Skilled Immigration Reform - Increase access to skilled foreign
workers and entrepreneurs to ensure that the U.S. remains the global center of
innovation. Immigration reform legislation must include provisions
addressing the availability of employment-based and entrepreneur visas.
Privacy – Reform
the Electronic Communications Privacy Act including the treatment of mobile location
information (GPS Act) to require warrants ahead of government access to
peoples’ information such as email and geographic information. Defeat CALEA
expansion that might mandate Internet platforms "back doors." As
Congress and the administration consider future online privacy proposals, it
will be important to find the right balance to ensure online information is
handled in ways that protect consumers’ right to privacy, while still allowing
the development of Internet business models.
Patent Reform - Due to problems with abstract and
low-quality patents and recent exponential growth in software patent litigation
brought by competitors and trolls, real, comprehensive patent reform is an
urgent priority for the tech industry. CCIA supports efforts, such as the
Chaffetz/DeFazio SHIELD Act, that will help counteract the problems in our
patent system, which impede innovation.
Internet Radio Fairness Act - Update copyright law so that music
performance royalty rates are technologically neutral, and government officials
setting rates are no longer directed to impose higher rates for innovative, new
market entrants.
Copyright Reform –Internet commerce and technology
innovation depend on predictability and certainty when it comes to copyright
regulations. Balanced copyright
measures, including protecting Internet platforms and technologies from
unreasonable liability, will encourage investment and innovation.
The
Administration should maintain its opposition to unbalanced approaches like
SOPA and PIPA that would have altered the how the Internet works.
The
Administration also should defend consumers’ rights to sell, gift, or loan
their own property that is regulated by copyright. The First Sale Doctrine,
which covers these consumer property rights in hard goods, is threatened by a
pending Supreme Court decision in Kirtsaeng v. Wiley, where publishers
have argued that consumers have no right to sell, gift, or loan copyrighted
property manufactured outside the United States.
21st Century Trade Agreements - Promote a 21st Century trade agenda
with upcoming trade talks (TPP, US-EU FTA, International Services Agreement)
that better reflects the needs of one of the most dynamic export sectors -
Internet services. International trade today cannot thrive without the
movement of information across the Internet. In order to maximize the economic
opportunities derived from the Internet, trade agreements should commit parties
to minimize interference in the movement of, and access to, information online.
This includes establishing balanced rules for intellectual property
protection.
Internet Freedom - Promote Internet Freedom around the
world and as a top U.S. diplomatic and trade priority. Unfettered access to the
Internet is a great mobilizer of education, innovation and economic growth and it
raises up everyone it touches.
FCC - Clarification of FCC authority over
broadband Internet access connections, enforce FCC open Internet rule, or if
court invalidates, advocate a substitute.
Spectrum - Reserve spectrum for innovative
unlicensed use, creating an open public wireless communications lab. The FCC
should limit further concentration of spectrum holdings by legacy monopoly
carriers. Dramatically asymmetrical spectrum aggregation resulting from
government sanctioned giveaways of spectrum in the 1980s
constrains free market mobile broadband competition.
Online Sales Tax Collection - Continue to oppose legislation that
would require out-of-state retailers to collect sales and use taxes regardless
of physical presence. Small online retailers should not be penalized with
the disproportionate burden of collecting taxes for thousands of tax
jurisdictions.
Government Competition - Continue support of public-private
partnerships such as Free File rather than IRS entry into tax return
preparation in competition against private industry.
Cybersecurity - Increase incentives and protections
for company-to-company information sharing. Ensure privacy protections for any
information shared with the government.
Internet Governance - Preserve multi-stakeholder global Internet
governance amid challenges from governments that seek international regulatory control
for themselves. This is a threat that has been building for a long time, and
will continue to be an important battle for some time to come. The next four
years will be a crucial juncture in this effort.
