SIIA Digital Discourse

Cybersecurity
On the same day that the Sen. Homeland Security Committee held a high profile hearing to discuss the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 (S. 2105), Sen. McCain (R-AZ), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and four other Republicans announced their intention to introduce an alternative cybersecurity bill after Congress returns from the President’s Day recess. It will include measures to reform FISMA and facilitate information sharing between the government and private sector about cyber threats, among other things.

Also, following the introduction of S. 2105 last week, Sen. Leahy introduced new legislation to address the law enforcement component of cybersecurity (see summary). The legislation closely tracks Title I of Leahy’s Personal Data Privacy and Security Act of 2011 (S. 1151), which passed out of Committee last year, and is intended to be offered as an amendment when cyber is considered on the Senate floor.

FTC releases App. Privacy Report, Long Awaited DOC Report Expected Thursday
Last week, the FTC issued a staff report regarding the results of a survey of mobile apps for children. The Report, “Mobile Apps for Kids: Current Privacy Disclosures Are Disappointing,” asserts that mobile apps can capture a broad range of user information from a mobile device automatically, including the user’s precise geolocation, phone number, list of contacts, call logs, unique identifiers, and “highlights the lack of information available to parents prior to downloading mobile apps for their children, and calls on industry to provide greater transparency about their data practices.” Additionally, a report from POLITICO has the DC privacy community abuzz with anticipation that the long awaited Dept. of Commerce Privacy Report will be released at a White House privacy event scheduled for this Thursday.

SIIA Ed-Tech Policy Conference to Focus on Digital Learning Needs
As outlined by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan more than a year ago, the New Normal in education is the challenge of “doing more with less” in our pK-20 education system. SIIA continues to support our education system’s efforts to reimagine and retool by personalizing learning and leveraging technology and digital learning. SIIA’s upcoming Ed Tech Government Forum will bring SIIA member technology and education entrepreneurs together with national, state and local education leaders to dialogue about the policies of the “New Normal.”

Payroll Tax Holiday Advances Sans Key Tech Tax Provisions
The final payroll tax holiday extension package agreed to last week and expected to be signed by the President later this week does not extend key tech industry tax provisions such as the expired R&D tax credit or extension of the 100 percent bonus depreciation provision for qualified property placed in service before 2013.

ICANN/Domain Name Application Update
ICANN stated that, thus far, 100 applicants have applied for new gTLDs during the current January 12-April 12 application period. The ICANN Board also reaffirmed that there will be a second gTLD registration period at some point after the first window is over.