While we haven't officially announced the dates and venue for the next Tech Policy Summit, we've received a number of inquiries about speaking opportunities at the conference. So we thought we'd post a quick update to explain how you, or someone you know, can become a Tech Policy Summit speaker.

Although in ninety percent of the cases we already know whom we want to invite for a particular speaking spot and we invite him or her directly, we are always happy to review proposals that are sent to us via email (info at techpolicysummit dot com) or the online contact form at the Tech Policy Summit site. In fact, each year, we've added a few experts to the speaking program as a result of these submissions.

Whether you receive an invitation directly, or you contact us asking about speaking opportunities, one of the key criteria is a willingness to participate in the Q & A format that is at the heart of the Summit. With the exception of a handful of 'traditional' keynotes, the sessions are either unscripted roundtable discussions or one-on-one interviews. And even the keynote speakers are required to take questions from the other participants after their talk.

There are no prepared presentations allowed. Instead, we look for outspoken and knowledgable speakers who are comfortable fielding questions from people who both agree and disagree with them. It's a nonpartisan forum where different personalities and opinions get to mix it up, in the spirit of 'collaborating to drive technology innovation and adoption.'

So, if you're passionate about technology policy issues and want to throw your hat into the ring for consideration as a speaker or session host, we look forward to hearing from you. Just send us a brief bio and an overview of the policy topic(s) you're interested in addressing. Even if you don't want to speak yourself, feel free to send us your recommendations for speakers and topics you think will add value to the 2009 Summit. 

Previous speakers include Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs, BitTorrent president Ashwin Navin, digg CEO Jay Adelson, Verizon CTO Dick Lynch, craigslist founder Craig Newmark, YouTube chief counsel Zahavah Levine, EFF senior staff attorney Fred von Lohmann, Congressman Howard Berman, USPTO Director Jon Dudas, FCC commissioner Robert McDowell, M2Z Networks founder Milo Medin, former FTC chairman Deborah Platt Majoras and MySpace chief security officer Hemanshu Nigam -- to name a few.

More information on the previous two Summits are available on the Tech Policy Summit site, and we'll announce details of the next conference here soon.

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Tags: Tech Policy Summit, tech policy

Thanks to Twitter, I discovered a recent Los Angeles Times' article about über blogger Michael Arrington's foray into 2008 election politics. 

It recounts how, impressively, the TechCrunch founder landed interviews with almost all of the presidential candidates back when the field was still crowded. What's more, if the accompanying photo is representative, Arrington was able to reach those political heavyweights while working (barefoot) from his home office in Silicon Valley. A testament to how the Internet has indeed changed politics.

Throughout last fall, Arrington asked Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain, along with other candidates at the time like John Edwards and Mitt Romney, for their views on tech policy issues such as the annual cap on H-1B visas and net neutrality. He also hosted an online presidential primary for his readership, after which he endorsed Sens. Obama and McCain, even though TechCrunch's crowd favorite was overwhelmingly Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX). 

According to the LA Times, "Arrington says now is the time for techies to have a greater voice in politics as Facebook, YouTube and other technologies shake up how candidates campaign."

Hear, hear!

Let's just hope they wear shoes.

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Tags: 2008 elections, Barack Obama, John Edwards, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, tech policy, TechCrunch