January 5, 2012 - The Technology Policy Institute's 2012 Aspen Forum will be held August 19 - 21 at the St. Regis Aspen Resort in Aspen, Colorado.
November 21, 2011 - Online leisure time is beginning to crowd out other, offline activities such as socializing, relaxing and watching traditional television, finds Scott Wallsten in "What Are We Not Doing When We're Online?" released today by the Technology Policy Institute. Leisure time spent watching online video appears to be taking the place of traditional television viewing, albeit not rapidly or as ubiquitously as some have claimed. In addition, younger people are rapidly abandoning email and replacing it with texting and social networking applications.
September 30, 2011 - The proposed Connect America Fund intended to provide broadband to high-cost areas should abandon a cost-based approach in favor of a value-based approach in which subsidies depend on whether the incremental benefits are worth the cost, argues Scott Wallsten in "How to Create a More Efficient CAF by Incorporating Demand and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis," released today by the Technology Policy Institute. A cost-effectiveness analysis focused on willingness to pay and incremental effects can ensure the CAF is more efficient than the current universal service high-cost fund.
September 20, 2011 - Government funding for research and development should focus on activities that would not happen otherwise to avoid crowding out private sources of funding, stated Scott Wallsten in testimony today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. During the hearing, "Tax Reform Options: Incentives for Innovation," Wallsten suggested that a permanent tax credit for qualified R&D would help stimulate additional innovation in the private sector.
September 6, 2011 - Tech companies that become dominant inevitably come into the antitrust cross-hairs. Google is the latest example and is now the subject of investigations in both the U.S. and Europe over allegations it has abused its dominant position in online search and other businesses. At "Online Search, Antitrust and Google: In Search of a Pro-Consumer Policy," hosted by the Technology Policy Institute, a distinguished group of experts will discuss the complex issues the antitrust agencies must address in their review of Google. Topics will include market definition, market power, existence and effects of "search bias", the availability of effective remedies, and, ultimately, what is in the consumer's best interest.
