Washington, DC. – With increased concern among consumers and businesses about online privacy and security, Americans for Technology Leadership urged lawmakers to look at updating key laws to make sure they reflect current realities of the marketplace. A growing chorus of voices has called for modernizing key laws.

In a speech to the Brookings Institute today, Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith called for modifications to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The changes would update these important laws and increase penalties for hacking networks.

“Technology has become critical to the way we do business and the way we live our lives,” said Randy Skoglund, executive director of Americans for Technology Leadership. “While enjoying the great benefits of this technology, consumers and businesses are clearly concerned about the issues of privacy and security.”

“We applaud Microsoft’s leadership and support their efforts to modernize these important laws to make sure they reflect today’s technologies,” added Skoglund. “Our laws need to impose stiff penalties on the criminals who hack into financial and corporate networks putting our data, our finances and our identities at risk. We need to send a message to would be cyber-thieves that we take these crimes seriously and they will pay a price for their actions.

Smith also called for transparency in cloud computing technologies so that consumers know exactly how their personal information and data are being protected and used online.

“Companies must be transparent when collecting consumer data. Consumers have the right to know how their information will be used, especially in light of the growing list of worries about the practices of dominate firms who collect significant amounts of information about consumers online.” Skoglund concluded.

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ATL applauds opportunity for greater competition in the marketplace

Washington, DC – In response to news that Microsoft and Yahoo have reached a partnership agreement in search and search advertising, Randy Skoglund, executive director of Americans for Technology Leadership, issued the following statement:

“Search and search advertising is fundamental to the continued success of the Internet as it fuels much of the content and applications that consumers use every day.  This partnership between Microsoft and Yahoo will provide an alternative solution to Google’s technology and will keep the Internet innovative, open and competitive and will have immediate positive effects.  While it will take several months for the deal to close, the competitive effects will be felt across the marketplace immediately.  As a result, consumers win.”

“Given Google’s position as the dominant online search engine and ad platform, the combination of these two companies search and search ad businesses offers consumers and advertisers more choice and innovation. Additionally, businesses, advertisers and web publishers will benefit given more competition which offers them more choice and better revenue opportunities.  A Microsoft-Yahoo collaboration is beneficial news to the tech industry, businesses and consumers alike.”

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To the editor:

A recent article published on Newsblaze.com “Small Towns Line Up for $7.2 Billion in High-Speed Internet Funds” spoke of efforts in Akron, Ohio to obtain stimulus money for the purpose of bringing wireless broadband “into every home and business within the city limits.”

The potential benefits of such a plan are enormous. Akron’s unemployment rate hovers close to 10 percent; which is higher than the national average. If Akron is successful in securing $7 million in stimulus funds it is estimated that roughly 400 new jobs in construction and network administration will come from that funding alone.

Raul Katz of Columbia Business School has estimated that that money spent by these 400 newly employed workers would generate another 320 local jobs.

That short-term gain barely scratches the surface of the impact freely available broadband will have on the Akron, Ohio area. As the Newsblaze.com article quoted the Akron deputy mayor of administration, plentiful broadband will be an indispensible tool for training workers with new skills-making them more competitive in an increasingly tough job market.

But none of this can happen with just the wave of the magic stimulus wand. Outdated telecommunications laws designed around switchboards and rotary phones need to be overhauled to fall in line with the nature of modern technology. Without this needed reform, more money can be wasted in administrative overhead and red tape instead of being plowed into construction efforts.

If we want the benefits of ever-present broadband, we need to contact our elected officials and tell them to clear the way for unhindered broadband development.

Randall Skoglund is executive director of Americans for Technology Leadership, a broad-based coalition focused, in part, on public policy issues affecting the technology industry.

Randall Skoglund
Executive Director
Americans for Technology Leadership
1401 K Street NW, Suite 502
Washington, DC 20005

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