Enabling the Digital Lifestyle: Navigating Public Policy Challenges

Skip PizziManager, Technical PolicyMedia/Entertainment & Technology Convergenceskippiz @ windows.microsoft.comMicrosoft Corporation

Session OutlineSession Outline

What is “Technical Public Policy”?

How does it impact the PC, the IT industry and our consumers?

What impact does this have on developers?

Current Policy issues affecting Windows and IT

What is “Technical Public Policy” (TPP)? – 1 What is “Technical Public Policy” (TPP)? – 1

Conforming corporate processes to relevant laws, regulations and court decisions

Compliant business practices

Compliant product design

Accommodating regional differencesFederal, state, local and international rules may vary

Providing input for development of new laws, regulations and industry standards

Political analysis of all relevant activity

Responses to calls for comment

Court briefs and other actions

Education for generalists

What is “Technical Public Policy” (TPP)? – 2 What is “Technical Public Policy” (TPP)? – 2

Providing thought leadership for the industry on critical and emerging issues

Creating new venues for cooperation

Driving solutions consortia for complex problems

Participation in standard-setting activities

Acting as good “corporate citizens”Voluntary contribution of resources and information to governments and public sector

Educational outreach and response to requests

Why Does IT Industry Need to Consider TPP?Why Does IT Industry Need to Consider TPP?

Connected computing requires multiple interfaces Broadcast content reception (TV and radio)

Cable and Telco interconnections

Wireless networking

VoIP/SoIP

New laws, regulations and market forces are changing existing IT landscapes

Cybersecurity

Privacy

IPv6

Synchronization with partners’ actions

Impact of TPP Issues on IT IndustryImpact of TPP Issues on IT Industry

Maintain new market opportunities

Retain flexibility for innovative product design

Create optimal user experience

Minimize IPR constraints

TPP Issues to Consider for the IndustryTPP Issues to Consider for the Industry

CurrentDigital media content protection

Digital television and radio broadcasting

P2P

Cybersecurity & privacy

VoIP/SoIP

UpcomingTelecom reform (broad potential impact)

IPv6 deployment in public sector

RFID

Additional wireless-networking spectrum

Cognitive radio

Examples of Current TPP ActivityExamples of Current TPP Activity

Digital media content protectionWMDRM in the U.S. DTV “Broadcast Flag” process

Legitimate P2P content distribution

Digital broadcastingEmergency alerting

Accessibility support (e.g., Closed Captioning)

Parental controls support (e.g., “V-chip”)

Advanced codec support

Digital cable-ready TVPC as a DCR terminal

Development of interactive DCR (“bi-di”) system

Key Takeaways Key Takeaways

Digital media environment is a regulated world

New players change the dynamic

IT industry is somewhat new to this space

Alliances can be helpful in achieving goals

Proactive stance for IT in this space is critical

Call to ActionCall to Action

Be involvedInvest in regulatory and legislative activity

Participate in IT and CE industry effortsPursue active membership in trade organizations

Policymaking is impacted by strong consensus

Preserve your right to innovateTelecom Reform is happening now, and it could dramatically impact our industry

Do your homework

Community ResourcesCommunity Resources

Windows Hardware & Driver Central (WHDC)www.microsoft.com/whdc/default.mspx

Technical Communitieswww.microsoft.com/communities/products/default.mspx

Non-Microsoft Community Siteswww.microsoft.com/communities/related/default.mspx

Microsoft Public Newsgroupswww.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups

Technical Chats and Webcastswww.microsoft.com/communities/chats/default.mspx

www.microsoft.com/webcasts

Microsoft Blogswww.microsoft.com/communities/blogs

ResourcesResources

skippiz @ windows.microsoft.com

Trade organizations representing IT onTPP issues

Business Software Alliance (BSA)www.bsa.org

Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)www.itic.org

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)www.ce.org