WCIT
New net rules would hit digital economy: diplomat. Inter-governmental regulation of the Internet could deter investment, raise costs for consumers and hinder online access, a U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday. (Reuters)
The U.N. and the Internet: What to expect, what to fear (FAQ). The U.S., Canada, and European allies are squaring off against Russia and China at a U.N. Internet summit. At stake: the future of how the Internet will be run. (CNET)
Fiscal Cliff
Oracle, Cisco among companies rushing to pay dividends before fiscal cliff. As the nation gets close to plunging over the metaphorical fiscal cliff, triggering what could be massive tax increases and spending cuts in January, scores of businesses -- including at least two major Bay Area corporations -- are taking steps to soften the landing for their shareholders. (San Jose Mercury News)
The Physics of the Year-End Fiscal-Cliff Negotiations. The year-end negotiations have been heavy on theater, but the gravity of the situation is fast becoming undeniable. (National Journal)
Obama takes "fiscal-cliff" campaign to "middle-class". President Barack Obama takes his "fiscal-cliff" campaign to the home of a family in Northern Virginia on Thursday to illustrate the impact of letting taxes go up on the middle class, as signs emerge that Republicans are contemplating a change in strategy in their battle with Democrats over deficit reduction. (Reuters)
Cybersecurity and Privacy
Senate privacy push seen as going nowhere until 2013. A scheduled markup Thursday of Sen. Al Franken's geolocation measure could be the second time in as many weeks lawmakers have crammed on a key privacy bill that has no chance of seeing floor debate this year.
(Politico Pro)
McCaul: Cybersecurity legislation is 'top' priority next Congress. One of the top priorities for new House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) next Congress is to bring a cybersecurity bill to the floor that has "buy-in" from industry. (The Hill)
Workforce
Republicans’ Immigration Bill Blocked by Senate Democrats. Democrats in the Senate on Wednesday blocked consideration of a bill Republicans passed last week in the House of Representatives that would give 55,000 permanent resident visas to foreigners graduating from American universities with advanced degrees in science or technology. (NYT)
Immigration debate snares foreign Ph.D.s. The immigration debate is heating back up in Washington — and in Silicon Valley. (Politico Pro)
Climate and Sustainability
Report from COP18: Leadership is a matter of degrees. Companies and investors want clarity on what is expected and demanded by regulators, the youth wants a world worth living in and demand leadership from regulators and the political leaders, and regulators want everybody to act now and take personal responsibility. (GreenBiz)