CQ's Ambreen Ali reports that the heads of technology associations and companies met with State Department officials Tuesday to talk about concerns related to the upcoming negotiations at the World Conference on International Telecommunications, a conference in Dubai later this year where countries are expected to negotiate the next era of telecom regulations. U.S. Ambassador Terry D. Kramer, head of the U.S. delegation, said he expects countries to try to find new sources of revenue and ways to regulate rates for Internet communications that are replacing traditional phone lines. He said the U.S. is committed to advocating for the private sector to negotiate rates, in order to ensure that the Internet continues to flow freely. One concern raised at the meeting is that recent unrest in the Middle East related to an anti-Islam YouTube video may prompt Arab states to offer proposals that would allow governments to censor content. Kramer said the U.S. delegation will continue to advocate its position in bilateral meetings ahead of the December negotiations. Lawmakers are expected to watch the deliberations closely. In an attempt to thwart foreign efforts to place controls on the Internet, the House recently passed a resolution and the Senate a bill that asserts that Internet governance should remain in the hands of the private sector and civil society through a multi-stakeholder process.

Bottom line: the U.S. delegation will strongly resist any attempt to shift control over the Internet to the U.N., where nations from the Middle East and China would push for greater government controls to limit the flow of information. The current multi-stakeholder governance model isn't perfect, but it has resulted in the largest exchange of information and the most freedom of express in human history. Both parties in Congress are united on this front, as are most major U.S. tech companies, who still control the bulk of the services and infrastructure that comprise the Web. All American interests appear to be united in their attempt to ensure Dubai doesn't turn into a power grab by the UN and ITU.

Sen. Collins Still Opposes Cybersecurity Executive Order: Senator Susan Collins has until now been one of the strongest allies of the Obama administration, Senate Democrats, and Homeland Security chairman Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., when it comes to passing new cybersecurity regulations for private U.S. companies. The moderate Maine Republican has risked the ire of her party as she negotiated to usher new cybersecurity rules through the Senate, only to see that attempt fail in the face of GOP and industry resistance. But Collins has already signaled her objection to an executive order that would implement large portions of the bill, and doubled down on her opposition during an event on Monday. Collins said an executive order would be a mistake, another indication that the administration is risking a real backlash if it chooses to impose regulations over objections from industry and lawmakers. The administration has acknowledged a draft of the order is being prepared, but may also be hoping to compel lawmakers into taking up the issue during the lame-duck session. If the administration isn't bluffing, then it remains unclear how far an executive order could go without Congressional action. Regardless, any rules are likely to meet strong resistance from critical  infrastructure providers uninterested in the investments it would take to meet even voluntary security standards.