Comcast's Cohen Named Digital Commerce Adviser

john.eggerton@futurenet.com (John Eggerton) — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 18:15:00 +0000

WASHINGTON -- Comcast senior executive vice president and chief diversity officer David Cohen is among a number of familiar names tapped by Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to be on the first-ever Digital Economy Board of Advisors, one goal of which is to protect a free and open Internet. Also on the board is AT&T senior EVP James Cicconi as well as representatives of Microsoft, Consumer Reports, YouTube and Lyft.

Pritzker agreed to create the board last fall as part of the Administration's Digital Economy Agenda, which includes insuring a "free and open Internet," broadband access and innovation.

The board will be co-chaired by Markle Foundation president Zoe Baird and Mitchell Baker, executive chairwoman of Mozilla.

“As we develop an agenda to help the digital economy grow and thrive, it is critical that we engage with those on the front lines of the digital revolution," said Pritzker.

Other members of the advisory panel are:

• Karen Bartleson, president-elect of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

• Greg Becker, president and CEO of Silicon Valley Bank and SVB Financial Group

• Austan Goolsbee, Robert P. Gwinn Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

• Mindy Grossman, CEO and director of HSN, Inc.

• Oisin Hanrahan, co-founder and CEO of Handy

• Sonia Katyal, Chancellor’s Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law

• James Manyika, director of the McKinsey Global Institute

• William Ruh, CEO of GE Digital and Chief Digital Officer for GE

• Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer at Microsoft

• Corey Thomas, president and CEO of Rapid7

• Marta Tellado, president and CEO of Consumer Reports

• Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube

• John Zimmer, co-founder and president of Lyft

Commerce Creating Digital Economy Board

john.eggerton@futurenet.com (John Eggerton) — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:00:00 +0000

The Commerce Department is creating a Digital Economy Board of Advisors to advise it on ways to make sure that the Internet is "an engine of growth, innovation, and free expression."

The White House has argued that the FCC's reclassification of Internet access as a Title II common carrier service does just that, for example, while ISPs argue that it does the opposite.

Commerce Tuesday (Nov,. 24) said it was seeking candidates for the board (15-20 members), which will comprise members of civil society (the new term of art for advocacy groups) and industry leaders.

Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker will appoint the members, who will serve two-year terms.

“Promoting the digital economy is a top priority for the Department of Commerce,” said Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews in announcing the new call for candidates. “We highly value the input of the private sector as we develop policies to promote digital innovation and remove barriers to global competitiveness."

Commerce's digital economy agenda is billed as promoting "a free and open Internet, trust online, innovation, and Internet access for all Americans." Issues on the board's agenda will include "broadband, cybersecurity and privacy."

Interested candidates can nominate themselves or be nominated by others using this form. https://www.ntia.doc.gov/digital-economy-board-advisors-nomination-form.

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Comcast's Cohen Named Digital Commerce Adviser

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