By John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable Online, 2-16-17
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who chairs the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force, has released what the task force billed as an Innovation Agenda for the new Congress and it backs a free an open internet: Free of burdensome government regs and open for business.
In the section on fostering a “modern and competitive and open internet,” the agenda cites promoting private-sector broadband deployment and connectivity, increasing mobile access to licensed and unlicensed spectrum, and freeing the internet by “preserv[ing] the open, competitive nature of the internet against unnecessary government regulation while promoting continued development of innovative online services.”
Among many other things, it calls for patent reform, reforming of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act to require a warrant for emails, protecting cross-border data flows, allowing high-skilled immigrants into the country, and a healthy helping of regulatory humility, which includes encouraging self-regulation.
The plan drew plenty of praise from the industry.
“We commend Sen. Hatch on his strong, bold and broad proposal to ensure our nation remains the global leader in innovation,” said Consumer Technology Association President Gary Shapiro. “We are at a crossroads where we need a national strategy recognizing that innovation drives our economy and global leadership. Chairman Hatch’s plan recognizes that innovation depends on nurturing, getting and keeping the best and brightest and a legal and regulatory system encouraging creativity and entrepreneurship.” » Read More