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Why Canada Is About To Fall Further Behind the U.S. on Tech Policy

By Michael Geist

CNET has posted an interesting interview with U.S. Federal Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra.  In a week where the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission has called for an open Internet supported by net neutrality principles enshrined into law, Chopra gives a good sense of where the U.S. is headed on technology policy with openness - open data and open standards - at the top of the list.  Chopra hedges on copyright reforms, but notes his experience with Creative Commons and the use of open textbooks with a track record of sharing and remixing. He affirms his strong support for net neutrality. He cites his three main deputies - Andrew McLaughlin, the former head of Google public policy, Beth Noveck, author of WikiGovernment and the inspiration behind the peer to patent project, and Scott Deutchman, who was a legal advisor at the FCC - as well as the new director of the USPTO, David Kappos (former had of IBM IP licensing). It is still early days in the Obama Administration, but the contrast to Canada could not be sharper. The U.S. is heading toward greater openness, whether in the network or within government.  Canada still does not have anything comparable and seems likely to fall further and further behind on technology policy.

Full post as published by Michael Geist on September 23, 2009 (boomark / email).