject of Internet governance is at the

forefront of congressional concern. Whether that concern can remain optimistic

in nature depends on how we choose to engage others and the continued inclusion

of civil society as a valued stakeholder.