The State Dept. has issued a "notice of funding opportunity" (DRLA-DRLAQM-18-005) for a $2M campaign to "promote an open, interoperable, secure and reliable global Internet."
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The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, which is behind the effort, wants to further its goal to push for "fundamental freedoms, human rights, and the free flow of information online by supporting civil society to advocate for rights-respecting policies and practices with governments, commercial enterprises and technical bodies."
The Bureau said sectors of the global information and communication technology business face governmental pressure to curtail human rights via online censorship, network shutdowns and data localization requirements.
It wants proposals to empower local Internet freedom, business and human rights advocates to promote reforms geared to the United Nations' guiding principles on business and human rights.
Proposals are due Sept. 25. User/password can be obtained at www.grantsolutions.gov.
Jeffrey Nesbit, who served as communications director for former vice president Dan Quayle, is named assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Kate Bedingfield, White House communications director, will exit at the end of the month. Ben LaBolt, a longtime Biden adviser, will take the CD post.
Cathy Cochran, senior VP in Teneo’s Washington office, has rejoined the US Dept of Agriculture as director in its communications office.
Mexico is working with the DC-based Global Action on Gun Violence to push for “impactful gun violence prevention strategies” in the US.
Douglas Farrar, who was VP-communications and strategy at the Carnegie Center for International Peace, has joined the Federal Trade Commission as PA director.
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