January 2013, Issue 30 Connect with us:

2013 VISION   TECH ENTREPRENEURS   TECH WORKFORCE   INTERNET GOVERNANCE   GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY

2013 Vision CompTIA’s Public Advocacy Team Discusses the Impact of the 2012 Elections Want to hear CompTIA’s take on the 2012 elections? Take a look at this new five-part video series featuring CompTIA’s Vice President of Public Advocacy, Elizabeth Hyman with CEO Todd Thibodeaux, David Valdez, Lamar Whitman, and Randi Parker covering the 2012 election. Hear about how the new Congress impacts CompTIA’s policy portfolio and the vision going forward in 2013. Read more»   CompTIA Public Advocacy 2013 Policy Priorities In 2013 CompTIA Public Advocacy will continue to support skills for the 21st century workforce, champion the SMB tech entrepreneur, advocate for policies that lead in Internet based platform technologies, and support new and emerging technology platforms. Learn more about what we support and how you can get involved. Read more»   Tech Entrepreneurs Fiscal Cliff Deal Includes Important Small Business Tax Provisions A number of provisions supported by CompTIA that specifically benefit small businesses and technology were included in H.R. 8, the “American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.” Much work remains to enact additional provisions that will encourage growth of and investment in small businesses and technology. But for the moment, we are relieved and gratified that Congress has stepped forward to provide some much-needed near-term support for CompTIA members and the tech sector. Read more»   Tech Workforce Threat of Sequestration Could Affect Career Technical Education Funds We may have stepped back from the fiscal cliff – as Congress negotiated an 11th hour deal on taxes at the start of 2013 – but the threat of sequestration still looms. Congress has until March 2, 2013, to work out a deal to avoid automatic across the board budget cuts. If these cuts take place, career and technical education funding could be at risk for a $92 million cut in fiscal year 2013 alone. Read more»   Immigration Reform a Hot Topic On Monday, January 28, a bipartisan group of eight senators introduced an outline for comprehensive, immigration reform. The outline sets forth a tough, but fair, path to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants that is contingent on border security, reform of the legal immigration system, effective employment verification and an improved process for admitting future workers. Then, on Tuesday, January 29, a different group of bipartisan senators introduced the Immigration Innovation Act of 2013 - also known as I-Squared. Later that day, President Obama gave a speech in Las Vegas on immigration reform, urging Congress to take action. President Obama also has remarked that should Congress fail to act, he will send his proposal to the Capitol for an up or down vote. Read more»   Internet Governance CompTIA Submits Comments to FCC Regarding Unlicensed Spectrum In early October, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comments on several aspects of an FCC proposed “reverse auction” process aimed at incentivizing television broadcasters to relinquish radio television spectrum with the intent of repurposing it through an auction to wireless broadband providers. On January 25, CompTIA filed comments in response to the NPRM. Although the NPRM covered numerous technical, procedural, and broadcasting policy issues, CompTIA focused exclusively on the issue of expanding unlicensed spectrum. Read more»   TechVoice Tech Policy Summit to Feature Cyber Warrior Session On February 14, 2013 TechVoice D.C. Fly-In participants have a chance to learn about the cyber warrior of today at the Tech Policy Summit. Panelists George Bieber (Director of the DOD Information Assurance Program), Chris Kelsall (Director of the Department of Navy and CIO of Cyber IT Workforce), and Ernest L. McDuffie, Ph.D. (Lead for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education) will discuss what we should be doing to ensure a strong cyber workforce for tomorrow. Read more»   Grassroots Advocacy TechVoice Launches Third Chapter – In North Carolina On January 11th, CompTIA partnered with the North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) to launch its third TechVoice chapter. About 60 technology executives attended a breakfast gathering and panel discussion in Durham, NC featuring Congressman David Price (D-NC), State Representative Marilyn Avila (R), information technology attorney Ed Turlington and CompTIA’s Vice President of Public Advocacy, Elizabeth Hyman. NCTA President and CEO Brooks Raiford moderated. With 2012 elections now completed and the fiscal cliff averted for now, the conversation centered on what we could and should expect in terms of policy and its impact on the technology industry. Read more»   TechVoice Tech Policy Summit Shines the Spotlight on Startup Act 2.0 Startup Act 2.0 seeks to foster growth for new, small, nimble tech companies so that they can grow, hire more qualified workers, and provide new and innovative products and services. TechVoice D.C. Fly-In participants will have a chance to hear legislative experts: Eduardo Lerma (Legislative Director for the Office of U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez), J.J. Singh (Legislative Assistant to the Office of U.S. Senator Christopher Coons), Jessica Talbert (Legislative Assistant for the Office of U.S. Representative Michael Grimm), and Jason Wiens (Senior Legislative Assistant for the Office of U.S. Senator Jerry Moran) discuss how this legislation can create better opportunities for tech SMBs at the Tech Policy Summit. Read more»   IN THE NEWS National Journal: Tuesdays Proposed Immigration Bill Would Focus on High Skilled Immigrants   The Hill: Senators Forge Deal on Immigration Reform   Information Week: Federal CIO Outlines Second Term IT Priorities   Public Policy Contacts Elizabeth Hyman Vice President, Public Advocacy   Tech Entrepreneurs Lamar Whitman   IT Security David Valdez   IT Workforce Randi Parker   PAC and Grassroots Advocacy Matthew L. Evans CompTIA Worldwide Headquarters I CompTIA, Inc. 3500 Lacey Road, Suite 100 Downers Grove, IL 60515-5439, U.S.A. © 2012 CompTIA Properties, LLC, under license to CompTIA, Inc. All Rights Reserved. To read previous issues of Policy Watch, click here.