Under Secretary Hormats' meeting with Russian Telecommunications and Mass Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov

October 31, 2012

Under Secretary Hormats met with Telecommunications and Mass Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov.

On October 30, Under Secretary Hormats met with Telecommunications and Mass Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov.

In our joint efforts to encourage innovation in this area, the U.S. and Russia are engaged in a wide range of discussions on spectrum allocation, international telecommunications regulations, and encouraging the expanded use of Internet communication technologies, with the aim of helping people, governments, and businesses to connect with each other and exchange information.

Under Secretary Hormats noted the role of appropriate controls to protect users online. Under Secretary Hormats also underscored the U.S. commitment to a free and open Internet. “Like Russia, we also have laws against child pornography,” he said, “but we are very careful to make sure that limits of the restrictions are very tightly written.”

At the same time, Hormats stressed, we “underscore the importance of the free exchange of information to a vibrant society and economy.”