"Firms Seek Federal Privacy Rules; 12 Big Businesses Say 'Patchwork' of State Laws Is Confusing," The Washington Post, June 21, 2006
"Restricting information could reduce competition and prevent new firms from entering the marketplace, said Thomas M. Lenard, senior fellow at the Progress & Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit organization that analyzes public policy relating to digital technology.
"'The personal information utilized by firms produces great value for consumers and the economy,' Lenard told the subcommittee. Regulation, he said, would have 'unintended' consequences, 'especially when imposed on a medium like the Internet that is changing so rapidly.'"

"High-Tech Leaders Push Privacy Protections," Washington Internet Daily, June 21, 2006
"[P]ersonal data amassed by private firms produce value for consumers and markets, said Progress & Freedom Foundation Senior VP-Research Thomas Lenard. Lawmakers should study the consequences of privacy and data security regulation to assure that the benefits justify the costs, he said, challenging claims that too much consumer information is being collected. 'Markets work better with more information,' he said: 'As the cost of information goes down, market participants obtain more of it and, consequently, make better decisions.'
"Lenard ticked off benefits of data availability, such as targeted marketing, better estimates of consumer demand and smaller inventories. An abundance of consumer information can correct market failures caused by 'asymmetric information,' he said. Some types of data security mandates cause unintended harm to consumers and markets, he said. Anxiety over breaches can lead to limits on information, perhaps disrupting the flow of data vital to market functioning, Lenard said. Spooked consumers may move transactions offline, which studies show can make them more vulnerable to ID theft, he said. Small firms that can't afford compliance could suffer, Lenard said."

"Learning from VA’s debacle," Federal Times, June 19, 2006
"'Senior leadership must empower the chief privacy officer and the chief information officer by creating an environment where the CIO and CPO can work together,’ said Dan Caprio, who recently left the chief privacy officer post at the Commerce Department to become executive vice president of the Progress and Freedom Foundation."
"'If the role of the CPO becomes diminished to where it’s just a pure compliance role at a junior level, you lose the ability to have the reach and affect culture,’ he said."

"Franchise Bill, Accoutrements In Senate's Hands," Telecom Policy Report, June 12, 2006
"The House of Representatives' controversial bill to establish a national video-franchise system along with a slew of nagging disputes over Internet-regulation, network-neutrality, build-out and anti-redlining issues now rests with the Senate's ability to hammer out compromises among the warring political and lobbying factions on the core issue and its accompanying fights." "Additional praise for the House action comes from the Video Access Alliance, the Center for Individual Freedom, the Progress & Freedom Foundation, the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) and the TV4US coalition (which includes AT&T and the National Association of Manufacturers)."

"New Net Neutrality Plan May Ruffle Feathers," ZDNet, June 8, 2006
"Ray Gifford, president of the free-market Progress and Freedom Foundation and critic of Net neutrality, said Gonzalez's amendment 'underscores how the logic of Net neutrality does not logically stop at the physical layer of the Internet, but rather demands regulatory oversight of the content and applications layers as well.'"

"In the Tanks," National Journal, June 5, 2006
"In his previous position at the Commerce Department, Dan Caprio spent a lot of time on radio-frequency identification issues. And since Caprio believes RFID can best be addressed in the private sector, he's in a good position to focus on the issue working as executive vice president at a pro-free-market think tank like the Progress and Freedom Foundation. 'This is not a new technology that I believe needs government regulation. So for the technology to flourish, think tanks and others need to be involved in shaping a market-oriented, industry-led response. And PFF is the perfect platform for that.'"

"Paperwork Dread Ahead," RCR Wireless News, June 5, 2006
"'The story isn't over here; there is an end to collection, and it is a logical outgrowth of court rulings, but I suspect a new administration could resume collection. We need Congress to formally repeal this tax,' said Patrick Ross, senior fellow and vice president of communications & external affairs at the Progress & Freedom Foundation."

"The Brain Workout," Wall Street Journal, June 2, 2006
"Most videogames aren't violent or racy. A recent survey from the Progress and Freedom Foundation, a free-market think tank, found that more than 80% of the top-selling titles for the past five years came with the videogame industry's 'Everyone' or 'Teen' ratings, meaning that parents can assume reasonably inoffensive game content. About 15% of 2005's games received 'Mature' or 'Adults Only' ratings -- surprisingly few, given that 65% of gamers are 18-to-34-year-olds."

"Senate Offers Sweeping Telecom Bill," IT&T News, June 1, 2006
"A draft of a new Senate bill to overhaul U.S. telecommunications regulation received a mixed reception from advocates of a free-market approach to telecom policy."
"'Especially in light of the fact that presently there are no identified consumer harms that need remedying, this 'study first, mandate later' approach is much to be commended,’ commented Randolph May, senior fellow and director of communications policy studies at the Progress & Freedom Foundation, in the think tank’s blog.


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