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| Formation | 2001; 24 years ago (2001) |
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| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Purpose | Communications law and policy, intellectual property, technology policy |
| Headquarters | Washington,District of Columbia,U.S. |
| Website | publicknowledge |
Public Knowledge is an Americannon-profitpublic interest group based inWashington, D.C. Founded in 2001 byDavid Bollier,Gigi Sohn, and Laurie Racine, Public Knowledge is primarily involved in the fields ofintellectual property law,competition and choice in the digital marketplace, and anopen standards/end-to-endinternet.[1][2]
Public Knowledge was founded in 2001 byDavid Bollier,Gigi Sohn, and Laurie Racine.[3]
The organization was established at a critical juncture in digital policy, as Congress and the courts were actively grappling with the ramifications of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998. The founders recognized the urgent need for a public interest group dedicated to balancing copyright protections with the public's rights to fair use, technological innovation, and an open internet.[4]
Gigi Sohn served as president and CEO from 2001 to 2013, and Gene Kimmelman served as president and CEO from 2013 to 2019. Since 2019, Chris Lewis has served as president and CEO.[5]
Public Knowledge promotes technology policies that benefit the public through various channels, including media and social platforms, the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and court and agency filings. The organization also conducts research to propose new legislation, regulations, and recommendations for the ever-expanding digital and technological world. Finally, Public Knowledge frequently publishes blog posts, opinion pieces, and papers to apply its work to current events, and hosts convenings and multimedia resources to educate the public and connect them to policymaking in Washington, DC.
The following individuals are on the board as of March 2023.[6]
Public Knowledge focuses on many different issues within the space of technology and media, highlighting the intersection of copyright, telecommunications, and internet law. Its mission statement promises that the public interest group "promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works."[10]
The organization has worked in the courts and alongside Congress and government agencies like the Federal Communications Commission and theFederal Trade Commission to advocate for a more open and equitable internet experience. Public Knowledge is known for its nuanced thought analysis and policy proposals, such as itsSection 230 principles to protect free expression online,[according to whom?] its proposal for a digital regulator, and its alternative frameworks foralgorithmic accountability.
As of March 2023, the organization advocates fornet neutrality, platform competition, consumer privacy, broadband accessibility and affordability, content moderation, a competitive media landscape, reforming copyright to benefit artists and creators, and reformingspectrum management to help consumers gain wireless access — without losing consumer protections along the way.
Public Knowledge has played a key role in securing broadband privacy rules, net neutrality rules, and expanding spectrum access for unlicensed use.[according to whom?] It has also run successful campaigns for issues such as improving internet access in tribal communities and unlock of cell phones.[citation needed] Public Knowledge has led coalitions for efforts such as including broadband funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.[citation needed]
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PKTrains is Public Knowledge's public interest advocate training program. It was launched in 2014 with the goal of educating diverse, aspiring public policymakers. It offers early-career fellows and interns an opportunity to work side-by-side with Public Knowledge's lawyers, public interest advocates, and communications professionals to learn how to effectively promote policies that benefit the public. Since its launch, the PKTrains program has trained more than 20 full-time post-graduate fellows and many more student interns, externs, and others passionate about making the world a better place through good policymaking that puts people first.
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