Center for Executive Education in Technology Policy (CEE-TP)
Course Catalog
Information Security, Privacy and Policy
Offered online, spread out over 5 days
Lead Instructor: Dr. Nicolas Christin
This course gives participants an understanding of fundamental technical and policy challenges of security and privacy. As layers upon layers of technology mediate increasingly rich business processes and social interactions, issues of information security and privacy are growing more complex. This course takes a multi-disciplinary perspective of information security and privacy, looking at technologies (encryption, etc) as well as business, legal, policy and usability issues. The objective is to prepare attendees to identify and address critical security and privacy issues involved in the design, development and deployment of information systems. Examples used to introduce concepts include enterprise systems, mobile services, cloud storage and processing, pervasive computing, and social networking.
5G Cellular Networks
Instructors: Jon Peha, Tom Power, Chris Boyer, Charla Rath, Ken Budka, Jeff Reed, Nishith Tripathi, Travis Russell, Hongwei Zhang
This course will provide an overview of emerging 5G technologies and standards, the emerging ecosystem of equipment and service providers, and what all of this could mean for policymakers. It includes how 5G differs from previous generations, and the types of applications and uses that this new generation of technology will enable, and the implications for various sectors of the economy and society, such as agriculture, manufacturing, electric power grids, health care and public safety. It includes the business models for 5G operators, and the new industry structure that may result. It includes implications for spectrum policy, including the roles of low-band, mid-band and emerging high-band spectrum, and the roles of spectrum that is licensed exclusively and spectrum that is shared. It includes the challenges of deploying towers, small cells and backhaul, and issues faced by policymakers who regulate that deployment. It includes the security issues of 5G, and how they compare with previous generations. It includes a discussion of Open Radio Access Networks (O-RAN), and the implications for competition among equipment vendors, security, integration, and price.
Digital and online privacy for policy makers
Co-Instructors:
- Pam Dixon, Founder and Executive Director of the World Privacy Forum, and co-chair United Nations Statistics Data Governance Committee
- Aleecia McDonald, Carnegie Mellon University Professor and former Chair of W3C Do-Not-Track standards committee
- Frederik Zuiderveen Borgesius, Professor of ICT and Law at Radboud University, The Netherlands
This course begins with an overview of privacy thought and global legal and policy frameworks. The course covers the history and thinking that underlies many approaches to privacy, including a background on early privacy thought, including the Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPPs) and Privacy by Design (PbD). This section also covers an overview of regional differences and similarities in privacy frameworks and policies, as well as an update on modern trends and issues in privacy and data governance. The next portion of the course covers the legislative history that brought the GDPR into being. Many national laws mirror European laws, particularly building upon the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Emphasis is on current legal requirements, particularly the European version of the FIPPS, the possible legal bases for processing data, including consent, and the regulation of online marketing. The final portion of this course addresses approaches to privacy within companies through technical means and frameworks, including LINDDUN and the Global Privacy Control (GPC) to help contextualize corporate fears of “breaking the Internet” with privacy laws. It concludes with a selection of prior attempts to address privacy that have thus far not worked in practice, with an eye to avoiding repeating mistakes of the past.
The 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunications Union
Lead Instructor: Jennifer Manner, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Echostar Corporation, and co-chair of the Commerce Dept. Spectrum Management Advisory Committee.
This course will provide an overview of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), describe the role of the ITU’s Constitutional Conference known as the Plenipotentiary Conference in general, and discuss the issues before the upcoming 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference. The course will begin with a short overview of the ITU, its history, its mission, and what it looks like today. This includes a description of membership roles, organizational structure and why it is important, key issues the ITU is facing, how the ITU has continued to thrive for over 160 years, and how it operates vis-à-vis other international organizations. This is followed by an overview of the Plenipotentiary Conference, which is the Constitutional Conference that is held every four years. This course then focuses on the 2022 Conference, including its elections and the issues will likely arise including cyber security and internet governance. Finally, the course provide a more detailed explanation the three sectors and their regular conferences: (i) the Development sector, (ii) the Telecommunications sector, and (iii) and the Radiocommunications sectors. There will be detailed case studies associated with each sector. Finally, the course will conclude with a short summary of where things are going in the future.
