Communications and Society Program

The report of the 2019 Aspen Institute Roundtable on Spectrum Policy explores the 2012 PCAST report recommendations and the 2019 World Radio Conference, along with 5G and the digital divide.

The report of the 2018 Aspen Institute Roundtable on Spectrum (AIRS) explores how best to enable the flourishing of satellite operations through effective spectrum policy while balancing the unique requirements of satellites with competing spectrum uses.

The report of the 2019 Aspen Institute Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence surfaced some of the key vectors of engagement that must be joined when directing AI development. Most of all, the report reflects discussions on how to prod AI development in the right directions—and what, indeed, are those “right directions?”

With a focus on California Public libraries, this report suggests how library broadband can be used to address statewide goals for universal pre-kindergarten, youth learning and engagement, and civic participation especially with regards to the 2020 Census and elections.

This report of the Houston Dialogue on Public Libraries details how city agencies, businesses and other stakeholders can more effectively use libraries to strengthen opportunity, equity and innovative problem-solving across Houston.

Explores the Future of Work 2.0—focusing on how all stakeholders can realize the opportunities and possibilities of automation in the work landscape. It features a robust discussion on education, business structures, models of employment and leadership philosophies.

Explores regulatory structures to incentivize the deployment of communications infrastructure to unserved areas and ways to promote competition and protect consumers on the internet.

In a new report, the Knight Commission on Trust, Media & Democracy shares recommendations to help renew trust in American democratic institutions and the media.

This report from the Aspen Institute Roundtable on Spectrum Policy examines the urgency for a different structure for spectrum management that could better serve spectrum-related needs.

This report from the Aspen Institute Dialogue on Diplomacy and Technology explores how leaders should think about networks in the world of diplomacy.

Issues featured in the report include the impact of artificially intelligent technologies on the automotive, healthcare and journalism industries. The report concludes with a call for a reimagining of the future of governance and the development of appropriate policy frameworks.

This report explores policies for the new media landscape and identifies two issues stakeholders should confront going forward: inclusion and content quality.

The Exponential Shift features accounts of how leading organizations—corporate, governmental and non-profit—are overcoming hurdles, innovating at the edge and reinventing their leadership and business strategies to remain relevant in the new business environment.

The Future of Journalism captures a wide range of perspectives from media experts, academics, journalists and publishers about the challenges facing the journalism industry and its future trajectory.

This report revisits the spectrum recommendations contained in a landmark 2009 report of the Federal Communications Commission setting forth a National Broadband Plan (NBP).

The Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program Guest Scholar Program is a scholarship initiative meant to give students of color the opportunity to foster their professional and academic career in the field of telecommunications policy.

The Knight Commission on Trust, Media and Democracy is a blue ribbon panel comprised of thinkers and doers from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints, committed to understanding both the causes and consequences of the growing distrust in democracy institutions.