[bestbits] Bill in US supports access around the world

[Carolina Rossini]

Begin forwarded message:

*From:* "Rubin, Nilmini" <Nilmini.Rubin at mail.house.gov>
*Date:* June 21, 2016 at 1:56:04 PM EST
*To:* "Rubin, Nilmini" <Nilmini.Rubin at mail.house.gov>
*Subject:* *FW: Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel Introduce Legislation
to Promote Internet Access in Developing Countries*

Please note below the announcement of the introduction of the bipartisan
Digital GAP Act by Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, House Republican
Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Rep. Grace Meng to promote
internet access in developing countries.  I am happy to answer any
questions you might have on the bill. Best, Nilmini



*From:* House Foreign Affairs Press Office
*Sent:* Tuesday, June 21, 2016 2:33 PM
*Subject:* Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel Introduce Legislation to
Promote Internet Access in Developing Countries



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*Press Release*

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*For Immediate Release*

June 21, 2016

*Press Office (Royce)*

(202) 225-5021

*Press Office (Engel)*

(202) 226-9103



*Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel Introduce Legislation to Promote
Internet Access in Developing Countries*



*Washington, D.C.* – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed
Royce (R-CA) and the Committee’s Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY)
introduced H.R. 5537, the Digital Global Access Policy Act of 2016
<https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HR-5337.pdf>.
House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Rep.
Grace Meng (D-NY) are original cosponsors of the bipartisan legislation,
which urges the United States to promote internet access in developing
countries in an effort to drive economic growth, improve health and
education, promote democracy and reduce gender inequality.  The legislation
builds upon the Foreign Affairs Committee’s recent gender and technology
hearing
<http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/hearing-women-and-technology-increasing-opportunity-and-driving-international-development>
.



*Upon introduction, Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel issued this
statement:  **“The internet offers tremendous opportunities – for those
that have access to it.  But 60% of the world’s population, largely
concentrated in developing countries, remains offline.  Without internet
access, the developing world is at risk of falling further behind.  We have
introduced this bipartisan legislation so developing countries can take
better advantage of the many opportunities internet access offers.”   *



Additionally, H.R. 5537
<https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HR-5337.pdf>
 promotes:

·         first-time internet access for at least 1.5 billion people in
developing countries by 2020;

·         the standardized inclusion of internet infrastructure in general
infrastructure projects;

·         the removal of tax and regulatory barriers to internet access;

·         the use of the internet to increase economic growth and trade,
such as through the removal of restrictions on e-commerce, cross-border
information flows, and competitive marketplaces; and

·         the use of the internet to bolster democracy, transparency, and
human rights, through policies and programs that uphold privacy and freedom
of speech and expression online.



H.R. 5537
<https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HR-5337.pdf> also
expresses support for designating an Assistant Secretary at the State
Department to address cyberspace policy and engage with foreign governments
on issues like cybersecurity, internet freedom, internet access, and
internet governance.



*Note:* A section-by-section summary of H.R. 5537, the Digital Global
Access Policy Act of 2016, is available HERE
<https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HR-5537-section-by-section.pdf>
.



###

*Connect with the Committee*

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https://foreignaffairs.house.gov




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# # #
# • #
# # #
*Carolina Rossini *
Vice President, International Policy and Strategy
+ 1 (617) 697 9389 | skype: carolrossini | @carolinarossini
PGP ID:  0xEC81015C
*PublicKnowledge* | @publicknowledge <https://twitter.com/publicknowledge>
 | www.publicknowledge.org
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