House Republicans Outline High-Tech Agenda for Congress The High-Tech Working Group's priorities include controlling spyware, rewriting the Telecommunications Act. Erik Larkin, Medill News Service Wednesday, May 04, 2005 WASHINGTON -- House Republicans today emphasized the importance of a strong technology sector for American prosperity as they presented their high-tech legislative priorities for the current Congress. Liens Commerciaux "America's future growth depends on our ability to adapt to and develop new technologies," said House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, at a news conference called by the House Republican High-Tech Working Group. "The more we integrate technology into our daily lives, the more we grow our economy and protect our national security." The group said it plans to continue working on industry priorities such as the Central America Free Trade Agreement, preserving stock options as compensation features, and patent reform. Members said they also intend to draft a broad rewrite of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to promote the spread of broadband and devise a regulatory framework for planned video over IP offerings. Controlling spyware is a priority, but consumer notification in cases of personal data theft was not listed as a goal. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, chairman of the House's Energy and Commerce Committee, said that the committee plans to draft the telecommunications rewrite by summer. "The United States is not even in the top 10 in broadband deployment," Barton said. "Until we rewrite our laws, we're not going to be in the top 10." Other items on the Republican agenda are patent reform and curbing digital piracy. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said that U.S. businesses lose a combined $25 billion from piracy each year. High-Tech Approval High-tech industry representatives voiced approval of the House Republicans' plans. "I think if you look at the agenda that the Republicans put out today, it tracks well with our priorities," said Adam Kovacevich, communications director for the Information Technology Industry Council, a lobbying group for high-tech businesses. Kovacevich said his group's top four items are on the Republican's list: patent reform, increasing the use of IT in health care, spectrum issues such as the planned conversion to digital television, and the Central American Free Trade Agreement. The ITIC works closely with members on both sides of the aisle, he said, but "we wish more Democrats would support CAFTA." Privacy groups may not be quite as pleased with the Republican agenda. "As a privacy advocate, of course we don't think they [in Congress] are doing enough," said Jerry Berman, president of the Center for Democracy and Technology "We're glad that spyware is on their list," he said, "but we think that Congress is going to have to address the issue of ID theft." Berman said that the center does not align itself with either party, and that people on both sides of the aisle are addressing these issues. One of them is Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Virginia. A member of the House's Energy and Commerce Committee, Boucher said that he plans to work with Republicans on the necessary revisions of the telecommunications law and other issues. Boucher said not only that he supports a "properly drafted" bill on consumer ID theft notification, but that such legislation is inevitable. Republicans at the press conference faulted Democrats for not fully supporting CAFTA; but according to Boucher, the issues of importance to the high-tech sector are neither Republican nor Democrat. CAFTA is "just not a party thing," he said. "You're going to find members voting on that in accord with their districts." The Democrats "do things a little bit differently," he said. "We do not have party positions on technology issues." "You will not see us holding press conferences," he said.