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Overview
The APAICS Technology Summit brings together community and corporate leaders, subject matter experts, as well as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA & NH/PI) elected officials for bipartisan policy discussions that affect the AA & NH/PI community and the nation at-large.
Panel topics can range from AA & NH/PI representation at all levels in the tech industry, challenges and opportunities in addressing the digital divide, preventing online harassment and misinformation, digital skilling initiatives to increase technical literacy in underserved communities, the importance of privacy and cybersecurity in a growing digital world, as well as the potential effects of new and evolving technologies and legislation, and what our partners are doing to adapt to these changing conditions.
Featured Speakers
Panel Preview
Emerging Technologies: What Does the Future Hold?
AI, blockchain, IoT, 5G, quantum computing, virtual reality, and driverless cars are all considered emerging technologies that are transforming our future. Learn from industry insiders where we’re headed and what’s on the horizon. This panel will discuss the potential impact of emerging technologies, and potential opportunities to address some needs for the AA & NH/PI community, including language access and solutions for our growing aging population.
Spectrum 101
What is spectrum? Spectrum is how we communicate, receive information, and do everything online and over the air. From the basics of spectrum allocation to its effects on connectivity and communication, we’ll explore how spectrum management shapes the digital landscape. We’ll also discuss the implications for the AA & NH/PI communities, ensuring that their needs are considered in spectrum policy and access.
Panelists
Saad Hasan, Managing Director, Accenture
Charan Lota, Group Vice President & Executive Chief Engineer – Connected Technologies, Toyota Motor North America
Shreya Singh Hernandez, Tech Equity Research Manager, Aspen Digital
Koustubh "KJ" Bagchi, Vice President, Center for Civil Rights & Technology, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (Moderator)
Panelists
Michael Ha, Deputy Chief of Policy and Rules Division, Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications Commission
Fred Matos, Senior Spectrum Manager, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Dr. Rikkin Thakker, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) & Senior Vice President, NCTA
Virginia Zigras, Vice President of Legislative Affairs, Charter
Mary L. Brown, Spectrum and Technology Policy Consultant, Salt Point Strategies (Moderator)
Preparing our Communities for the Jobs of Tomorrow
While 92% of jobs require some level of digital competency, one-third of workers lack the essential skills needed to succeed. Given this discrepancy, how are private companies, schools, and community-based organizations re-thinking their approach to workforce development? We will discuss strategies to bridge the digital skills gap and ensure that workforce development programs inclusively support AA & NH/PI communities to thrive in the evolving job landscape.
Are We Making Progress? Accelerating Digital Equity for NH/PI Communities
COVID-19 underscored the lack of digital equity in NH/PI communities, with many unable to work remotely and access telehealth. This panel will examine key aspects of digital equity, including broadband access, the availability of devices, and how the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program impacts NH/PI communities.
Network Modernization and Digital Infrastructure
90% of AA & NH/PIs access the internet daily, but 44% report living in areas where broadband is unavailable due to a lack of infrastructure. In San Francisco’s Chinatown, for instance, broadband speeds are six times lower than in the surrounding areas. This panel will discuss strategies on how network modernization can help to bridge the digital divide for AA & NH/PI communities.
Panelists
Josh Conolley, U.S. Policy and Economic Graph, LinkedIn
Pooja Kondabolu, Global Trust & Safety Policy Lead, Airbnb
Dr. Li Liu, Professor, California State University, Northridge
Lia Nitake, Sr. Director of Technology, Telecommunications and Media, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
Dr. Cheryl Young, Head of Policy Research, Doordash
Shalin Jyotishi, Managing Director, Future of Work & Innovation Economy, New America (Moderator)
Panelists
Susi Feltch-Malohifoʻou, Co-Founder, Executive Director & CEO, PIK2AR
Beth Fujimoto, AVP - Public Policy, AT&T
Nicole Morgenstern, Telecommunications, Technology, and Media Policy Associate Manager, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
The Hon. Regine Biscoe Lee, Secretary, Guam Women's Chamber of Commerce (Moderator)
Panelists
Assemblymember Grace Lee, New York State Assembly, District 65
Representative Liz Lee, Minnesota State House of Representatives, District 67A
Parul Desai, Chief of Staff, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Clayton Fong, Executive Director, NAPCA
Lily Ho, Founder, Delta Chinatown Initiative
Pooja Salhotra, General Assignment Reporter, Texas Tribune (Moderator)
Content Creation and Digital Representation
The digital age has led to a surge in content creation from AA & NH/PIs, particularly with the popularization of social media, podcasts, and streaming. This panel will explore how diverse communities are shaping digital culture and grassroots political empowerment, while also examining the implications for economic and social empowerment.
Panelists
Prachi Gupta, Author and Journalist
Sam Hyun, Director of Goverment Relations, TAAF
Jessica Woo, Author, Chef, and Content Creator,
Thu Nguyen, Executive Director, OCA (Moderator)
Online Misinformation and Disinformation: Implications for the 2024 Election
Many AA & NH/PIs get their news through social media, WeChat, and other newer technologies – many of which have been under the spotlight for having active disinformation campaigns during previous election cycles. In our highly polarized political environment, is it safe to continue relying on information available online? This panel will examine the potential for false information about the 2024 election, the impact on AA & NH/PI communities, and what industry sector leaders are doing to address the problem.
Panelists
Kevin Liao, Senior Communications Consultant, AAPI Victory Fund
Jenny Liu, Policy Manager, Technology and Telecommunications, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
Jinxia Niu, Program Manager, Chinese for Affirmative Action
Simar Thind, Policy Fellow, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
Kyle Van Fleet, Anti-Disinformation Project Manager, APIAVote
Joyce Liu, Principal, VENG Group (Moderator)
Cybersecurity and Privacy: Protecting Our Digital Lives
Is your social security number on the Dark Web? As our reliance on technology and internet usage increases, so do the dangers of privacy risks and data breaches. This panel will discuss how cybersecurity impacts our community and the policies and solutions that protect our privacy.
Panelists
Dr. Jen King, Privacy and Data Policy Fellow, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Peter Hyun, Chief of Staff and Deputy Bureau Chief, FCC
Albert Shen, Sr. Federal Client Partner, Verizon
Khanh Vu, CEO & Executive Director, SASE
Susan Jin Davis, Social Impact Officer, Al Roker Entertainment (Moderator)
Thank you to our partners!
Presenting
Champion
Ally
Apple
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