BahamasLocal Holds Meetings in Washington

Thu, May 2nd 2013, 01:44 PM

During the past week, BahamasLocal.com visited Washington, D.C. and weighed in on international Internet policies. Jason McDowall, CEO of BahamasLocal.com, personally met with U.S. congressmen and lawmakers. He is also the Executive Council Member representing The Bahamas and the Caribbean for the Internet Marketing Association (IMA). We all know the Internet offers a wealth of information and benefits that can be taken advantage of in more ways than one. Freedom of information is a beautiful thing. However, when this freedom is abused and information misused, we encounter the need for regulations. What makes this task exceedingly difficult is the very nature of the Internet - the worldwide web.

The Internet is just that, accessible worldwide with laws varying greatly at times from country to country. There must be a worldwide consciousness as it relates to Internet policy so that Internet regulations are no longer determined country by country but rather are global in nature representing an international standard. The IMA is a major player in this movement. Established in 2001, the IMA presently has more than 800,000 qualified professional members, including CEOs, CMOs and CFOs with high level degrees with a common focus of creating an international Internet marketing standard and lobbying governments to establish appropriate regulations regarding Internet policies and security.

All members of the IMA are certified Internet marketers and experts in their fields which include education, finance, real estate, hospitality and of course the Internet. In addition to BahamasLocal.com, Internet companies such as Microsoft, Google and Adobe are all represented on the International Executive Council or board of directors. On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, nine members of the IMA International Executive Council, including McDowall, convened in Washington, D.C. for the Inaugural IMA Washington, D.C. Advocacy Trip - a series of meetings with members of Congress as well as parties representing the private sector.

Council members attended 13 meetings in just three days to discuss in detail Internet policy, Internet security, cyber terrorism and how the IMA can assist governments in establishing meaningful and enforceable Internet laws. Among these was a meeting with Congressman Ed Royce, U.S. Representative for the 39th District of California and chairman of The House Committee on Foreign Affairs. During this meeting a number of topics were covered including intellectual property rights, import/export laws and international relations. The IMA delegation also met with Congressman Buck McKeon, U.S. Representative for the 25th District of California and chairman of the Armed Services Committee.

Congressman McKeon briefed the group on domestic military and technological advances within the field as with the increased availability of technology has come a further need to protect both government agencies and the private sector from issues such as cyber terrorism. Other meetings included Congressman Adam Schiff who currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Congressman Kevin McCarthy, majority whip for the U.S. House of Representatives; Congressman Bob Latta, member of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology;

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, the most senior female member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Armed Services Committee where she serves on the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence; Congressman John Campbell, chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade, and representatives from the private sector. BahamasLocal.com is proud to be a part of the Internet Marketing Association and looks forward to many future opportunities to influence international Internet policies. For more information on BahamasLocal.com and our involvement with the IMA, please contact our offices at 242-676-2683, 242-677-5285 or send us an email at info@BahamasLocal.com.

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