Approaches for Expanding Internet Connectivity
Lead instructor: David Reed, Professor at University of Colorado and former Chief Strategy Officer of CableLabs
This course focuses on digital divide issues in regions that lack Internet infrastructure, where the goal is to extend Internet connectivity to these often overlooked urban, rural, or remote areas. There are significant technical, economic, and regulatory issues associated with deploying Internet infrastructure to high-cost areas, and this course addresses this complex mix with the basic concepts that engaged regulators, policy makers and government decision makers need to know. It provides a concise primer of the different network technologies in use to provide residential broadband Internet access services using fiber, fixed and mobile wireless, hybrid fiber-coax, or satellite networks. The course then covers the economics of broadband networking by comparing the costs of different technical options to better understand circumstances that favor their deployment. Based upon this engineering economic foundation of knowledge, the course then discusses key regulatory issues that can block or promote the deployments of broadband networks to tackle the digital divide. Policy topics covered include approaches to fund broadband universal service, the role of municipal networks, open access networks and the importance of supporting spectrum management policies.
Regulations in Today’s Competitive Telecommunications Environment
Lead Instructor: Dr. Marvin Sirbu, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University
This course will focus on the fundamentals of telecommunications and Internet regulatory policy, and how they relate to a competitive and increasingly complex environment. First, it will review the history that led to today’s telecom market, and the challenges this poses for regulators. This includes the transition from monopoly PTTs to competitive provision of services by private operators under independent National Regulatory Authorities, and the shift from telephone-based to Internet-based services. Second, the course addresses the issues of independent regulatory agencies, including dominant theories as to why regulation of telecommunications is sometimes necessary, and the various approaches to regulation. This includes comparisons of regulation originating in concepts of common carriage, versus constraint of Significant Market Power; behavioral versus structural regulation; ex ante vs ex post regulation; and licensing of communications service providers. Requirements of the World Trade Organization GATS Telecom Annex for transparent regulatory processes. Third, the course addresses economic regulation and antitrust. This includes issues such as the goals of a pricing policy, special economic characteristics of telecommunications, tariff structure, cost allocation, cross subsidy and predation, rate of return and incentive regulation, structural regulation, anticompetitive behaviors, interconnection tariffs, internet economics and network neutrality. How changes in technology can bring valuable new capabilities while pressuring existing regulatory frameworks in unintended and sometimes adverse ways. Fourth, the course discusses how competition creates the need to reimagine universal service. This includes high cost vs low income subscribers, customer subsidies vs network subsidies, evolving levels of universal service, within industry subsidies versus direct appropriations and reverse auctions. Fifth, the course addresses regulation of over-the-top services. This includes discussion of communications vs information services, layered models of regulation, access providers vs edge providers, platforms and aggregators, application to VOIP and VOD, content and conduits, marketplace neutrality, and the role of search algorithms. Finally, the course discusses international institutions in telecom and Internet policy making, including the roles of ISOC, ICANN, IETF and other multistakeholder groups, intergovernmental groups such as the ITU and the GATS Telecom Annex. This course is useful preparation for some of the more specialized courses that CMU will offer.
The 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunications Union
Lead Instructor: Jennifer Manner, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Echostar Corporation, and co-chair of the Commerce Dept. Spectrum Management Advisory Committee.
This course will provide an overview of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), describe the role of the ITU’s Constitutional Conference known as the Plenipotentiary Conference in general, and discuss the issues before the upcoming 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference. The course will begin with a short overview of the ITU, its history, its mission, and what it looks like today. This includes a description of membership roles, organizational structure and why it is important, key issues the ITU is facing, how the ITU has continued to thrive for over 160 years, and how it operates vis-à-vis other international organizations. This is followed by an overview of the Plenipotentiary Conference, which is the Constitutional Conference that is held every four years. This course then focuses on the 2022 Conference, including its elections and the issues will likely arise including cyber security and internet governance. Finally, the course provide a more detailed explanation the three sectors and their regular conferences: (i) the Development sector, (ii) the Telecommunications sector, and (iii) and the Radiocommunications sectors. There will be detailed case studies associated with each sector. Finally, the course will conclude with a short summary of where things are going in the future.
