David Gross Discusses Role as Chairman for Coalition of Companies Banding Together on Internet Regulation

April 11, 2012

Ambassador David A. Gross, chair of Wiley Rein's International Telecommunications Group, was quoted in a Politico article that reported leading tech and telecom companies have joined together to raise concerns with the United Nation's International Telecommunications Union (ITU) over a treaty that could bring new regulation to the Internet. The international treaty will be finalized this December in Dubai.

The article reported that Amb. Gross is serving as the group's chairman.  Amb. Gross told Politico the group is still adding members and that it will work with companies, nongovernmental organizations, U.S. policymakers and the ITU on critical international telecommunications issues.

"It's not a substitute for a national delegation," said Amb. Gross, in reference to a U.S. delegation having not yet been named.  Amb. Gross added that telecommunications industry leaders are "hoping to be helpful to everyone in making sure people understand why having the Internet be free of intergovernmental regulation is important to all stakeholders."

Politico reported that a "number of U.S. companies have spoken out strongly against the ITU's coming work, which they see as vulnerable to attempts by China, Russia and other countries to give governments more power over the Internet."