Thursday, December 11, 6:00 – 8:15 p.m.

Internet Governance:  Results of Plenipotentiary-14, and Prospects for IANA Transition and UNGA-15

The FCBA International Telecommunications Committee will hold a CLE on Thursday, December 11 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. entitled “Internet Governance:  Results of Plenipotentiary-14, and Prospects for IANA Transition and UNGA-15.”  This program will be held at Arnold & Porter LLP, 555 12th Street, NW.

In December 2012, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) held a treaty conference to revise its Telecommunication Regulations (WCIT). That conference exposed a rift between those Member States who wanted greater control over Internet Governance and those – such as the U.S. and Europe – committed to the Multistakeholder model.  Subsequent surveillance-related issues underscored the importance of these issues at subsequent meetings at the ITU, at other U.N. bodies, and at various “multistakeholder” groups and meetings.  In spring 2014, the Department of Commerce launched a process to transfer its remaining oversight of the “IANA” function.  This kick-started a process being coordinated by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), and initiated Congressional debate about the wisdom of this action.  In addition, Internet Governance issues will be central to the quadrennial ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, held October 20 – November 7 in Korea.  Finally, the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) will address these issues in 2015. 

This CLE will examine the legal and policy outcomes of the Plenipotentiary, and how any alterations to the treaty or resolutions (particularly regarding Internet Governance) could affect U.S. interests, including business. It also will review the IANA transition process to date and expected future timing. Finally, the CLE will examine how to maximize the private sector’s role in UNGA’s 2015 review of Internet Governance.

AGENDA

6:00 – 6:05 p.m.         Welcome and Introduction

6:05 – 7:05 p.m.         Korea:  ITU Plenipotentiary (PP-14) and the ITU’s Role in Oversight of the Internet

What were the U.S. objectives for PP-14?  What challenges did the U.S. face?  Which countries were our allies?  What were the “success stories”?  What were the outcomes that are problematic?  What follow-up do you expect—Executive, Legislative or otherwise?

Moderator:

Jennifer Warren, Vice President, Technology Policy & Regulation, Lockheed-Martin, and Past President, Federal Communications Bar Association

Panelists:

Ambassador Daniel A. Sepulveda, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Department of State

Robert Pepper, Vice President, Global Technology Policy, Cisco

Jackie Ruff, Vice President. International Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Verizon

Sarah Wynn-Williams, Manager of Global Public Policy, Facebook (Invited)

7:05 – 7:15 p.m.         Break

7:15 – 8:15 p.m.         Internet or Splinternet?  The Future of ICANN, IANA, and the Root Zone File

Is the U.S. forfeiting “control” over the Net?  Will there be sufficient safeguards and accountability?  If not, what are the plausible alternatives for IANA if not ICANN oversight?  How can non-governmental entities help convince the UNGA that the multistakeholder model works well for Internet “governance.”? 

Moderator: 

David A. Gross, Partner, Wiley Rein LLP and President, Federal Communications Bar Association

Panelists:

Jamie Hedlund, Advisor to the ICANN President, ICANN

Aparna Sridhar, Counsel, Google

Fiona Alexander, Associate Administrator, Office of International Affairs, NTIA, Department of Commerce

Ellen Blackler, Vice President - Global Public Policy, The Walt Disney Company