TIA Announces its Tech & Telecom Policy Priorities for 2014

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, released its 2014 Innovation Agenda, which identifies the organization’s tech and telecom policy priorities for the year ahead.

The Innovation Agenda is focused on three high level goals: Drive Investment, Recapture Global Investment, and Enable Forward-Looking Technologies. With each, TIA has identified specific policy positions it will advocate to help achieve these critical goals. As President Obama prepares for his upcoming State of the Union address, TIA also delivered a letter thanking the President for his commitment to the Information and Communication Technology industry and calling on him to continue to support initiatives that will invigorate technology innovation, grow the U.S. economy and create jobs. As part of its Innovation Agenda, and in the letter to President Obama, TIA has outlined several top priorities.

These include:

• Broadband Development. Through economic and regulatory incentives for network deployments and upgrades, the US government can create investment in next-generation broadband infrastructure.
• Expand Global Market Access & Trade Opportunities. Securing access to international markets can be achieved by promoting trade liberalization and policies that are market-based and technology-neutral.
• Enhance Global Cybersecurity. Global voluntary approaches to cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection are necessary to avoid policies that could negatively impact investment in innovation, market access, interoperability, and security of global networks.

In addition, TIA’s Innovation Agenda reflects an expanded organizational focus in an area that is increasingly important for the future of technology and society:

• Health IT. Healthcare systems should fully leverage the broad array of solutions available in the health information technology ecosystem, including the devices, systems, software applications, and other technologies that store, share, and analyze health information.