The Telecommunications & Electronic Media Practice Group hosted this panel on "The Future of Spectrum Policy" on Saturday, November 12, 2011, during the 2011 National Lawyers Convention. The panel featured Mr. Brian F. Fontes of the National Emergency Number Association; Hon. Janice Obuchowski of Freedom Technologies, Inc.; Mr. Thomas C. Power of the Office of Science & Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President; and JudgeJennifer Walker Elrod of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit as the moderator.

Congress is aflutter with online privacy bills, while arguments for regulating search engines, social networks and other online service providers are gaining traction with consumer protection and competition agencies. Yet policymakers seem to have given little attention to how interventions to protect privacy or competition will affect speech online. Our expert panel will discuss how the First Amendment applies to search engines and the personalization of online services, content and advertising based on user data—once abstract questions that are increasingly becoming central to our culture and economy. Featuring Prof. Richard A. Epstein of New York University School of Law; Prof. James Grimmelman of the Institute for Information Law and Policy at New York Law School; Prof. Jonathan Masur of the University of Chicago Law School; Mr. Berin Szoka of TechFreedom; and JudgeDiane P. Wood of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit as the moderator. Introduction by Mr. Trevor K. Copeland of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione.

The internet has been a revolution of undoubted importance in the business world, for government, and for our culture. It has thus far flourished, largely without government intervention or oversight. But is increased federal regulation of the internet inevitable? If so, which agency is best able to provide such regulation in a manner that will allow the internet to continue to grow in the most beneficial manner? Will the Federal Trade Commission become the primary federal agency, to the exclusion of the Federal Communications Commission, of internet regulation? What are the relative merits of regulation by either or both agencies? Is regulation by an agency even possible at this point, or is legislation required first? Opening address by Commissioner Meredith Atwell Baker of the Federal Communications Commission with an introduction by Mr. Dean A. Reuter, Director of Practice Groups for the Federalist Society. Panelists included Prof. John F. Blevins of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law; Mr. Christopher Libertelli, Senior Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Skype; Prof. Christopher S. Yoo of the University of Pennsylvania Law School; and Mr. Scott J. Wallsten, Vice President for Research and Senior Fellow at the Technology Policy Institute, as the moderator.

The Federalist Society's Telecommunications & Electronic Media Practice Group hosted this panel discussion on "Rewriting the Telecomm Act: Has the Time Come?" at the 2010 National Lawyers Convention on Saturday, November 20, 2010. The Honorable Robert M. McDowell of the Federal Communications Commission gave some introductory remarks. Immediately following, The Honorable Thomas J. Tauke of Verizon Communications and former U.S. Representative from Iowa delivered the keynote address.  Panelists included Mr. Shawn H. Chang of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce; Ms. Parul P. Desai of Consumers Union; Ms. Maureen K. Ohlhausen of Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer, LLP; Mr. Howard W. Waltzman of Mayer Brown LLP; and Judge David B. Sentelle of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit as the moderator.