The Information Technology Association of America has a wide-ranging and substantial public agenda that tracks the convergence of a number of issues in the Digital Environment and the Information Age. The continued robust growth of Electronic Commerce is dependent on a self-regulatory, industry-led model of technology and policy. ITAA will be advocating and educating public policy makers on these important issues in 1999 at the federal, state and local, and global levels.

Creating the Best Financial Environment for Spurring Growth in the New Economy:

• Mergers and Acquisitions: Pooling of Interests, the Purchase Method and in-process R&D
• Stock Option Accounting

Year 2000:

• Federal and State Legislation Limiting Liability
• ADR Advocacy
• Crisis Management Campaign/Contingency Planning
• International Community Involvement: OECD, United Nations, World Bank

Tax and Trade Issues:

• Research and Experimentation (R&D) Tax Credit Extension (expires June 30, 1999)
• UCC Article 2B and Electronic Transactions Act
• Internet Tax Freedom Act - "Implementing" the Moratorium

Electronic Commerce Issues:

• Encryption
• Digital Authentication/Digital Contracts
• Privacy
• Access to Public Records
• Preventing Unnecessary Regulation of Internet-based Commerce (e.g. content, consumer protection)

Intellectual Property Issues:

• Database Protection Legislation
• Patent Term Legislation and recent court decision on Software Patents

Telecommunications Competition

• Promoting widespread deployment of broadband technology
• Establishing safeguards for competition
• Protecting IT industry from access charges and universal service payments

Critical Information Infrastructure Protection and Assurance

• Promoting Industry Led Solutions
• Preventing Government Intervention

IT Workforce Issues:

• Immigration/H1-B Regulations
• Workforce Shortage
• Tax credits for IT education
• Eligibility for Tuition Assistance for distance learning and private vocational education

Procurement Reform - Federal and State:

• Promoting Outsourcing
• Promoting Commercial Practices

State Initiative Agenda includes:

• ITAA focuses on 16 states for its overall policy agenda and all 50 states regarding Y2K
• Digital Signatures/Authentication
• E-mail regulation
• Electronic Commerce
• Privacy (business information, liability and disclosure laws)
• Procurement/privatization
• Year 2000
• Taxation (educating states on the ITFA, as well as tracking Internet access and on line services taxes).
• Telecom (focusing on legislation that attempts to expand the definition of "telecommunications.")
• IT Workforce (as it relates to labor union development and shortages).

International Agenda Issues include:

Electronic Commerce

• A founding member of the Alliance for Global Business (which includes BIAC, ICC, GIIC and WITSA)
• Provides industry input to intergovernmental organizations , including the OECD, WTO, UN, and APEC

Y2K

WTO 2000 Round of Trade in Services Negotiations

• Talks aimed at further liberalizing IT services regulations

EU Directives on

• Electronic Commerce
• Copyright
• Privacy
• Database Protection

WIPO Meetings/Symposia on

• Digital Copyright Treaties Implementation
• E-Commerce
• Copyright Protection
• Database Protection