A Policy Prescription for the American Internet Economy

What is the policy prescription to move the economy forward? This was the question debated during the final panel discussion at the 9th Annual State of the Net Conference. Restoring American economic greatness through sound Internet policy was the theme of the conference’s final day.

Rey Ramsey, President & CEO of TechNet, moderated the discussion with Rob Atkinson, President of the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and Marvin Ammori, Principal of the Ammori Group. Atkinson pointed to three camps in Washington – those that wish to abdicate, regulate or facilitate Internet policy. Facilitating policy, which Atkinson advocates, can be accomplished through several approaches, including: driving the Internet to its promise – everything that can be digital, should be. He argued that everyone should have access to computers and broadband, and Internet innovation should be supported through a research and development tax credit. Atkinson also suggested that there should be a focus on high-skilled immigration and a domestic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) policy.