Federal CTO Chopra, CEA's Shapiro hash out government role in tech

Aneesh Chopra, President Obama's chief technology officer, and Gary Shapiro, head of the Consumer Electronics Association, agree that there are things the government should do to spur the digital economy. But they don't see eye to eye on many issues such as trade policy and the stimulus package.

At a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show, they said that more airwaves, or spectrum, should go to commercial wireless companies so consumers will be able to tap into the Web over a flood of new wireless devices, including tablet computers, home appliances and cars. The two agreed that broadband Internet access for all Americans is a key to getting people to adopt more technologies and solve issues such as health-care information technology and smart energy. "The building blocks of innovation are critical to economic success," Chopra said.

But Shapiro and Chopra disagreed on the role of federal regulators and lawmakers in spurring what they both called the "innovation economy." "The government is often a barrier," Shapiro said. "High taxes and regulatory bureaucracy is a barrier."