The Internet in Asia: Is the US Falling Behind?
November 20, 2003
Panelists
Overview | Video | Panelist Biographies | Presentations
Yasu Taniwaki
Economic Counselor and Telecom Attache, Embassy of Japan
Yasu Taniwaki joined the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications) in 1984. After serving in several positions, including ICCP Division of the OECD (1987-1989), he served as Deputy-Director of the Telecommunications Policy Division (1993-1997), where he dealt with several telecommunications policies such as the reorganization of NTT, and a variety of deregulation programs of the Telecommunications Business Law (TBL). After serving as Secretary to the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (2000-2001), he served as Director for Telecommunications Policy, where he drafted a report on new Japanese telecom competition schemes compiled by the Telecommunications Council in August 2002 and a report on layered competition models in the IP age, compiled by the Study Group on New business Models in June 2002. He also contributed to setting up the Telecommunications Dispute Settlement Commission and the Japanese Universal Service Fund, as well as to introduce the concept of "dominant regulations" through revision of the TBL in 2001. He has served in his capacity since June 2002.
Motohiro Tsuchiya
Associate Professor and Senior Fellow, at the Center for Global Communications (GLOCOM), International University of Japan
Motohiro Tsuchiya is an Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Global Communications (GLOCOM), International University of Japan. In 2001 and 2002 he received a Fulbright Research Grant of the Japan-U.S. Education Commission and the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), and Abe Fellowship of the Center for Global Partnership (CGP) and the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) for research in the United States. He researched in Washington, DC, as a Visiting Scholar at the Center for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM), University of Maryland, and at the Cyberspace Policy Institute (CPI), George Washington University. He worked for the Digital Opportunity Task Force (DOT Force) as a supporting staff of the Japanese NGO representative from 2000 through 2002. He is interested in the impact of the information revolution and international relations; regulations regarding telecommunications and the Internet; and global governance and information technologies. He authored Information and Global Governance (Tokyo: Keio University Press, 2001, in Japanese) and co-authored five other books including Organizational Design in the Broadband Age (Tokyo: Toyo Keizai Shinpo Sha, 2002, in Japanese) and Digital Divide (Tokyo: NTT Publications, 2002, in Japanese). He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Keio University. Additional information about Mr. Tsuchiya is available at http://www.glocom.ac.jp/users/taiyo/ .
Jonas E. Neihardt
Vice President for Federal Government Affairs, QUALCOMM
Jonas Neihardt is Vice President for Federal Government Affairs for QUALCOMM, Incorporated. In this capacity, Mr. Neihardt manages QUALCOMM's public policy agenda and its relationship with the Federal Executive Branch and the U.S. Congress. Prior to joining QUALCOMM, Mr. Neihardt was Director for Congressional Affairs at the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association in Washington, D.C., a trade association representing operators and manufacturers of wireless telecommunications systems worldwide. Prior to that, Mr. Neihardt served at the White House Office of Management and Budget as the program examiner for the Federal telecommunications agencies. Mr. Neihardt holds a B.A. and a Master's Degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A from the George Washington University. QUALCOMM Incorporated is a leading edge wireless communications company specializing in the design, development, and manufacturing of advanced communications systems, technologies, and products. Additional information is available at http://www.qualcomm.com .
Rudy Baca
Vice President and Global Strategist for the Precursor Group
Rudy Baca is a Vice President and Global Strategist with The Precursor Group®. Mr. Baca has extensive background and expertise on a wide range of issues comprising international communications, including voice, data and video services; advanced technologies including mobile and satellite; and spectrum management and licensing. Mr. Baca was formerly the Global Strategist for The Precursor Group® at Legg Mason. Prior to joining Legg Mason, he was Senior Attorney in the FCC's International Bureau. Previously, Mr. Baca was Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to FCC Commissioner James H. Quello. In addition, he was common carrier advisor to Interim FCC Chairman Quello. Mr. Baca has served on numerous delegations as an official United States representative to international fora. Early in his career, Mr. Baca was commissioned as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of New Mexico, served as Assistant General Counsel for the New Mexico Corporation Commission, and clerked for Judge Ricardo M. Urbina. Mr. Baca has a B.A. from the University of New Mexico and a J.D. from Georgetown University, where he was Executive Editor of the Immigration Law Journal. He has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law in the Graduate School of Georgetown University.
Leo Giacometto
Executive Director of the U.S. Asia Network
Mr. Giacometto has a broad background of military service, private business, politics, and an extensive public service record. Mr. Giacometto has served as a County Magistrate, State Legislator, U.S. Marshal, and a Cabinet official for two Governors. He was Vice President of Government Affairs for Morrison Knudsen an international engineering and construction company. Mr. Giacometto also served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Conrad Burns, during which time he played an active policy role in the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Mr. Giacometto, now U.S. Army Reserves Lieutenant Colonel (retired), served in Latin America and was assigned to the Counter Terrorism Section at the State Department. He previously served on Compressus' Board of Advisors.