Freedom and Connectivity: Advancing the Freedom to Communicate in the Americas

As communications issues rise to the top of local, national and international agendas, policymakers often find themselves caught between competing obligations. On the one hand is the desire that governments not interfere with the proper functioning of markets to pick winners and losers. On the other is duty of governments to advance policies in the public interest and assume limited roles to lessen the impact of market failure, ensure security and opportunity for their citizens and mitigate other harms. In building a digital society, what is the proper role of government? What are the responsibilities of business, civil society and citizens? What policies and practices are emerging as indicators for future success?