Diplomacy Meets Technology Policy

Information and communications technologies (ICTs) enrich everyday life and are essential to the global economy. Whether it is the allocation of the radio frequency spectrum for mobile wireless, supporting the free flow of information, or adopting voluntary technical standards, we need international policies that foster innovation and economic growth. This talk will explore how the United States engages stakeholders to develop international policy positions and negotiates with foreign governments to advance tomorrow’s technologies.

Julie Zoller is the acting Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy in the State Department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and is responsible for the formulation, coordination, and oversight international information and communications technology (ICT) policy. An expert on technology policy and an accomplished negotiator, Ms. Zoller works with a diverse constituency to shape and achieve U.S. ICT policy objectives at the global level.

Ms. Zoller was the 2016 chair of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) governing Council and headed the U.S. delegation to the 2016 ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly. She also served as deputy head of delegation to the 2016 OECD Ministerial Meeting on the Digital Economy, 2015 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference, and 2014 ITU Plenipotentiary and World Telecommunication Development Conferences and was elected to two terms on the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board (2006 to 2014), serving as its first chairwoman. Ms. Zoller was the Deputy Associate Administrator for International Spectrum at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration from 2011 to 2013 and spent 14 years at ITT Information Systems, where she was a program director.