Moving Towards Digital Inclusion
Instructors:
- Sharon Strover, University of Texas Professor and former official of the Rural Utility Service at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
- John Horrigan, Senior Fellow at Benton Foundation, former Associate Director for Research at Pew Research Center
- Johannes Bauer, Professor at Michigan State University, Director of the Quello Cente
This course will address a variety of subjects related to the challenges of getting people online and cultivating digital literacy in regions where Internet services are available. It will provide an overview of some of the most common broadband infrastructure choices and review the cost, reach and technical support implications associated with them. Managing consumer devices, and the implications associated with using wifi hotspots, mobiles, computers, and other Internet of Things technologies with broadband networks will be addressed. Some of the research on how broadband is useful for various economic sectors will be reviewed, including the adaptability of certain broadband systems to different application domains (agriculture, retail, health and education services). Matters of ownership and economic choices, and how local, regional or national policymakers might approach them, will be discussed. Because affordability of broadband is a major concern in all settings, some of the trade-offs and models that affect producer and consumer costs will be addressed. Cultivating digital literacy among different population groups, and how to involve educational and non-profit groups will be discussed, alongside the implications of maintaining competencies, training models, and technical assistance. Certain institutions, including health and education systems, and possibly libraries, community centers and other organizations may be critical sites for providing services that can develop broadband-based skills and uses, and the course will review some models for developing and supporting those institutions.
Legal Issues in Cryptocurrencies and other Cryptoassets
Instructor: Dr. Giovanna Massarotto, Fellow, University of Pennsylvania
Technological change is upending the financial industry. The course focuses on how the regulation and legal framework is adapting to this change. Emerging technologies, such as blockchain and AI, will be also explored as a toll to enforce regulation (e.g. the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) participated in a blockchain pilot in the context of mortgages). The course will start with a discussion on what is money and an overview of the main policy/regulatory issues, such as the use of cryptographic protocols (e.g. Bitcoin and Zero Knowledge proof protocols) to preserve privacy in payments and a decentralized (peer-to-peer) money system. Then, it investigates the major crimes (e.g. money laundering and scams) in the context of cryptocurrencies and cryptoassets more broadly, explaining the main reasons why in certain countries cryptocurrencies like bitcoins are banned. The course proceeds with the investigation of the financial regulatory framework for cryptoassets focusing on the U.S. and European jurisdictions, as models of reference for other countries. Emphasis will be put on the main differences between digital and non-digital assets (security) regulation through the analysis of blockchain technologies underlying digital assets and case studies. The main legal issues related to AI (bias, data protection and artificial responsibility) will be also explored. The discussion of regulatory policy for cryptoassets will proceed with the analysis of antitrust law and what are the main antitrust issues involved. Case studies, including Visa’s proposed acquisition of the FinTech company Plaid, will be analyzed to provide participants with some concrete examples of how antitrust affects FinTech. The issue of algorithmic collusion will be also explored. The course ends with the investigation and discussion of the issue “Trust the Government v. Trust the Technology,” and the need of an international regulatory framework for cryptoassets. The present and future challenges for cryptoassets regulation and law will be debated and discussed.
Internet Governance
Instructor: Dr. William Drake, Director of International Studies, Institute for Tele-Information, Columbia University; veteran of ICANN, IGF and WEF
Global Internet governance concerns the international and transnational institutions that guide the operation and use of the Internet. Over the past 25 years, how the Internet should be governed has been the focus of substantial global debate and has given rise to new forms of cooperation among governments, corporations, the Internet technical community, and civil society. This course surveys the historical evolution and contemporary dynamics of that cooperation, and draws on both the scholarly and policy practitioner discussions and the lecturer's experience in Internet governance processes. Throughout the course we will interweave two levels of analysis: overviews of the institutions, interests, and dynamics involved in the various governance issue-areas; and attention to the concerns and roles of governments and stakeholders from the developing countries.
Digital Government (eGovernment) Transformation - Leading Large-Scale Programs
Instructor: Ashok Kumar, Professor, Carnegie Mellon; former Director of the eGovernment Leadership Centre, National University of Singapore
Digital Government Transformation is no longer an option to explore but an urgent call for action. This course will discuss the impetus to embark on such a transformation journey and discuss the 6 thinking strategies – Strategic Thinking, Design Thinking, Product Thinking, Platform Thinking, Agile Thinking and Data Thinking.
- Strategic Thinking will introduce techniques for planning amidst uncertainty.
- Design Thinking will focus on Citizens and Businesses and techniques to develop services with empathy and life events rather than transactions.
