Reports & Briefings

For brief overviews of how key technologies work and why they matter, see ITIF’s “Technology Explainer Series.”

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March 1, 2021
How Congress and the Biden Administration Could Jumpstart Smart Cities With AI
AI promises to help cities save money, address infrastructure needs, and reduce emissions. But to unlock these benefits and help smart cities reach their full potential, the federal government has an important role to play in funding RD&D and facilitating cooperation.
February 22, 2021
Overview of Section 230: What It Is, Why It Was Created, and What It Has Achieved
In the ongoing debate over whether and how to amend Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, it is important to understand the law’s origins, meaning, and impact—because, for better or worse, it has shaped the modern Internet.
February 22, 2021
The Exceptions to Section 230: How Have the Courts Interpreted Section 230?
Courts have generally interpreted Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act broadly, but they have identified some limits for when the law does not provide immunity from liability.
February 22, 2021
Fact-Checking the Critiques of Section 230: What Are the Real Problems?
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has become a key battleground in the larger debate over free speech and content moderation. There are legitimate and illegitimate critiques about it—but they don’t negate the law’s many benefits.
February 22, 2021
How Other Countries Have Dealt With Intermediary Liability
As the United States debates potential reforms to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, it is important to understand and evaluate the alternative approaches that other countries have taken to intermediary liability.
February 22, 2021
Proposals to Reform Section 230
In the wide-ranging debate over Section 230, there have been calls to keep the law as it is, repeal it entirely, or reform it. The best approach would be for Congress to pass targeted reforms that address specific harms without unduly burdening online services.
February 18, 2021
Moore’s Law Under Attack: The Impact of China’s Policies on Global Semiconductor Innovation
China’s mercantilist strategy to grab market share in the global semiconductor industry is fueling the rise of inferior innovators at the expense of superior firms in the United States and other market-led economies. That siphons away resources that would otherwise be invested in the virtuous cycle of cutting-edge R&D that has driven semiconductor innovation for decades.
February 11, 2021
A New Vision for Postal Reform in the E-commerce Age
Congress should pass Postal Service reform legislation that focuses on two key things: freeing up USPS to make the kinds of reforms it needs to reduce costs, and establishing a Technology Innovation Fund to enable robotic last-mile postal delivery.
February 8, 2021
Broadband Myths: Are High Broadband Prices Holding Back Adoption?
Broadband affordability is a problem for some Americans, but not the “crisis” advocates claim. U.S. broadband prices are comparable with those charged abroad and by municipal networks. To ensure affordability for everyone, we need a better subsidy program, not changes to industry structure.
February 1, 2021
Five Bold Steps Toward a Reimagined American Innovation Agenda
There is a growing sense something is amiss with the U.S. innovation system. It’s time for a vigorous initiative to restore belief in innovation’s potential as a force for social and economic progress, for the benefit of America and the world.

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