Letters & Testimony

Testimony of Dan Lips before the Senate Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch

April 24, 2020 | Dan Lips

The following testimony was delivered on April 24, 2020 Chairman Hyde-Smith, Ranking Member Murphy, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Dan Lips. I am the Director of Cyber and National Security with the Lincoln Network, a non-profit organization that serves as a bridge between Silicon Valley,

April 20, 2020 | Scott McKaig

Brief of the R Street Institute, the Innovation Defense Foundation, Lincoln Network, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation Click here to read the brief. SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT Can a federal trade agency that deals with the importation of patent-infringing goods assert jurisdiction over companies that import nothing and products that infringe no patents? This remarkable situation

April 15, 2020 | Zach Graves

The Lincoln Network alongside a bipartisan coalition of 20 organizations sent the Speaker of the House a letter commending the allowance for legislators to submit remarks digitally amidst COVID-19. Dear: Speaker Pelosi, We are writing to commend the announcement and swift action taken by the Committee on House Administration, the Rules Committee, the House Parliamentarian,

Comments of Lincoln Network to the FCC

April 8, 2020 | Garrett Johnson

WC Docket Nos. 17-108; 17-287; 11-42 Authored by Joel L. Thayer and Garrett Johnson. Today, we use broadband via 4G/LTE networks to enhance many innovative technologies, such as telemedicine, connected farming, and security platforms to ensure our Nation’s security. The Internet of today requires authorities, both federal and state, to exercise some regulatory humility. Now

March 5, 2020 | Zach Graves

The following testimony was delivered on March 4, 2020. Zach Graves, Head of Policy, Lincoln Network Testimony to the United States House of Representatives, Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Subcommittee Re: S&T Capacity at the Government Accountability Office Dear Chairman Ryan, Ranking Member Herrera Beutler, and members of the committee: Thank you for the opportunity

March 5, 2020 | Dan Lips

The following testimony was delivered on March 4, 2020. Chairman Ryan, Ranking Member Herrera Beutler, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Dan Lips. I am the Director of Cyber and National Security with the Lincoln Network, a non-profit organization that serves as a bridge between Silicon

January 28, 2020 | Zach Graves

Lincoln Network joined a bipartisan coalition in support of H. Res. 756, the “Moving Our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization (MODCOM) Resolution of 2019.” The letter argues: We urge your support for the Moving Our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization (MODCOM) Resolution of 2019, H. Res. 756. This resolution advances nearly 30 bipartisan

December 5, 2019 | Zach Graves

The following letter was sent to the House Committee on Science, Space, & Technology on December 5, 2019. Click here for the full PDF version. Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson, ChairwomanHon. Frank Lucas, Ranking MemberHouse Committee on Science, Space, & Technology2321 Rayburn House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515 Re: Options for Improved Science and Technology Advice for

July 25, 2019 | Will Upton

Lincoln joined a coalition letter organized by the Institute for Liberty supporting the FCC’s efforts to curb excessive state and local cable franchise fees, as well as in-kind demands, that chill broadband deployment. The letter encourages the Commission to adopt the draft Third Report and Order on the implementation of Section 621 of the Cable Act during

July 20, 2019 | Zach Graves

Lincoln joined a bipartisan coalition letter urging new Congressional Budget Office director Dr. Phillip Swagel to improve CBO’s information publication practices and transparency. Other signatories include Demand Progress, Americans for Prosperity, Campaign for Liberty, TechFreedom, FreedomWorks, and others.

July 20, 2019 | Zach Graves

Lincoln joined a bipartisan coalition letter organized by Demand Progress in support of the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act (ACMRA) sponsored by Sens. Rob Portman (R-Oh), Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). This legislation would take important steps towards improving the accessibility of public government information . The letter argues: The ACMRA

Principles for Amending Section 230

July 11, 2019 | Will Upton

Lincoln joined a broad, bipartisan coalition letter organized by our friends at TechFreedom. The letter outlines seven principles for amending Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The letter argues: Policymakers have expressed concern about both harmful online speech and the content moderation practices of tech companies. Section 230, enacted as part of the bipartisan

July 11, 2019 | Will Upton

Lincoln joined a center-right coalition letter urging policymakers to not be overly hasty in trying to regulate the Internet ecosystem. Signatories include Americans for Prosperity, Campaign for Liberty, FreedomWorks, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, and others.

June 3, 2019 | Ryan Radia

I submitted the following comments to the Federal Trade Commission on May 31, 2019 regarding Docket FTC-2018-0098, “Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in 21st Century: Consumer Privacy.” Click here for the PDF version (which includes my footnotes). Mr. Donald S. ClarkFederal Trade Commission Office of the Secretary600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20580 Re:

May 24, 2019 | Ryan Radia

I submitted the following written testimony to Senate appropriators on strengthening technical expertise at the FTC. The Honorable John Kennedy United States Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Christopher Coons United States Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Washington, DC

May 9, 2019 | Zach Graves

The following bipartisan coalition letter, organized by Lincoln Network and Demand Progress, was sent to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, on Thursday, May 9, 2019. Click here for a PDF version. Hon. Cindy Hyde-Smith, ChairmanHon. Chris Murphy, Ranking MemberU.S. Senate, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on the Legislative BranchRoom S-128, The

April 8, 2019 | Zach Graves

This bipartisan coalition letter, organized by Lincoln Network and Demand Progress, was sent to the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress on April 8, 2019. It offers a series of recommendations for improving information technology in Congress. Click here to read it. Signatories include: Zach GravesHead of Policy, Lincoln Network Daniel SchumanPolicy Director,

April 3, 2019 | Zach Graves

On April 2, 2019, I testified before the U.S. House Appropriations Committee’s Legislative Branch Subcommittee on improving S&T expertise in Congress. At hand was the ongoing discussion on building-out technology assessment capabilities (modeled on the defunct Office of Technology Assessment) within the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The following is an excerpt of the testimony (available

March 25, 2019 | Zach Graves

The following bipartisan coalition letter was organized by Lincoln Network and Demand Progress. Two versions were sent to House and Senate appropriators. Click here for the House version (displayed below). Click here for the Senate version. Rep. Nita Lowey, ChairwomanRep. Kay Granger, Ranking MemberU.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Appropriations The Capitol, Room H-307Washington, DC

May 20, 2018 | Zach Graves

I co-organized the following coalition letter urging Congress to takes steps to improve its in-house expertise on science and technology. The letter argues: The dearth of technological expertise in the legislative branch makes it difficult for Congress to properly evaluate the divergent claims of executive agencies, academic centers, interest groups and lobbyists. This circumstance is

January 1, 2018 | Garrett Johnson

Lincoln organized a letter of tech founders and venture capitalists urging Congress to pass bipartisan legislation on net neutrality. Signatories include Joe Lonsdale, Trae Stephens, Joe Malchow, and many others. The letter argues: By codifying principles that have been in the public forum for some time, Congress can ensure that existing investments in internet infrastructure