TIA applauded the Senate and House of Representatives for passing the Conference report for H.R. 2272, the America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act, by a vote of 367 to 57 in the House and under unanimous consent in the Senate.  The legislation is an important first step in reforming U.S. high-tech innovation policy.  TIA was instrumental in including language in the bill that authorizes the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to administer a grant program for basic research into advanced information and communications technologies through NSF.  Such grants will enable U.S. manufacturers, many of which are TIA members, to roll out robust R&D programs while staying competitive in the global marketplace.

“This bill is a big win for high-tech innovators everywhere,” said TIA President Grant Seiffert.  “We worked tirelessly to educate Congress on the value of stepping up research on advanced communications in America, and we applaud the House for bringing that closer to fruition.”  The America COMPETES Act as a whole strengthens teacher training and education in science, technology, engineering and math; funds basic and interdisciplinary research; establishes new innovation incentives; and supports strategic efforts to build curriculums and research for the service sector, which accounts for 80 percent of the U.S. economy.

TIA also urges President Bush to sign the Act into law.

For more information on TIA’s support for this and other legislation, contact Ian Martinez at 703.907.7723 or imartinez@tiaonline.org.

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TIA commends the FCC’s vote to approve rules for its upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction last week,, noting that TIA member companies can now begin crafting strategies around the availability of this incredibly important and valuable spectrum.  With auction rules finally in place after years of waiting, service providers and high tech manufacturers alike can make investments within and outside the auction, securing better networks and services for consumers, more revenue opportunity for companies, and funding for key government public safety measures.

TIA President Grant Seiffert saluted the vote, saying, “This auction is perhaps the most important event in wireless development in ten years.  The commission has done its part to ensure that competitive, next-generation wireless technologies reach American consumers in all markets.”  TIA also applauds the FCC’s reconfiguration of the band to make 2 MHz more available for auction.

For more information on TIA’s work with the 700 MHz auction, contact Ian Martinez at 703.907.7723 or imartinez@tiaonline.org.

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The U.S. Commerce Department will lead a delegation to Hanoi in September for an ICT Dialogue, with the goal of enhancing ICT trade and investment.  The dialogue will likely take place September 16-18, but the date is not yet confirmed.

The inaugural meeting would involve a public seminar, government-to-government talks and an industry-to-government dialogue.

TIA member companies with an interest in participating either through a Washington, D.C.- or Vietnamese-based representative should direct all inquiries to Mike Nunes – 703.907.7725 or mnunes@tiaonline.org.

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Some European Commission (EC) actions have undermined the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), a key World Trade Organization (WTO) sectoral agreement that has spurred worldwide innovation, productivity, trade and investment, a group of ICT sector players has determined. In particular, the EC is threatening to impose duties, or already has, on a variety of ITA-protected products, using innovative new features in those products as a pretext to remove them from the ITA's list.  The list of "new" goods includes LCD monitors, multi-function printers, set-top boxes and other products, all of which have seen their exports negatively affected.

We feel this rationale is misguided, since it means almost any IT product could become subject to duties if convergent or cross-platform features are added.  Such thinking could undermine the ITA as a whole.  We feel the EC's consistent violations of the ITA require a quick,  pruposeful response from TIA, its members, and its fellow associations.

For more information, email Michael Nunes or call at 703.907.7725.

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Vietnam is rapidly emerging as a potentially lucrative destination for information, communication and technology (ICT) products and services. After months of research, TIA released its Global Insights reports on Vietnam today (Thursday), featuring the latest information about investment opportunities in this increasingly open Asian country.

Vietnam’s recent accession into the World Trade Organization (WTO) will accelerate ICT sector growth as market entry barriers are reduced and competition increases. Additionally, Vietnam’s government is actively promoting its ICT sector, having recently developed a strategic plan for sector development.  This makes Vietnam a doubly attractive site for foreign ICT deployment.  In 2001, the United States and Vietnam enacted a bilateral trade agreement that helped open the Vietnam market and transformed the country into an important U.S. trade partner and an export-oriented market.

Questions remain, however, including limits on foreign majority ownership, state control of carriers, abuse or neglect of intellectual property rights, and corruption and lack of clear jurisdiction throughout the regulatory regime. 

TIA’s report on the state of ICT in Vietnam will serve as a cutting-edge guide in your decision-making about deployment there.  For questions or more information, please contact James Maday at 703.907.7724 or jmaday@tiaonline.org.

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