Tech's Eyes Turn Now to Obama, Dems - Page 5

Page 5 of 5

Satisfying the telcos and content owners

Despite the change in administration, other business groups also see an opportunity for pressing ahead with their agendas. Mike McCurry and Mark McKinnon, the co-chairs of industry group Arts+Labs -- a recently formed coalition of stakeholders in the digital media and content delivery businesses -- said they are also aiming to see a tech policy emerge that would ensure that the Internet remains viable for business and entertainment.

"We look forward to working with the new administration to ensure that the Internet remains a vibrant town center where consumers can safely choose from a vast array of digital products, entertainment and services," McCurry and McKinnon said in an e-mail to InternetNews.com.

Arts+Labs, whose membership includes Viacom, NBC Universal, the Songwriters Guild of America (SGA), AT&T, Cisco and Microsoft, debuted in September with the aim of tackling issues hurting their members' ability to do business online.

Thus far, their specific goals have included improving trust in Internet services and commerce, curbing online piracy and ensuring network vendors are allowed to manage their networks as they see fit -- the latter of which may bring the group into open conflict with proponents of net neutrality. (So far, the group has not taken an official position on the subject.)

"Regardless of the outcome of this election, the nation's objectives for the Internet remain the same," they said. "Consumers must be protected from Net pollution, such as spam, malware, viruses and illegal file trafficking. The rights of artists and innovators to manage their work and earn fair compensation must be respected. The next administration also should seek an environment that spurs the development and delivery of innovative, creative content over fast, safe, and reliable networks."

Tech as reformer

In addition to addressing laws, Kralik said the government should look to technology to make it operate better. One of those concerns is how to reform government services. He believes cloud computing can help.

"Cloud computing is revolutionizing a lot of the computer industry," he said. "It's making data more secure, cutting costs and eliminating software. But members of Congress are reluctant to embrace it because their data has to be locked up in their own datacenter."

Right now, the data in that datacenter cannot be subpoenaed by the FBI because of the separation of powers rules. If it was elsewhere, like in the cloud, it could be potentially open to subpoena.

"We can pass a simple rule that members can use cloud computing and not be subject to subpoena," Kralik said. "This would save millions of millions of dollars and allow the government to function like a business. We need government to start operating and thinking like a business would."

Kralik's not alone in seeing areas in which Internet technology can help government. Craigslist's Newmark told InternetNews.com that he believes the next administration must strive to make the government more accountable and transparent to the public.

He said a priority should be ensuring that all information on government activities, particularly regarding the role of money in politics, should be made available to the public online -- except information that genuinely impacts national security.

Best-laid plans

While the tech industry seeks to push through a wide variety of changes in hopes of seeing some action, Bajarin warns that its plans could change quickly, even if President-elect Obama has taken an industry-friendly stance on a number of those issues.

"When Bush came in in 2000, the tech industry was excited," he told InternetNews.com. "Bush came out of the Austin area, had the support of Michael Dell and others, and the tech agenda got off to a good start. Then 9/11 happened and tech took a backseat to security and other issues that jumped to the head of the line. So you just don't know what will happen."

Stuart Johnston, Erin Joyce, David Miller, David Needle, Andy Patrizio and Christopher Saunders contributed to this report.