- Product Thinking introduces the concept of modular architecture of services with an ability to improve and enhance it continually as compared to a project approach.
- Platform Thinking will draw lessons from digital disruption and discuss the eco-system development for sustaining growth and delivery of services.
- Agile Thinking will introduce business agility concepts and agile development methodologies that has proven successful in delivering technology projects and risk management.
- Data Thinking will enunciate the importance of Data as the precious asset and its management frameworks will be discussed.
Related topics of Whole of Government, Society, Nation framework, streamlining organizational structures and processes, barriers to inter-department interactions will be discussed. Soft, but important aspects of transformation such change management, stakeholder engagement and effective communications are essential to the successful implementation. Frameworks, real-life examples, case studies and group work will be used to deliver an immersive, peer-learning experience that will engage the participants. As such, we expect participants to actively interact, participate in group work and open discussions, share and learn. Together, we look forward to learning, un-learning and re-learning.
Spectrum Management
Instructor: Jon Peha,Professor, Carnegie Mellon University; former Chief Technologist, U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
This course will teach participants how to manage spectrum in a way that encourages competition, innovation, and investment, while limiting harmful interference. This includes management of spectrum for commercial communications services, spectrum for broadcasting, spectrum for government purposes such as public safety, spectrum for satellites, spectrum for sensing devices from radar to radio astronomy, and more. The course will address fundamental issues of spectrum licensing, including defining bandplans, running effective spectrum auctions, and encouraging spectrum markets. It will then present current and more forward-looking approaches to spectrum sharing and spectrum management, including unlicensed bands, multi-tier sharing models, spectrum sensing and spectrum access systems that use databases, band managers, receiver standards to improve spectrum efficiency, spectrum markets and spectrum leasing. It will also address organizational aspects of a spectrum management agency, including making spectrum regulations clear and transparent, working with open standards organizations, and creating procedures and policies for enforcement of spectrum regulations.
Spectrum Auction Design
Instructor: Geoffrey Myers, Visiting Professor in Practice, London School of Economics; former Director of Competition Economics, Ofcom
This course will teach participants about key aspects of spectrum auctions, highlighting the opportunities and challenges, examining the important concepts and real-world examples of both successful and failed auctions, and learning through participation in group and individual exercises. Auction objectives will be considered, showing how the efficient allocation of spectrum licenses can contribute to large consumer and wider societal benefits, and the potential tension with revenue-raising which benefits taxpayers but can distort economic efficiency. This tension will be illustrated by exploring different approaches to choosing reserve prices, emphasizing that a commonly made mistake is setting reserve prices too high and leaving spectrum unsold. Then the main auction formats used for spectrum auctions will be described and analyzed, showing the practical design trade-offs to be made when seeking both to facilitate straightforward bidding (such as risks of substitution and exposure) and to provide bidders with disincentives against engaging in strategic bidding (which can come in many forms, including demand reduction, tacit collusion, price driving, and signaling). This analysis will explain why the complications mean that there is no perfect auction design and that the best choices will depend on the objectives and on well-informed expert judgement taking account of the circumstances specific to the country and the auctioned spectrum. Then the course will show how to assess the case for implementing competition measures in the auction to promote downstream wireless competition, such as spectrum caps or reservation, and to provide a balance with the risks of regulatory failure from measures that are too restrictive. Finally, the course will explore advantages and pitfalls of different ways to harness auctions to achieve the important policy objective of wider wireless coverage in rural areas, including through direct procurement, coverage obligations, and innovative auction designs.
Standards Development
Instructor: Marvin Sirbu, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University
This course will give participants an understanding of how technical standards for telecommunications systems are developed, including the various approaches to standards development, the use of open standards, the multi-stakeholder approach to standards development, and how governmental and intergovernmental bodies relate to private sector standards bodies. The course describes private industry-led standards bodies, such as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which has produced standards for multiple generations of cellular systems. It will describe international non-profit organizations that run open standards processes. This includes the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which has produced networking standards for networking technologies like Wi-Fi and ethernet, and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which has produced standards for the Internet such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP). The course will describe the role of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), when it allocates spectrum for various types of usage, and when considering the new Internet protocol that has been proposed by the Government of China. The broader implications of creating a standard through a private sector open standards process versus an intergovernmental organization will be discussed.