The Liberty Bell was “telecom infrastructure” in early American democracy. Its tolling sent sound waves through Philadelphia to call the Framers to Independence Hall—and new American citizens to the first reading of the Declaration of Independence.

For centuries, the Liberty Bell and its inscription—Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof—has been a world-renowned symbol of freedom, from the abolition of slavery to women’s suffrage and civil rights.

The Liberty Bell Project takes this mission into the 21st century.

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit education and training initiative that strengthens the “critical infrastructure” of America’s market democracy: robust competitive markets, responsive democratic government at all levels, resilient and vibrant communities, dedicated and active citizens, public safety and security, and the rule of law.

We seek answers to an existential question for the United States: How can we ensure that our future is one of dynamism, opportunity, community, and freedom, rather than stagnancy, control, surveillance, and repression?

We produce policy papers, briefings, events, and related education and training programming. We are explicitly nonpartisan and do not conduct policy advocacy.

We focus on the technology and electricity infrastructure and network operations that undergird global connectivity, for the distinct purpose of strengthening market democracy at every level—from advanced national networks to local emergency response.

We address threats from the deepening China-Russia-Iran-North Korea alliance, promoting trusted hardware and software supply chains, resilient networks with dynamic cybersecurity defenses, and secure cloud computing and data centers.

We explore related policy issues such as electric power generation, mobile connectivity, radiofrequency spectrum allocation, broadband infrastructure, cryptography, Artificial Intelligence, and adversary information operations that exploit the openness of our society.

We are also developing initiatives to strengthen the infrastructure of our free society at the community and citizen level as well.

Whenever possible, the Liberty Bell Project partners with other non-profit research institutions such and academic institutions.

We are grateful for substantive and administrative assistance from telecom-tech-energy law firm Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, which keeps our overhead costs minimal.

Clete Johnson founded the Liberty Bell Project to provide an avenue for companies, scholars, and citizens to serve market democracy’s principles at this time of major shifts in technology and connectivity. Clete has worked on these issues throughout his life as a citizen in rural Georgia; as an Army officer in Korea, Germany, and the Balkans; and as a lawyer on the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Commerce, and in private practice.

The Liberty Bell Project is funded via tax deductible contributions from businesses, charitable foundations, and individuals. We welcome your donation here.