TPRC48: THE RESEARCH CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION, AND INTERNET POL

In the 1990s the United States led the creation of a globalized free trading system in telecommunications. We encouraged other countries to open their markets to competition and liberalized trade in both services and devices. Through the WTO, the world ratified the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), which reduced tariffs and opened market access in equipment, and the Basic Telecommunications Services (BTS) agreement, which liberalized telecom services markets. We promoted a nongovernmental global governance regime for critical internet resources, organized around ICANN.

The US is now turning away from free trade agreements and toward tech nationalism. Our alleged rivalry with China is usually invoked as the justification.

Does it make sense for the U.S. to pull back from its support for a free market economy in communications in order to counter the rise of Chinese capabilities? Is the use of Huawei equipment really a national security threat to the United States? This purported conflict between the US and China implicates core issues in telecommunications policy. It touches upon cybersecurity, the use of common (global) standards and standards development organizations, trade in telecommunications equipment, internet services and e-commerce.
This panel will foster a balanced dialogue around these issues. It was put together by two internet and policy experts with views that diverge enough to make it interesting but are open to dialogue with the other side.